Tom Watson has urged men to get tested for prostate cancer after revealing his own diagnosis.
The former Labour deputy leader revealed in his newsletter that he had been treated for a non-aggressive form of the disease but is now all clear.
“That word ‘cancer’ - it truly did me in,” he wrote in his newsletter.
“I grappled with fears of dying, sexual dysfunction, and even the prospect of wearing nappies before turning 60.”
The House of Lords member, now 56, was a central figure in the Miliband and Corbyn years of Labour but has been in the Upper House since December 2022.
“The non-aggressive cancer was only discovered because my brilliant GP insisted I take an annual PSA (Prostate-specific Antigen) test,” he told the Mirror.
“Every man over 50 is entitled to one and I urge them to do so.”
The prostate is a part of the male reproductive system and is located in the pelvis, between the penis and the bladder.
Prostate cancer can develop “when cells in the prostate start to grow in an uncontrolled way,” according to Prostate Cancer UK.
On International Men's Day (November 19), the government and Prostate Cancer UK launched a £42 million screening experiment to investigate ways to identify the most common male cancer in the nation early on.
There are around 52,000 diagnoses per year in the UK for prostate cancer and is one of the lower risk types of the disease as 97 per cent survive.
Lord Watson said that communication is key in helping anxiety around cancer.
“It’s about communication,” he wrote. “Helping the public understand that not all cancers are the same and that a diagnosis, while serious, doesn't always spell immediate danger.”
He added: “By categorising some as benign and educating on the differences between low-risk and no-risk, we can reassure people that not all cancers pose the same threat. In the end, it's about living life with wonder and curiosity.
“Holding loved ones close, engaging in simple health practices, and maintaining communication – not just about medical facts but experiences, fears, and hopes. In this shared understanding and support, we find we're not alone in our battles.”
