Rugby legend Sir Ian McGeechan says his prostate cancer is “all gone and under control” – and is urging the government to introduce a national screening programme.
In his first TV interview about his diagnosis and treatment, the only man to win Lions tours as a player and head coach spoke about the importance of more testing to find the cancer early.
“It’s a blow when it hits you that a consultant tells you you’ve got cancer,” Sir Ian told Sky News. “But when you look at what’s there now in place to treat it, everybody should have the opportunity to find out early. Sooner rather than later, and not be reliant on a possible whim of a decision.”
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood tests are only routinely made available to over-50s, with their reliability questioned and concerns they can miss aggressive cancers.
Sir Ian said: “I finished the treatment at the end of April and then had a follow-up test at the end of May – and the PSA was down to 0.8, which effectively said it’s gone.
“So when you hear that after having heard somebody say to you you’ve got cancer is quite special.
“The prostate cancer’s all gone and under control, so delighted.”
McGeechan has called for the government to introduce a national screening programme for prostate cancer
Now Sir Ian is using his status and platform to raise awareness, speaking to us while his rugby achievements were celebrated at Leeds Beckett University as an alumnus entering the new sport hall of fame.
Prostate Cancer UK says 63,000 men are diagnosed annually in Britain, with 12,000 dying.
“It needs that support from government,” Sir Ian said. “There has to be a screening programme because prostate cancer is recoverable.
“And it would be a great shame if people miss that opportunity to have a scan and not just be able to have it there rather than be asking can you, can’t you.”
The UK National Screening Committee is assessing whether to launch a prostate cancer screening programme with calls for annual tests.
Sir Ian said: “If you’ve got cancer in the family then it just makes sense to be able to offer that screening and just educate people and make them aware of what some of the symptoms are. Because I didn’t feel ill, I felt fine.”
It was his wife who figured something might not be right when he was getting up twice in the night to use the toilet, rather than sleeping through for up to 10 hours.
“We had a fantastic GP who reacted straight away with the PSA test,” Sir Ian said. “Then biopsy, MRI scan and they found it relatively early and monitored it for a year.
“And then it changed grades in parts and so they introduced me to hormone therapy and radiotherapy. So that was fairly intense the early part of this year.”
McGeechan is Lions royalty, playing for them in 1974 and 1977 and coaching them in 1989, 1993, 1997 and 2009
Now, he has a new lease of life – still working with Doncaster Knights. Sir Ian went on two Lions tours as a player – winning in 1974 in South Africa.
He coached on five tours, triumphing as head coach in Australia in 1989 and South Africa in 1997.
With Scotland there will always be the Five Nations Grand Slam won as head coach in 1990 – his country’s last major rugby title.
“I do feel privileged to have had those opportunities,” he said.
And so appreciative of the NHS for his cancer treatment.
“It’s just great to have seen something that works so well when it’s in place at the right time to make such a huge difference,” he said.
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
76ers’ VJ Edgecombe breaks records held by LeBron James, Allen Iverson in incredible NBA debut vs. Celtics
Getty Images Philadelphia 76ers rookie VJ Edgecombe got off to a historic start to his NBA career on Wednesday by breaking a 22-year-old record held by LeBron James. Edgecombe, the No. 3 overall pick out of Baylor, scored 14 points in the first quarter against the Boston Celtics to pass the NBA record previously set by James in 2003.In James' NBA debut against the Sacramento Kings, he scored 12 points in the first quarter. Edgecombe got to 14 points by knocking down a 3-pointer with 1:14 remaining in the quarter to make history. Edgecombe, when he scored his 31st and 32nd points with a bucket at the 5:37 mark of the fourth quarter, also broke the 76ers franchise record for most points scored in an NBA debut. That record was previously held by Allen Iverson, who scored 30 in his first game […]
Guardians reportedly block Emmanuel Clase from pitching in Venezuelan league amid MLB gambling investigation
Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase still appears quite some distance from ever playing baseball again.The Guardians have blocked the flame-throwing right-hander from pitching in the Venezuelan winter league according to The Athletic's Evan Drellich, a week after he was banned from playing in a winter league in his home country of the Dominican Republic.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementPer Drellich, Clase planned to play for the Tiburones de La Guaira in Venezuela after his Dominican ban, but MLB's agreement with the array of Latin American winter leagues generally forbids players from joining a team outside of his native country without permission from MLB and his club. Cleveland did not grant it.Clase still hasn't pitched since July 26. He was placed on indefinite, paid leave two days later as part of a gambling investigation by MLB. The exact nature of the allegations have not been reported, […]
76ers rookie VJ Edgecombe breaks an old LeBron James record with historic first quarter in NBA debut
VJ Edgecombe didn’t waste any time with his NBA debut.Edgecombe made history in the Philadelphia 76ers’ season-opener against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night. The former Baylor star dropped 14 points in the first 12 minutes of that matchup at TD Garden, breaking a record that LeBron James set more than two decades ago in his debut.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementEdgecombe has now scored the most points in the first quarter of an NBA debut in league history. James, when he was playing in his first season with the Cleveland Cavaliers back in 2003, had 12 points in the opening period of his debut.It took Edgecombe a few minutes to get going, too, which makes his feat that much more impressive. The 20-year-old made a single free throw in the first few minutes of the game, but didn’t hit his first field goal until […]
MLB playoffs post best ratings since 2017 ahead of Dodgers-Blue Jays World Series
The 2025 MLB playoffs have not lacked for drama ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers-Toronto Blue Jays World Series. It hasn't lacked for viewers, either.Two days before the Fall Classic is set to begin, MLB announced its playoffs games have averaged 4.48 million viewers across 40 games, making it the league's most-watched postseason since 2017 and a 13% increase over last year's numbers.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement[Yahoo Sports TV is here! Watch live shows and highlights 24/7]Ratings have been particularly strong in Canada and Japan, for obvious reasons. Game 7 of the ALCS, in which the Toronto Blue Jays eliminated the Seattle Mariners and advanced to their first World Series since 1993, averaged six million viewers in Canada, the most-watched Blue Jays game ever on Sportsnet. Overall, the game drew 15.03 million combined between Sportsnet and the Fox family of networks and streaming, the […]
Jets won’t name a QB1, Will we see AI refs? + Can Lamar Jackson save the Ravens’ season?
Subscribe to Inside CoverageYahoo Sports’ Andrew Siciliano and Charles Robinson break down Sean Payton walking back his comments on Russell Wilson and debate whether Russ should still be upset. The guys then dive into the QB dilemma between Woody Johnson and Aaron Glenn before exploring how AI could change NFL officiating. They tackle the future of the tush push, the Pro Bowl’s move to Super Bowl week, and preview Vikings-Chargers on TNF. Finally, they close things out with a question on what’s next for the Ravens if they fall to 1-6 and whether John Harbaugh’s message is growing stale.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement(3:24) Sean Payton walks back Russ comments(16:04) Aaron Glenn keeping QB a secret(23:06) Goodell says NFL exploring AI referee assistance(34:37) Could the “Tush Push” be finally banned?(38:53) Pro Bowl moves to Tuesday of Super Bowl week(46:22) TNF Preview: Vikings-Chargers(54:04) What if the […]
Why G League players are being allowed to play college basketball
In late September, Santa Clara announced the signing of guard Thierry Darlan from the Central African Republic. It was the kind of mundane move that would ordinarily go unnoticed across college basketball, except for one unprecedented detail.Darlan spent the previous two years in the G League, first with the now-defunct G League Ignite and then with the Delaware Blue Coats and Rip City Remix.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWhen Darlan makes his Santa Clara debut next month, he will become the first G League alum to play college basketball. The 21-year-old is listed as a junior on Santa Clara’s roster and will have two seasons of college eligibility.The NCAA’s decision to allow Darlan to play for Santa Clara has already opened the door for other schools to pursue G League prospects. On Monday, London Johnson, a former four-star recruit who has spent the past three […]
Related
76ers’ VJ Edgecombe breaks records held by LeBron James, Allen Iverson in incredible NBA debut vs. Celtics
Getty Images Philadelphia 76ers rookie VJ Edgecombe got off to a historic start to his NBA career on Wednesday by breaking a 22-year-old record held by LeBron James. Edgecombe, the No. 3 overall pick out of Baylor, scored 14 points in the first quarter against the Boston Celtics to pass the NBA record previously set by James in 2003.In James' NBA debut against the Sacramento Kings, he scored 12 points in the first quarter. Edgecombe got to 14 points by knocking down a 3-pointer with 1:14 remaining in the quarter to make history. Edgecombe, when he scored his 31st and 32nd points with a bucket at the 5:37 mark of the fourth quarter, also broke the 76ers franchise record for most points scored in an NBA debut. That record was previously held by Allen Iverson, who scored 30 in his first game […]
Guardians reportedly block Emmanuel Clase from pitching in Venezuelan league amid MLB gambling investigation
Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase still appears quite some distance from ever playing baseball again.The Guardians have blocked the flame-throwing right-hander from pitching in the Venezuelan winter league according to The Athletic's Evan Drellich, a week after he was banned from playing in a winter league in his home country of the Dominican Republic.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementPer Drellich, Clase planned to play for the Tiburones de La Guaira in Venezuela after his Dominican ban, but MLB's agreement with the array of Latin American winter leagues generally forbids players from joining a team outside of his native country without permission from MLB and his club. Cleveland did not grant it.Clase still hasn't pitched since July 26. He was placed on indefinite, paid leave two days later as part of a gambling investigation by MLB. The exact nature of the allegations have not been reported, […]
76ers rookie VJ Edgecombe breaks an old LeBron James record with historic first quarter in NBA debut
VJ Edgecombe didn’t waste any time with his NBA debut.Edgecombe made history in the Philadelphia 76ers’ season-opener against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night. The former Baylor star dropped 14 points in the first 12 minutes of that matchup at TD Garden, breaking a record that LeBron James set more than two decades ago in his debut.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementEdgecombe has now scored the most points in the first quarter of an NBA debut in league history. James, when he was playing in his first season with the Cleveland Cavaliers back in 2003, had 12 points in the opening period of his debut.It took Edgecombe a few minutes to get going, too, which makes his feat that much more impressive. The 20-year-old made a single free throw in the first few minutes of the game, but didn’t hit his first field goal until […]
MLB playoffs post best ratings since 2017 ahead of Dodgers-Blue Jays World Series
The 2025 MLB playoffs have not lacked for drama ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers-Toronto Blue Jays World Series. It hasn't lacked for viewers, either.Two days before the Fall Classic is set to begin, MLB announced its playoffs games have averaged 4.48 million viewers across 40 games, making it the league's most-watched postseason since 2017 and a 13% increase over last year's numbers.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement[Yahoo Sports TV is here! Watch live shows and highlights 24/7]Ratings have been particularly strong in Canada and Japan, for obvious reasons. Game 7 of the ALCS, in which the Toronto Blue Jays eliminated the Seattle Mariners and advanced to their first World Series since 1993, averaged six million viewers in Canada, the most-watched Blue Jays game ever on Sportsnet. Overall, the game drew 15.03 million combined between Sportsnet and the Fox family of networks and streaming, the […]
Jets won’t name a QB1, Will we see AI refs? + Can Lamar Jackson save the Ravens’ season?
Subscribe to Inside CoverageYahoo Sports’ Andrew Siciliano and Charles Robinson break down Sean Payton walking back his comments on Russell Wilson and debate whether Russ should still be upset. The guys then dive into the QB dilemma between Woody Johnson and Aaron Glenn before exploring how AI could change NFL officiating. They tackle the future of the tush push, the Pro Bowl’s move to Super Bowl week, and preview Vikings-Chargers on TNF. Finally, they close things out with a question on what’s next for the Ravens if they fall to 1-6 and whether John Harbaugh’s message is growing stale.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement(3:24) Sean Payton walks back Russ comments(16:04) Aaron Glenn keeping QB a secret(23:06) Goodell says NFL exploring AI referee assistance(34:37) Could the “Tush Push” be finally banned?(38:53) Pro Bowl moves to Tuesday of Super Bowl week(46:22) TNF Preview: Vikings-Chargers(54:04) What if the […]
Why G League players are being allowed to play college basketball
In late September, Santa Clara announced the signing of guard Thierry Darlan from the Central African Republic. It was the kind of mundane move that would ordinarily go unnoticed across college basketball, except for one unprecedented detail.Darlan spent the previous two years in the G League, first with the now-defunct G League Ignite and then with the Delaware Blue Coats and Rip City Remix.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWhen Darlan makes his Santa Clara debut next month, he will become the first G League alum to play college basketball. The 21-year-old is listed as a junior on Santa Clara’s roster and will have two seasons of college eligibility.The NCAA’s decision to allow Darlan to play for Santa Clara has already opened the door for other schools to pursue G League prospects. On Monday, London Johnson, a former four-star recruit who has spent the past three […]
Be the first to leave a comment