Former Sky Sports broadcaster Chris Kamara has opened up about a prostate cancer scare that followed a routine blood test two years ago.
The beloved football personality discovered his PSA levels were slightly raised, prompting fears about his health and reinforcing his commitment to raising awareness.
Kamara has worked with Prostate Cancer UK for over a decade and says that knowledge of the disease helped him cope when his own results came back concerning.
“Any man would feel scared about the prospect of getting prostate cancer,” said Kamara. “I’ve been working with the charity for more than a decade, so I know that early diagnosis is absolutely key.”
He is now preparing to tackle the Great North Run alongside close friend Ben Shephard and his son Jack, with all proceeds going to Prostate Cancer UK.
The 13.1-mile race will mark Kamara’s return to the Great North Run for the first time in 26 years, making the challenge even more significant on a personal level.
Kamara has been particularly vocal about the heightened risk faced by black men, urging them especially to seek testing without delay.
“Prostate cancer affects 1 in 8 men, but if you are black, like me, it’s double the risk. But this disease is treatable if you catch it early.”
He also addressed the embarrassment that prevents many men from seeking help, offering a direct and no-nonsense message to those putting off their check-up.
“The problem with prostate checking, it’s your genitals, and you feel embarrassed when you shouldn’t be. These doctors and nurses have seen it all before. Get over that problem and go and get yourself checked.”
Kamara described the stories he has encountered through his charity work as “heartbreaking and inspirational at the same time,” highlighting how deeply the cause has affected him personally.
Prostate Cancer UK offers a risk checker on their website that takes just 30 seconds to complete and, as Kamara stresses, “may just save your life.”
Television presenter Ben Shephard, known for This Morning and Tipping Point, said he “jumped at the chance” to join Kamara for the run, describing him as “such a brilliant guy.”
The cause carries personal weight for Shephard too, as his own father was diagnosed with prostate cancer, making this run a meaningful undertaking for both men.
Prostate cancer is now the most common cancer in the UK, with around 60,000 new cases identified each year and over 12,000 lives lost to the disease annually.
