Gabby Logan’s Rugby star husband Kenny reveals shock prostate cancer diagnosis and issues warning

Gabby Logan’s husband Kenny, 50, reveals prostate cancer diagnosis on BBC Breakfast as former Scotland rugby union international says he’s ’90 per cent back to normal’ after treatment

  • Kenny revealed that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in February 
  • Former Scottish rugby international, 50, said it was caught early, he has undergone treatment and is ’90 per cent recovered’ 
  • He is urging men to get tested because symptoms often show once it’s too late 

Gabby Logan’s husband, Kenny, has opened up about his shock prostate cancer diagnosis today as he urged men to get tested for the disease even if they are experiencing no symptoms.

Former Scottish rugby international Kenny Logan, 50, who appeared on BBC Breakfast this morning with his wife said he had no symptoms and ‘had to go looking for it’ in a stark warning about how insidious prostate cancer can be.

‘I literally fell over,’ he said of the February 7 diagnosis. ‘I didn’t see it coming. No symptoms whatsoever… It’s hard.

‘I found I had prostate cancer by accident. If you have symptoms it might be too late. Guys go get tested, simple and could save your life.’ 

The couple, who have been married 21 years, said Logan was ‘extremely lucky’ they caught it early, which afforded him options regarding treatment.

Kenny Logan had surgery in June to remove his prostate to ensure the cancer would not return

Logan was inspired to go for a general check up after hearing guests on his wife’s podcast discuss having their hormones tested. And when he did his results showed a high level of PSA – prostate-specific antigen.

‘I got checked and very quickly, within three to four months, I had a biopsy and they said there was something there but they’d keep an eye on it,’ he said.

He said what stood out the most from that appointment was the specialist telling him ’40 per cent of [his] mates have got this [high PSA levels] but don’t know’. It doesn’t always lead to cancer and many men go their entire lives not knowing.

So when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer a short time later, Logan recalled it being ‘a huge shock’.

Logan hopes his diagnosis will fuel more open discussions in the community, noting men are particularly ‘notorious’ for suffering in silence and not scheduling regular check ups with doctors 

He made the decision to remove the prostate entirely and is now three months post operation feeling almost as good as new. 

‘I’m probably about 90 per cent back to normal,’ he said. 

Gabby, 49,  also spoke about his tough journey back to good health, noting her husband appeared entirely fine right up until the day of the operation.

‘He did a bike session, he had no pain,  no symptoms and to go in and have… a really invasive surgery,  it obviously takes a long time to recover from,’ she said.

‘You’re going to feel a lot worse off after it… but [we’re] very, very, very lucky.’  

The couple will talk at length about Kenny’s diagnosis in a one-off episode on Gabby’s podcast, The Mid Point, released on Wednesday. 

The episode is set to touch on everything from the diagnosis, to surgery and long-term considerations the couple made before deciding that Kenny should undergo an operation.

He and his wife Gabby made the revelation on BBC Breakfast to urge men to get tested

He and his wife Gabby made the revelation on BBC Breakfast to urge men to get tested

Logan hopes his diagnosis will fuel more open discussions in the community, noting men are particularly ‘notorious’ for suffering in silence and not scheduling regular check ups with doctors.

Prostate cancer can often be treated if caught early, but symptoms usually do not show up until the cancer is already in advanced states.

It is the most common cancer in men in the UK. The couple are encouraging men to learn more about the disease and consider talking to their GP about the risks. 

Every year, upwards of 52,300 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in the UK – more than 140 every day.   

Up to 11,800 men in Britain die from prostate cancer annually, meaning it trails only lung and bowel cancer in yearly fatalities.

WHAT IS PROSTATE CANCER?

How many people does it kill? 

More than 11,800 men a year – or one every 45 minutes – are killed by the disease in Britain, compared with about 11,400 women dying of breast cancer.

It means prostate cancer is behind only lung and bowel in terms of how many people it kills in Britain. 

In the US, the disease kills 26,000 men each year.

Despite this, it receives less than half the research funding of breast cancer and treatments for the disease are trailing at least a decade behind.

How many men are diagnosed annually?

Every year, upwards of 52,300 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in the UK – more than 140 every day.   

How quickly does it develop? 

Prostate cancer usually develops slowly, so there may be no signs someone has it for many years, according to the NHS. 

If the cancer is at an early stage and not causing symptoms, a policy of ‘watchful waiting’ or ‘active surveillance’ may be adopted. 

Some patients can be cured if the disease is treated in the early stages.

But if it diagnosed at a later stage, when it has spread, then it becomes terminal and treatment revolves around relieving symptoms.

Thousands of men are put off seeking a diagnosis because of the known side effects from treatment, including erectile dysfunction.

Tests and treatment

Tests for prostate cancer are haphazard, with accurate tools only just beginning to emerge. 

There is no national prostate screening programme as for years the tests have been too inaccurate.

Doctors struggle to distinguish between aggressive and less serious tumours, making it hard to decide on treatment.

Men over 50 are eligible for a ‘PSA’ blood test which gives doctors a rough idea of whether a patient is at risk.

But it is unreliable. Patients who get a positive result are usually given a biopsy which is also not foolproof. 

Scientists are unsure as to what causes prostate cancer, but age, obesity and a lack of exercise are known risks. 

Anyone with any concerns can speak to Prostate Cancer UK’s specialist nurses on 0800 074 8383 or visit prostatecanceruk.org

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