John Barnes has revealed that he had prostate cancer and underwent surgery to remove his prostate, saying he is now fine after keeping the diagnosis largely private. The 62-year-old made the disclosure in an interview on Times Radio, describing a personal health battle that had not been widely known.
His decision to speak out matters because prostate cancer is often a subject men avoid, even as awareness campaigns push them to get checked earlier. Barnes said not many people knew about his condition and called it a taboo topic, even while urging men to swallow their pride and talk about problems instead of hiding them.
“I’ve had prostate cancer, I’ve had my prostate out, not many people know and it’s a bit of a taboo subject because we support women with breast cancer and it’s not even an issue,” he said. He added that in black men prostate cancer is more prevalent, making early awareness and treatment even more important. Barnes said men have to “bite the bullet” and admit if they have problems, while stressing that treatment does not change who they are.
The disclosure lands this week alongside other cancer updates from former Liverpool-linked figures, including Sir Kenny Dalglish and Kevin Keegan. Dalglish said in a social media post that he is currently undergoing treatment for cancer and that it is going well, while asking for privacy for him and his family. Liverpool FC said its support, best wishes and love were with Dalglish and his family.
Keegan also said he has stage four cancer, explaining that doctors found it during a scan linked to an operation after a car accident. He said he had been told there was an “absolute top doctor” for fighting what he has, and gave the figure as 33 per cent. Barnes did not give a timeline for his diagnosis or recovery, but his choice to speak publicly now puts him among those trying to break the silence around a disease that often advances quietly.
