Jools Holland reveals 2014 prostate cancer diagnosis in bid to save lives by raising awareness after having ‘no symptoms’

Jools Holland was diagnosed and successfully treated for prostate cancer in 2014 (Picture: PA)

Jools Holland has opened up for the first time about being diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2014 in order to help others be aware of the disease, after revealing he had ‘no symptoms’. 

The musician and TV star, 64, is hoping to raise more awareness of the risk of prostate cancer, which was diagnosed following a routine blood test. 

He has teamed up with men’s health charity Prostate Cancer UK for a musical event called Raise the Roof, which will see stars including Paul Weller and Spice Girl Melanie C take to the stage at the Royal Albert Hall on June 22.

Jools told PA that he hopes to save lives by speaking out, explaining: ‘If I can bring people’s awareness to the facts of prostate cancer then I would certainly stand on top of my piano and shout about it because I think it’s really important.’

He revealed that his cancer, which has since been successfully treated, was found by chance, explaining: ‘I had no awareness of prostate cancer, no symptoms that I noticed whatsoever, until I was diagnosed following a routine blood test in 2014. 

‘Thankfully I was successfully treated, but if more people were aware of their risk and caught the disease early, then more lives would be saved.

Jools Holland (left) and founder of Prostate Cancer UK, Professor Jonathan Waxman (right) are hoping to raise awareness to help save others’ lives (Picture: PA)

‘If Raise the Roof was able to achieve this and save one man’s life, it would be the best thing ever that would come out of this.’

The idea for Raise The Roof came from Jools and his friend and the founder of Prostate Cancer UK, Professor Jonathan Waxman, with funds raised going towards research into helping to find a better testing approach to prostate cancer and one which could be used for a UK-wide screening programme.

Jools also urged others to get themselves checked out, adding: ‘People often think “this is something that happens to other people”. It’s not like I felt any different.

‘It’s not like I suddenly felt ill, except you suddenly have this thing hanging over your head and you think “hang on, don’t people die from all this?” So obviously that was of concern, but then once I started talking to Professor Waxman I realised there are all sorts of ways of dealing with it if caught early.’

He added: ‘Had I not had that routine test, where something had shown up, then I would have just gone on and on until it was perhaps too late to have done anything about it.

The musician had ‘no symptoms’ before being diagnosed (Picture: BBC/Samantha Wynn)

‘And that’s why it’s really important for men to be aware of the facts of prostate cancer and understand their risk.’

The musician also urged others not to be embarrassed to talk about prostate cancer, adding: ‘I think there will be thousands and thousands of other men out there who aren’t aware of prostate cancer, as well as lots of men who find it difficult to talk about this sort of thing.

‘It’s very important to not be afraid to have conversations because it is much better to discuss and address something early, than leave it until it is too late.’

Raise The Roof will be hosted by former Strictly Come Dancing contestant and TV presenter AJ Odudu and comedian and actor Jim Moir. 

Guest stars will include Celeste, Paloma Faith, Ruby Turner, comedy stars Shaparak Khorsandi, Gina Yashere and Stephen K Amos, and more names still to be announced.

More: Cancer

Prostate Cancer UK estimates that one in eight men in the UK is affected by prostate cancer every year, with around 14,000 men in England potentially having undiagnosed prostate cancer and being in need of urgent treatment. 

To join Jools Holland and special guests at The Royal Albert Hall visit prostatecanceruk.org/get-involved/raise-the-roof

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