Broadcaster Adrian Kennedy ‘fell off the chair’ after receiving prostate cancer diagnosis

Mr Kennedy opened up about battling prostate cancer “after much consideration” on his podcast Opinions Matter with Adrian & Jeremy.

The radio star hopes his story will highlight the “importance of keeping on top of health checks and screening”.

Following his show with Jeremy Dixon having been off-air for a few days, the duo revealed it is due to Adrian’s diagnosis with cancer that he has been “dealing with that behind the scenes”.

“As a team, our priority is that Adrian has a speedy recovery and gets well again soon,” they wrote on Facebook, adding it’s been “a strange few weeks” on the podcast.

“Thanks to everyone who has been in touch to send on their well wishes,” they added.

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Earlier this year, the Dubliner saw a doctor for a regular check-up.

“I did blood tests and the doctor discovered during the blood tests that my PSA level [Prostate-Specific Antigen] was slightly elevated,” he said.

“So, at the start of the year, the doctor sent me for a CAT scan and discovered that my prostate was somewhat enlarged but nothing to worry about. Subsequently sent me for a biopsy and I was diagnosed about eight weeks ago with prostate cancer.

“I fell off the chair, the blood drained from me. And within an hour I was sitting in this studio doing a podcast,” he said, adding “it was even worse” as he was on his own when he received the news.

He said his two options were radiotherapy which lasts for about seven weeks or to have the prostate removed.

Therefore, Mr Kennedy had surgery to remove his prostate at Beaumont Hospital last Friday.

“When it comes to prostate cancer, I’m actually a very young man,” he said.

“I’m glad it was caught by fluke but it was caught early enough.

“Doctors believe it hasn’t spread but they obviously have to do further biopsies.”

He said he’s in recovery now and hopes he’ll “have it all cleared”, as he also called on people over the age of 40 to have their PSA levels checked.

Many listeners of the podcast shared their well wishes for the radio legend.

“Keep fighting Adrian. You’ll get through this with all the support you deserve. You are part of our family, we have listened to you since the auld days,” one person wrote on Facebook.

Another person added: “Adrian is a really good guy and a hell of a broadcaster. Wish him well on his recovery.”

Mr Kennedy is a freelance broadcaster for Newstalk and East Coast FM with a long radio career. He co-hosted the late-night FM104 Phoneshow with Jeremy Dixon until 2013.

The duo later moved to host the morning phone-in show Dublin Talks on 98FM until 2021, before kicking off their own podcast.