Actress and TV presenter Kym Marsh has revealed that her family was left shattered when her late father disclosed his heartbreaking prostate cancer diagnosis. Dave Marsh, 74, passed away in 2024 following a three-year battle with incurable prostate cancer, which had spread after he delayed seeking medical attention during the pandemic.
A devastating revelation
Marsh, 49, a former Coronation Street star, described her father as the "don of the family" despite his small stature. "He was only little in terms of his height, but he had the heart of a lion," she told the Press Association. "He was just dad. He was everything to everyone – he was brave, funny and so supportive. He adored the bones of my mum, they were so close."
Her mother, Pauline, has been "left devastated" after losing her husband of 60 years. Marsh recalled the moment her father admitted he could not beat the disease: "When we found out dad was terminally ill and his cancer was incurable, it broke us. Nothing seemed to get him down. But he said to us: 'This is a fight I'm going to lose, I can't beat this one.' That was devastating to hear."
Continuing his legacy
After his diagnosis, Dave Marsh's first instinct was to help others. He and Kym campaigned to raise awareness, and the family has continued that mission. Her son-in-law, Mikey Hoszowskyj, ran the 2024 TCS London Marathon for Prostate Cancer UK. Now, her future daughter-in-law, Carmen Dickinson, will run the London Marathon in his memory. "She never met my dad, but it's so lovely she wants to do this for us and for prostate cancer," Marsh said.
Marsh emphasised the importance of early detection: "It is so devastating to a family. It was devastating to us and to my dad to think that he'd left it too late. And that's something we don't want to happen to anyone else."
Prostate Cancer UK notes that one in eight men will be diagnosed in their lifetime, with higher risk for those over 50, black men, or those with a family history. The NHS advises that symptoms may include increased urination frequency, straining, or a feeling of incomplete bladder emptying.
