SIR Cliff Richard has revealed that over the past year he has been treated for prostate cancer.
The music legend, 85, has told ITV’s Good Morning Britain today said he received the diagnosis during an insurance check-up ahead of a tour.
Sir Cliff explained, luckily, the cancer was caught early and had not spread – and he is now backing calls for a national screening test for men – and wants King Charles to raise awareness of the importance of early diagnosis.
He said: “The cancer’s gone at the moment. I don’t know whether it’s going to come back.
“We can’t tell those sort of things but we need, absolutely, I’m convinced, get there, get tested, get checked.”
It comes after Sir Cliff said earlier this year he “could be dead in a year” – and revealed he may have to quit touring as he gets older.
Sir Cliff told GMB journalist Dermot Murnaghan on Monday: “I was about to embark on a tour which in fact ended this time at the Royal Albert Hall.
“But I was going to Australia and to New Zealand and the promoter said, ‘Well we need for your insurance, you need to be checked up for something.’
“They found that I had prostate cancer. But the good fortune was that it was not very old and the other thing is that it has not metastasized. Nothing had moved into bones or anything like that.”
Discussing how important it is for men to get tested early Sir Cliff added: “I think we as men have got to start saying it, we’ve got to be seen as human beings who may die of this thing.”
Mr Murnaghan, who himself is being treated for stage 4 prostate cancer, said: “Prostate cancer, we should put out there, is the most prevalent cancer amongst men and the biggest cancer killer of men. There is no national screening programme.”
Speaking about the recent decision not to approve a national screening programme, Sir Cliff said: “I think it’s absolutely ridiculous.
“We have governments to look after our country and those who live in that country, so I can’t see how you can say, ‘Oh we can do this, we can do that, but we don’t do this for these people.’
“We all deserve to have the same ability to have a test and then start treatments really early.
“It seems to me – 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.”
In recent months a number of high-profile men have come forward to share their cancer journeys. Last week His Majesty The King shared that early diagnosis and “effective intervention” meant that his cancer treatment would be reduced in the new year.
In light of this news Sir Cliff admitted that he would love to join forces with His Majesty The King to raise awareness, and said: “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…
“If the King is listening, I think most of us would say yeah – we’re available!”
