Gary Lineker opens up about prostate cancer health scare to help raise awareness
The BBC star has shared his own encounter with prostate cancer to help break down the stigma and encourage men to discuss the disease and get themselves checked
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Gary Lineker has discussed enduring a health scare following a routine prostate exam.
The 60-year-old sports legend and BBC host says he regularly checks in with his GP for a check up – and experienced a prostate cancer scare.
Gary is speaking up about his own experience about having a brush with the disease as he aims to break down the stigma surrounding it.
Records show that one in nine men is affected by prostate cancer – and Gary says he thinks the idea that many men shun check-ups just because they feel fine is a stereotype men should fight.
Speaking to The Sun, Gary revealed: “I have a full body check every couple of years and I did have one prostate scare.
“It’s important to get ahead of it and a lot of men, we sometimes think, ‘I’m all right’. We don’t want to see doctors.
“But that’s a dangerous game. We are all a little bit scared of having something and I think it’s fair to share that. It turned out to be nothing with me but it’s important to get ahead of it. It makes it a lot worse if you catch it late.
“It’s vital for people my age to make sure they are OK, to constantly get checks if possible.”
Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer in men – with Prostate Cancer UK stating 40,000 men are diagnosed each year in England alone, while 9,00 are killed by the disease.
The NHS list symptoms of the disease include “an increased need to pee, straining while you pee, a feeling that your bladder has not fully emptied.”
However, they note the symptoms can signify prostate enlargement rather than cancer.
The disease affects more men aged 50 or older, while testing for the disease include blood tests, a physical examination by a doctor, an MRI scan, or a biopsy.
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