TV presenter Johnny Ball, 87, has revealed that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in August 2022 and underwent three months of daily radiotherapy. Thankfully, his treatment was successful, and he has now confirmed that he is “through it” and “fine.” 

Ball, father of BBC Radio 2 DJ Zoe Ball is best known for presenting children’s television programmes such as Play School and Think Of A Number. His willingness to speak publicly about his prostate cancer diagnosis is an important step in encouraging men to be aware of the disease. 

Chiara De Biase, Director of Health Services, Equity and Improvement at Prostate Cancer UK, said:
“We’re incredibly grateful to Johnny Ball for speaking so openly about his prostate cancer diagnosis, and glad to hear he’s had effective treatment. By sharing his story, he’s raising vital awareness with men across the UK, showing how the earlier you find prostate cancer, the easier it is to treat, and how an earlier diagnosis can save your life.” 

Prostate cancer is often symptomless in its early stages, which means men may not realise they are at risk until the disease has progressed. That is why awareness and early testing are so important. At GFCT, we urge men over 40 to understand their risk with a simple PSA test which can indicate the health of your prostate. 

Links: 

• Find out more about PSA testing here.
• Book your PSA test here.
• Read the full article on The Independent here.

Johnny Ball's story is a powerful reminder that prostate cancer can affect anyone, and that early testing plays a vital role in saving lives.