Feargal Sharkey has revealed that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer last year.
The former Undertones singer revealed this while speaking to the Daily Express, where he also assured viewers that his health scare has been "resolved", while also calling on men to get regular check ups.
“About a year and a half ago, I randomly went to see my GP with a sore throat", Sharkey stated. “So my doctor, being the beautiful, awkward, cantankerous old man that he is went, ‘Oh Feargal, by the way, you’re 65 now, I’m going to run the full battery of tests".
Thankfully, Sharkey revealed that his positive test results were caught early.
“If it had not been seen to, it could have been a very different ending and a very different outcome to my life", he said.
Issuing a call for men to get regular checks for this illness, Feargal Sharkey also added this.
“The reason I’m very happy to talk about it is that if there’s one man out there over the age of 45, go and see your GP. Go and get the blood test done", he said.
“Now, for one in eight of you, you will be put in the same journey I’ve had and it’s quite astonishing to think that in this country right now, one in eight men have prostate cancer,” he added. “Most of them don’t even know it. So go and have the blood test and if you’re lucky, you’ll walk away".
Feargal Sharkey is renowned for serving as frontman for Derry punk band The Undertones from 1975 until their split in 1983. The band are known for their tracks, ‘Teenage Kicks’, ‘My Perfect Cousin’ and ‘Wednesday Week’.
Following this, Sharkey formed The Assembley with Depeche Mode's Vince Clarke and Erasure, releasing a hit 'Never Never'. Sharkey also released a solo number one with 'A Good Heart' two years later.
Elsewhere, Feargal Sharkey who has also worked as a leading music industry executive for Polydor Records, has also become Head of the Live Music and CEO of British Music Rights and also UK Music.
He is also known for being the leading voice in the political movement for clean rivers and environmental protection, campaigning for stronger regulation of the water industry (see photo). He has also severed as a vocal critic for firms including Ofwat and the Environment Agency.
