Dermot Murnaghan 'fell through the cracks' with prostate cancer diagnosis
He revealed last month he has stage-four cancer, meaning it has spread to other areas of the body. However, he said he was responding positively to treatment.
Speaking at an event for Prostate Cancer UK, Murnaghan urged men to get tested - and to insist on one if they're in a high-risk group.
"For years I thought 'that will do me'. I'm getting tested basically once a year or every couple of years," he said.
"It never occurred to me that they weren't testing for PSA (prostate-specific antigen) and I never went to my GP because I was getting other tests privately through the production company.
"So that's how I fell through the gaps and that's how I had a massive wake-up call and want to share the message."
A PSA test is a blood test that can indicate if there's a potential problem with the prostate but there's currently no national screening programme.
The NHS says men over 50 can ask their GP for one, and Murnaghan, who's 67, said some people below that age should also push for one.
"You can get to the stage I have with no symptoms," he said.
"Get the test, insist on the test. You can insist on the test if you are in a high-risk group and under 50. If you are not, I'd still get the test at 50."
Murnaghan - who worked at Sky News for 16 years - added: "Go to your GP and they say you don't need it, but say 'but I want it'. It is your right to have it.
"Just keep doing that every year or couple of years. Once you've got that marker where your PSA is, keep monitoring it.
"The earlier you find prostate cancer the easier it is to treat, so check your risk in just 30 seconds with Prostate Cancer UK's online risk checker to see if you are at risk and what you can choose to do about it."
Those at higher-risk of prostate cancer include men over 50, black men and people with a family history of the disease.
his own diagnosis last year.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
26 minutes ago
- The Independent
Sainsbury's to ban unhealthy snacks for staff amid government obesity crackdown
Sainsbury 's is set to remove free crisps and biscuits from its staff rooms in a bid to support the government's campaign against obesity in the UK. Staff members will, instead, be offered items from a list of approved 'light meal' options, including soups, porridge and bread. These options are intended to replace the 'largely unhealthy snacks' that colleagues had complained about, and which, some staff claimed, were vanishing before the end of their shifts. The supermarket insists the changes will ensure a 'more consistent range of free food' and give employees the chance to 'make light meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner'. 'We are committed to ensuring that every colleague who needs it can have something to eat at work,' it added. The new guidelines will apply across all Sainsbury's outlets, Argos sites and distribution centres. The move comes against the backdrop of the Labour government planning a wave of new measures to reduce levels of obesity. The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities estimates that more than a quarter of the English population is now obese. Rates of obesity have doubled since the 1990s, costing the NHS an estimated £11 billion a year, which is three times the annual budget for the ambulance services. Health secretary Wes Streeting has warned that, unless the 'rising tide of cost and demand' is curbed, the NHS 'risks becoming unsustainable'. Simon Roberts, Sainsbury's chief executive and a member of the government's Food Strategy Advisory Board, has welcomed Labour's latest proposals to order supermarkets to shave up to 100 calories off the average shopping basket, a measure that, if unmet, could incur fines. He has urged that such rules be applied 'across the entirety of our food sector'. Meanwhile, ministers are also plotting regulations for restaurants to monitor diners' calorie intake and drive it down further.
Scottish Sun
26 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Simply walking slightly faster is enough to ‘boost your health – slashing risk of serious health issues'
Scroll down to find out how fast to walk for health STEP UP Simply walking slightly faster is enough to 'boost your health – slashing risk of serious health issues' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SIMPLY walking faster could be enough exercise to boost your health in old age. A trial on over-60s suggests exactly how much to increase your stride to improve strength and fitness. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Walking is a good form of exercise for older people (stock image) Credit: Alamy It suggests small speed boost could help to prevent frailty, reducing the risk of falls and injuries, and allowing more independent living. Experts at the University of Chicago said picking up the pace could be an easy lifestyle tweak for people who find it hard to exercise. Study author Dr Daniel Rubin said: 'Even casual walking had positive effects on our study participants. 'People who haven't experienced frailty can't imagine how big a difference it makes to be able to not get tired going to the grocery store, or not need to sit down while they're out. Read more on exercise SNOOZE BETTER Can't sleep? 4 exercises proven to beat insomnia and improve sleep quality 'Our results demonstrate that increased walking cadence was associated with an increase in functional capacity improvement.' The study recruited 102 people from retirement communities in the USA and compared their walking speed to their fitness. 14 extra steps per minute to boost health Some continued walking at a casual pace – about 80 steps per minute – while others walked as fast as they safely could, about 100 steps per minute. After four months, people in the fast walking group showed a more significant improvement in fitness tests than the casual walkers. The researchers said an average increase of 14 steps per minute should help to improve someone's health. A report by Sport England this year showed that physical activity among retirees is increasing but at least a third of over-55s do not hit NHS targets. Get fit at 50: Workouts for beginners and those short on time The health service recommends adults get at least 2.5 hours of moderate exercise per week. Writing in the journal Plos One, Dr Rubin added: 'Walking is an important exercise to reduce frailty in older adults. 'It directly benefits the circulatory, cardiopulmonary and immune systems while reducing the risk and severity of various health conditions. 'Walking interventions are advantageous as they are easily scalable, low cost, and can be performed with no additional equipment.'
The Independent
32 minutes ago
- The Independent
Honorary degree for Lindsey Burrow, who supported late husband Rob through MND
Campaigner Lindsey Burrow, who supported her late husband Rob Burrow through his battle with motor neurone disease (MND), has received an honorary doctorate from Leeds Beckett University. The honour has been made in tribute to her public and voluntary service as she continues to fundraise and spread awareness of the disease which killed the rugby league star. Throughout Rob Burrow's battle against MND, the couple raised funds, conducted media interviews and filmed a BBC documentary about their lives. This was while Lindsey Burrow continued to work as an NHS physiotherapist and brought up their three young children. Just two weeks after the former Leeds Rhinos star's death in June 2024, she climbed the highest of Yorkshire's Three Peaks for charity. With Rob's best friend, former teammate and fellow Leeds Beckett alumnus Kevin Sinfield, she has raised more than £20 million for charity. She said: 'I am deeply honoured to receive this honorary doctorate in health. 'This recognition means so much, not just to me, but to everyone affected by MND. 'Raising awareness and funds for the MND community is something I'm incredibly passionate about, and I feel privileged to be able to use my voice to continue Rob's legacy. 'As an NHS physiotherapist, I've seen first-hand the power of compassion and care – and I'll continue to champion both in everything I do.' Professor Peter Slee, Leeds Beckett University vice chancellor, said: 'Lindsey's story is one of love, bravery and selflessness. 'It is a great pleasure to congratulate Lindsey on behalf of all students, colleagues and governors here at Leeds Beckett University. 'It is vital that we recognise the person behind Rob Burrow's legacy and the woman who not only was instrumental in raising awareness and money but also supporting her children at an extremely difficult time and continuing to support her patients in her role as an NHS physiotherapist. 'Lindsey is the perfect example of a resilient role model, and she will be an amazing advocate for our university.'
