John Barnes has revealed his secret battle with prostate cancer, saying he was inspired to come forward after speaking about the diagnoses of fellow Liverpool legends Sir Kenny Dalglish and Kevin Keegan. The former England and Liverpool winger, who recently shared that he had privately battled and recovered from prostate cancer following surgery, hopes to encourage other players and fans to get checked.
Barnes Speaks Out
Speaking to the Daily Star, Barnes explained: "I didn't need to say anything. I've been clear for years. I only came out the other day because I was talking about Kevin Keegan and [Sir] Kenny Dalglish." The 62-year-old, who won two league titles and two FA Cups at Anfield, believes many footballers and fans worry they will be seen as less 'macho' if diagnosed with prostate cancer. While the disease rarely impacts testosterone levels, treatments can reduce testosterone, causing side effects like fatigue, reduced sex drive, and erectile dysfunction.
Breaking the Stigma
Barnes said: "Because of [conceptions of] macho men, you don't want to say... you are lacking testosterone if you had [prostate cancer]. There is a bit of stigma." He emphasised the importance of speaking up and getting checked, adding: "We'd much rather have you here than not." Prostate cancer is highly treatable when caught early, making regular checks crucial. For Barnes, promoting Pukka Pies' new chicken vindaloo, the message is clear: "The more men who get checked and the more who come out and say they have prostate cancer, the more lives we can save."
Dalglish and Keegan Diagnoses
Barnes' encouragement follows the public disclosures of Kevin Keegan and Sir Kenny Dalglish. Former England captain and manager Keegan recently revealed he is battling stage four cancer after developing abdominal symptoms. Dalglish, who signed Barnes as Liverpool manager, announced he was undergoing treatment for prostate cancer, describing the process as 'going well'. In a social media post, he thanked medical staff for their care and discretion. Liverpool FC released a statement wishing Dalglish well, saying: "The support, best wishes and love of everyone at Liverpool FC are, and will continue to be, with Sir Kenny and his family."
