Lions great McGeechan’s cancer ‘all gone and under control’

Sir Ian McGeechan, the head coach of the former Scotland and British and Irish Lions, has stated that his prostate cancer is “all gone and under control.”

The 78-year-old, who is a consultant rugby director at Doncaster Knights in England’s second tier, has supported calls for the introduction of a national screening program.

Following treatment, which included a six-week course of radiotherapy, McGeechan shared his diagnosis in May, which included a positive update.

“So it’s quite special when you hear someone say to you, “You have got cancer,” you can’t help but feel special. I’m delighted that the prostate cancer is completely under control.

Prostate Cancer UK statistics show that 12 000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year, and that more than 63, 000 of those diagnosed with the disease pass away.

The UK National Screening Committee is currently evaluating whether a prostate cancer screening program should be established in response to growing requests for annual tests.

According to McGeechan, “it needs that government support.” Because prostate cancer can be recovered, there must be a screening program.

And it would be a shame if people didn’t get a scan and were just able to ask, “Can you, can’t you?” instead?

McGeechan, a fly-half from Leeds, won the 1974 Lions series in South Africa, and the team then made another appearance in New Zealand in 1977. He won 32 of Scotland’s caps, including nine as captain.

He became a coach after winning the 1990 Five Nations Grand Slam and the 1989 and 1997 series victories as the Lions’ manager.