Kenny Logan, the 53-year-old former rugby star and husband of BBC presenter Gabby Logan, has shared the poignant moment he learned he had prostate cancer—a diagnosis that came unexpectedly after a routine test.
Despite showing no symptoms, Kenny's cancer was detected by chance during a Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test. The test itself was prompted by a conversation on Gabby Logan's podcast, The Midpoint, which focused on changes men experience during midlife. Encouraged by his wife, Kenny decided to take the straightforward test, assuming all would be well.
However, doctors found his PSA levels were higher than normal, triggering further monitoring and eventually leading to more detailed investigations. Recounting the moment he received the diagnosis on BBC Radio 2's Tracks Of My Years with Vernon Kay, Kenny described the chilling exchange: "I thought I'd be fine, [I] tested every six months, 'Yeah you're fine' and then I couldn't do the meeting, so I said [to the doctor] 'Can just we do a Zoom?'."
He continued, "And he said, 'Yeah, yeah fine, I'll get the results', thinking it'll be like the same as it was last time. He said, 'Is Gabby with you?' and I went 'Yep', and as soon as he said, 'Is she with you?' I just knew something was not right. He was right, I've got prostate cancer." That simple question from his doctor was enough to signal the gravity of the news.
Faced with treatment options including brachytherapy, radiotherapy, or surgery, Kenny opted for surgery to remove his prostate. Reflecting on his decision in a 2022 interview with BBC Sport, he said, "I decided to take it out. I'm now three months since the operation, had the prostate out, I'm probably 95 per cent back to normal. I'm extremely lucky." By February 2023, Kenny had received the all-clear, a relief that underscored the importance of early detection.
Kenny, a father of two, is convinced that had he not voluntarily undergone the PSA test, his prognosis might have been far worse. His experience has fueled his advocacy for earlier and more widespread testing for prostate cancer. Following the diagnosis of Sir Chris Hoy, the six-time Olympic cycling champion who revealed in October 2024 that his prostate cancer had become terminal after spreading to his bones, Kenny has been vocal about the need for a UK-wide screening programme.
He told Daily Mail Sport, "Fifty feels a bit old. It should be like an MOT. It should be the first thing that happens. You've got to go and get tested." Kenny emphasized the broader implications of late diagnosis, noting, "All of this is putting more pressure on the NHS, and pressure on families. The way to attack it is to get it early." His call highlights a critical public health issue: detecting prostate cancer before it progresses to advanced stages.
Currently, the NHS does not routinely offer PSA testing unless men present symptoms suggestive of prostate cancer or require monitoring for ongoing prostate conditions. According to Prostate Cancer UK, the NHS's Prostate Cancer Risk Management Programme (PCRMP) provides guidelines whereby any asymptomatic man aged 50 and over can make an appointment with their GP to discuss having a PSA test. However, GPs are advised not to proactively raise the issue with men who show no symptoms.
The PCRMP website explains, "The PCRMP provides good quality evidence-based information to help guide primary health care professionals in these discussions. Men aged 50 and over who decide to have a PSA test based on this balanced information can do so for free on the NHS." This approach aims to balance the benefits and risks of PSA testing, which has been a subject of debate in medical circles.
Prostate cancer typically develops slowly, often without symptoms for many years. When symptoms do appear, they usually result from the prostate growing large enough to affect the urethra, the tube carrying urine from the bladder out of the penis. Symptoms can include an increased need to urinate, straining while urinating, or a sensation that the bladder has not fully emptied. While these signs should not be ignored, they do not necessarily mean a man has prostate cancer, underscoring the importance of medical evaluation.
Kenny Logan's story is a powerful reminder of the silent nature of prostate cancer and the potential life-saving impact of early detection. His advocacy, coupled with the tragic news of Sir Chris Hoy's terminal diagnosis, adds urgency to calls for a more proactive approach to testing in the UK. As Kenny insists, making PSA testing as routine and normalized as an MOT for cars could transform outcomes for countless men and ease the strain on healthcare systems and families alike.
