Former Liverpool and England footballer John Barnes has disclosed that he underwent surgery to remove his prostate following a cancer diagnosis. The 62-year-old revealed that his children encouraged him to seek medical attention, leading to the discovery.
Barnes Speaks Out on Health Battle
In an interview with The Radio Times, Barnes shared his experience to encourage other men to prioritize their health. He stated: 'Men have to then bite the bullet and swallow their pride and admit if they have problems and say it. So it's a good thing that that has come out.'
Barnes confirmed he is recovering well, saying: 'I'm fine. I have my PSA and everything is OK. The thing about it is that 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. 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 winger, who earned 79 caps for England and enjoyed a stellar club career, urged men not to let pride prevent them from seeking medical help. His openness aims to reduce stigma surrounding men's health issues, particularly prostate cancer, which affects one in eight men in the UK.
