Former England and Liverpool striker John Barnes has revealed that he had his prostate removed after being diagnosed with prostate cancer. The 62-year-old shared the news during an appearance on Times Radio, stating that 'not many people know' about his condition but confirming that he is now 'fine'.
Barnes, who won 79 caps for England and enjoyed a stellar 10-year career at Liverpool, spoke about the stigma surrounding treatment for the disease. 'A lot of men don't want to admit it or want to have it done because it makes them feel less than a man,' he said. 'But you're not, you're exactly the same, you're the same person and you're around and that's the main thing.'
The former forward also highlighted the need for greater awareness, particularly among black men, who are at higher risk. He described a government initiative inviting black men aged 45 to 74 to take part in a prostate cancer screening trial as 'a good thing'.
Chiara De Biase, Fundraising and Health Strategy Director at Prostate Cancer UK, thanked Barnes for speaking out. 'We're so grateful to John for talking so openly about his prostate cancer diagnosis and we're happy to hear he's had successful treatment,' she said. 'One in eight men will get prostate cancer, and your risk intensifies if you're Black or have a family history, like John. But it can be curable if found early.'
