The Dark Knight star Colin McFarlane shares prostate cancer diagnosis
Colin McFarlane has revealed he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. The British actor, best known for appearing in the The Dark Knight trilogy, was diagnosed in December 2022, just nine months after his brother learned he also had the illness.
He learned of his condition after a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, which can be given to men without symptoms after a consultation with a doctor. McFarlane also said he'd been tested regularly since a fellow actor had been treated for prostate cancer almost two decades earlier.
Revealing he was told of the disease's prevalence among Black men in particular, McFarlane said in a statement (via The Mirror): "I was already aware of the risk to me, so had been having annual and then six-monthly regular PSA blood tests with my GP. Too many men Black men are dying from prostate cancer. They need to know that a simple blood test could save their life."
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McFarlane also noted that he does not require treatment, describing himself as "one of the lucky ones", and is instead being monitored with PSA blood tests every three months.
He added: "As it's a very slow-moving cancer, I am in the best possible position to ascertain what treatment I would need in the future if that were ever deemed necessary, and currently that scenario is a long way off. It's men who take no action and don't know anything about their prostate health that are at the greatest risk."
The star has since joined forces with the charity Prostate Cancer UK for their new awareness campaign, encouraging men to take a PSA test.
⭐️SAVE A LIFE⭐️
Next week is ‘Men’s Health week’
I’ll be doing interviews in the press & on TV to raise awareness about a disease there is sadly MASSIVE ignorance about. Watch the video & keep the men in your life informed. 12,000 men a year are dying from this & 10,000… https://t.co/bggHAYHcRI— Colin McFarlane🙏🏽🇺🇦 (@colinmcfarlane) June 10, 2023
Related: Former Good Morning Britain star Anne Diamond reveals breast cancer diagnosis
In a Twitter repost of a video in which he appears as a news anchor to address prostate cancer myths, McFarlane said: "By increasing awareness we can save SO many lives. Please spread the word to your fathers and brothers over 45 (if Black) and over 50 (if white). Thank you."
McFarlane is perhaps best known for playing police commissioner Gillian B. Loeb in Batman Begins and its sequel, The Dark Knight. His additional on-screen credits include Doctor Who and lending his voice to the ITV game show The Cube.
If you would like more information or support about living with cancer or treatment, please click here for guidance from Macmillan Cancer Support, or click here to learn more from Stand Up to Cancer.
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