Dark Knight star Colin McFarlane is undergoing treatment for prostate cancer just months after his brother was diagnosed with the same disease. The 61-year-old, who is also the voice of The Cube, told of his diagnosis as he urged other men to "take action".
He said: "In December 2022, nine months on from my brother’s prostate cancer diagnosis, I too was diagnosed. I was already aware of the risk to me, so had been having annual, and then six monthly, regular PSA blood tests with my GP.
“Thankfully, just over a year ago I had told my brother to get a PSA blood test, otherwise he wouldn’t have been diagnosed because he had no symptoms. I must put my diagnosis into context by saying I am one of the lucky ones. I have been able to catch this very early, which is key as I have no symptoms at all.
“As it’s a very slow-moving cancer I am in the best possible position to ascertain what treatment I would need in the future if that were ever deemed necessary, and currently that scenario is a long way off. It’s men who take no action, and don’t know anything about their prostate health, that are at the greatest risk."
The British actor and Hollywood star, who played Commissioner Loeb in the Dark Knight trilogy, as well as Ulysses in the series Outlander, was speaking following research which showed black men are twice as likely to develop prostate cancer as other men. One in four black men will be diagnosed with the disease in their lifetime while one in eight other men will be affected.
The star said: "I want all men over 50, and black men like me over 45, to be aware that they are at higher risk, and that they need to take personal responsibility, take action, and speak to their doctor about having a PSA blood test.
“Too many black men are dying of prostate cancer. They need to know that a simple blood test could save their life.”
Research has shown most black men don't realise their ethnic background plays a part in the risk with four out of five believing there is no connection. The figures came from a poll of 500 black males which found 87 per cent underestimate the fatal impact of the disease.
Every year 12,000 men die from prostate cancer in the UK alone. If caught early, the disease can be very treatable – yet only 36 per cent of black men are aware early-stage prostate cancer often has no symptoms.
The research, by Prostate Cancer UK, found 52 per cent of those polled admitted they don’t want to bother a GP unless they have pain, or are showing signs of illness. There are also concerns about being tested, with 64 per cent worried about having a rectal exam – despite a blood test being the best first step to test for the disease.
Having a family history of prostate cancer also puts men at increased risk. However more than half - 53 per cent - of black men were unaware of the additional hereditary link.
The research was commissioned by Prostate Cancer UK, as part of its “What on Earth is a prostate?!” campaign, which aims to dispel widespread misconceptions about the most common cancer in men. It has also partnered with Dope Black Dads, a support group and podcast which works to challenge stereotypes about black fatherhood, and encourage a progressive, inclusive community of parents.
Chiara De Biase, a spokeswoman for the charity, said: “Men’s health can be a minefield. Everyone has gaps in their knowledge, and every one of us probably believes something that just isn’t true.
“Black men are at double the risk of prostate cancer compared to other men, and develop it at a younger age, and the concern is that misconceptions around prostate cancer symptoms and tests could stop men getting a potentially lifesaving diagnosis.
“Without a screening programme, men won’t be invited for testing, even when they’re at high risk. That’s why we strongly recommend that black men talk to their GP about a regular PSA blood test from the age of 45.
“Men can learn more about their risk, and what they can do about it, by taking the 30-second risk checker on our website – and we’re asking everyone to share it far and wide this Men’s Health Week and beyond.”
The research, carried out via OnePoll, found half of those polled did not realise age impacts their risk of being diagnosed with prostate cancer, with 56 per cent unaware they become high risk at the age of 45. Nearly two-thirds (65 per cent) also believe they will be invited for a test by their GP – however, this is not the case, as there is no screening programme for prostate cancer in the UK.
