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Former Undertones frontman and environmental campaigner Feargal Sharkey has revealed he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, a discovery made entirely by chance during a GP visit for a sore throat.
In a powerful and deeply personal revelation, the punk icon turned passionate water activist shared for the first time that he received the diagnosis around 18 months ago, and has since made a full recovery. Sharkey, now 65, says the cancer was “resolved” last year and that he is now “doing very well.”
Speaking out about the experience, he explained that his journey began not with any cancer-related symptoms, but simply a sore throat. A routine trip to his doctor led to further tests, eventually uncovering the life-threatening illness he hadn’t even known he had.
The unexpected diagnosis has inspired Sharkey to go public in hopes of encouraging other men, particularly those over 50, to get regular health checks.
“I only went in for a sore throat,” he said. “If I hadn’t, who knows how long it would have gone unnoticed? I was lucky, but others might not be.”
Best known as the lead singer of The Undertones, the Northern Irish singer shot to fame in the late ’70s with punk anthem Teenage Kicks. In more recent years, Sharkey has reinvented himself as a fierce environmental advocate, leading campaigns against the pollution of UK rivers and holding water companies to account.
Even during his private health battle, he never paused his activism. “I’m doing very well, and I’m not going anywhere,” he stated firmly. “The fight for clean rivers continues.”
His announcement has been widely praised for breaking the silence around male cancer diagnoses, with charities and fans alike applauding him for using his platform to raise awareness.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK, with many cases going undiagnosed until the later stages due to lack of symptoms. Sharkey’s story is a timely reminder of the importance of routine health checks, even when you think it’s something minor.
As he continues to campaign for environmental change, Sharkey now adds another layer to his voice: that of a cancer survivor urging others to put their health first.
A punk icon, a river defender, and now a beacon for men’s health awareness, Feargal Sharkey remains as vital and outspoken as ever.
