Rugby Legend Sir Ian McGeechan Declares Cancer-Free, Advocates for Screening

Rugby legend Sir Ian McGeechan has announced that his prostate cancer is now “all gone and under control,” a diagnosis he revealed during a recent television interview. This significant update comes as he urges the UK government to implement a national screening programme for prostate cancer, emphasizing the need for early detection.

In his first interview on the subject, McGeechan shared his journey with the disease and the importance of access to testing. “It’s a blow when it hits you that a consultant tells you you’ve got cancer,” he told Sky News. “But when you look at what’s there now in place to treat it, everybody should have the opportunity to find out early. Sooner rather than later, and not be reliant on a possible whim of a decision.”

Currently, routine prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood tests are only offered to men over the age of 50. The reliability of these tests has been questioned, as they may miss more aggressive forms of cancer. Following his treatment, McGeechan’s PSA levels dropped to 0.8, indicating that the cancer is no longer present. “So when you hear that after having heard somebody say to you you’ve got cancer is quite special,” he remarked.

McGeechan, who served as both a player and head coach for the British and Irish Lions, is now using his platform to raise awareness about prostate cancer. He spoke while being honoured at Leeds Beckett University, where he was inducted into the new sports hall of fame. According to Prostate Cancer UK, approximately 63,000 men are diagnosed with the disease annually in Britain, leading to 12,000 deaths each year.

“It needs that support from government,” McGeechan stated. “There has to be a screening programme because prostate cancer is recoverable. And it would be a great shame if people miss that opportunity to have a scan and not just be able to have it there rather than be asking can you, can’t you.”

The UK National Screening Committee is currently evaluating the potential launch of a prostate cancer screening programme, amid calls for annual testing. McGeechan emphasized the importance of awareness, especially for those with a family history of the disease. “If you’ve got cancer in the family then it just makes sense to be able to offer that screening and just educate people and make them aware of what some of the symptoms are,” he explained.

His own journey began when his wife noticed a change in his routine. He was waking up twice during the night to use the bathroom, a significant shift from his usual uninterrupted sleep. “We had a fantastic GP who reacted straight away with the PSA test,” McGeechan recalled. This led to a biopsy and MRI scan, which confirmed the presence of cancer.

Following a year of monitoring and a change in the cancer’s grade, he underwent a combination of hormone therapy and radiotherapy earlier this year. Now, with his health restored, McGeechan continues his involvement in rugby, working with the Doncaster Knights.

Reflecting on his illustrious career, which includes winning two Lions tours as a player and coaching victories in 1989 and 1997, McGeechan expressed gratitude for the treatment he received. “It’s just great to have seen something that works so well when it’s in place at the right time to make such a huge difference,” he said. His story serves as both a personal triumph and a call to action for improved health measures in the UK.