Cliff Richard Shares Prostate Cancer Journey, Advocates for Screening

Cliff Richard has publicly disclosed that he has undergone treatment for prostate cancer over the past year. The 85-year-old singer revealed that his cancer is currently in remission and emphasized the importance of a national screening program for men during an interview on Good Morning Britain. He stated, “I don’t know whether it’s going to come back. We can’t tell those sort of things but we need to – absolutely. I’m convinced: get there, get tested, get checked.”

Richard shared that he received his diagnosis after a health examination related to insurance prior to his concert tour in Australia and New Zealand. He expressed relief that the cancer was caught early, stating, “The good fortune was that it was not very old; and the other thing is that it has not metastasised. Nothing had moved into bones or anything like that.”

Advocating for National Screening

The singer criticized the absence of a national screening program for prostate cancer, calling it “absolutely ridiculous.” He argued that governments should ensure equal access to health services for all citizens. Richard stated, “We all deserve to have the same ability to have a test and then start treatments really early … I’ve only been for one year now in touch with cancer, but every time I’ve talked with anybody, this has come up and so I think our government must listen to us.”

His comments come in the wake of a recent announcement from the UK National Screening Committee, which revealed a draft recommendation for a targeted prostate cancer screening program. If approved, this program would invite men aged between 45 and 61 who carry genetic mutations of the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes to undergo screenings every two years.

Joining Forces with Royalty

In a related development, King Charles indicated last week that his cancer treatment would be reduced in the new year. Richard expressed a desire to collaborate with the King to raise awareness about prostate cancer. “I’ve been involved with many charities over the years, and if the king is happy to front it for us, I’m sure loads of people – I certainly would join him,” Richard said.

His advocacy highlights the growing conversation around prostate cancer screening in the UK, aiming to ensure that men have access to potentially life-saving tests. Richard’s openness about his health challenges serves as an important reminder of the need for increased awareness and action on prostate cancer screening.