The former Sky News host appeared on his former channel as he called on men to “demand” a prostate cancer test
Former Sky News presenter Dermot Murnaghan has admitted his diagnosis was “a bolt from the blue” as he found out he had stage four prostate cancer on holiday.
The TV host and journalist appeared on his former channel as he called on men to “demand” a prostate cancer test and for the government to actively offer screenings.
Speaking to Anna Jones on Sky News, 67-year-old Murnaghan said he is “feeling pretty good” after receiving chemotherapy
But he admitted he didn’t have any of the usual prostate cancer symptoms – such as frequent or urgent urination or the occurrence of blood – but then “fell very ill on a foreign holiday” which led to the cancer being found.
Murnaghan said there is “no formal screening programme” for prostate cancer and men “actually have to ask for it rather than be offered it as so often happens with other cancers”.
In the absence of a screening programme, he said he would advise men of a certain age to “go and demand it”.
Speaking of how he put off screening, Murnaghan said: “In my own case, I fell through those gaps.
“I foolishly sat in your [presenter Anna Jones] position for many many years speaking to people about this very issue and talking about men, particularly over the age of 50, men in high risk groups who may have a history of it in their family, to go and ask for this screening…
“And I kept thinking you know ‘once I got over that age I will go and do that’.
“I kept thinking, ‘okay well you know I’ll get round to it’, life intervenes, jobs, children, holidays…all kinds of things and I never did…
“So what happened was at the end of last year I fell very ill on a foreign holiday and kind of rushed back here to get treated by a wonderful health service and was diagnosed, a real bolt from the blue.”
After being treated by the NHS and going for tests he was diagnosed with stage-four cancer.
He said prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests are getting more accurate, Murnaghan said they should be offered in the same way as screenings for other cancers are.
“They might cost a little bit more money, but think about the money you save,” he said.
Urging men to get tested he added: “Once you cross that milestone, go and demand it, your GP will eventually give you one. If there’s a history of prostate cancer in your family, definitely get it.”
He said he had completed his own chemotherapy in the Summer.
“I finished my chemotherapy kind of early July, so I’ve been recovering since. We’re just waiting to see how it’s gone. But feeling pretty good,” he added.
“It’s hard but the one thing is, you feel that you are actively doing something in the hands of wonderful medical professionals who know what they’re doing, and you’re kicking back, there’s this kind of bit of a psychological gap now that it’s stopped – ‘What do I do now?.
“But I’m in the waiting and seeing phase, they can see how much it’s achieved hopefully.”
It comes as a coalition of more than 60 cancer charities, known as One Cancer Voice, is warning the government must take urgent steps to tackle cancer care in England – including faster diagnosis targets and better prevention policies.
The UK does not have a national screening programme for prostate cancer as there is no reliable test to pick up cancer that needs treatment at an early stage, according to Cancer Research UK.
The Macmillan Support Line offers confidential support to people living with cancer and their loved ones. If you need to talk, call them on 0808 808 0000.