Jeffrey Archer gives cancer update and urges 'stupid macho men' to get checked

One of Britain’s most famous authors, Lord Jeffrey Archer, has given fans an update on his cancer battle.

Appearing on BBC Breakfast on Tuesday, he discussed his current health and sent an impassioned plea to “macho men” who don’t want to get their prostate checked.

Archer made the comments while chatting to BBC host Jon Kay about his final book Adam & Eve, which will be released in October to coincide with the 50th anniversary of his career as a novelist.

Kay said: "You've spoken very honestly about your experience with prostate cancer, the effect on you mentally and physically of the treatment you had and on our programme, on BBC Breakfast, we've heard from a lot of people who have been through this too. Including Sir Chris Hoy."

Jeffrey Archer updated fans on his prostate cancer battle

BBC

Archer, who is a former MP, called the Team GB icon a “great man”, before touching on his own experience with cancer.

"I've been very aware of how lucky I am. I say to anybody listening - go to your doctor and check your PSA [Prostate Specific Antigen],” he urged.

“There are too many stupid men who say, 'Oh no, I'm a macho guy, I don't do that sort of thing, I won't be checking my PSA'. Check your PSA."

Archer was diagnosed with prostate cancer after a routine blood test revealed he had a slightly high PSA level.

When asked how he is doing at the moment, he said he is “fine” and demonstrated his good health by swiftly getting up from his chair and sitting back down again.

Telling Kay he is 86, he joked that the movement is one of his “big exercises of the day”.

Jon chuckled at the quip, prompting Archer to joked: "Don't laugh, Jon, it'll come to you!"

Archer pictured with Dame Joan Collins in 2023

Getty

The author had a biopsy after his PSA, which confirmed that he had cancer. He went on to have a four-hour operation to remove the whole prostate and the cancer.

Writing in The Mail on Sunday about his recovery, Archer recalled having to wear “large nappies” and feeling like he had “become a baby again”.

Elsewhere in his interview with Kay, he was asked what retirement will look like now that he has written his final novel.

Archer joked: "I shall not be retiring, you clearly haven't been listening to a word that's said to you, Jon!”

When Kay pointed out that he was “semi-retiring”, especially from writing, the author admitted: "I suppose it is. I hadn't thought of it that way. You've caught me, Jon. I'll be pathetic."

Kay then suggested that Adam & Eve won’t be the last novel he writes, to which Archer replied: "No, sir. But you can interview me when I do."