Capital FM Breakfast star Chris Stark has revealed he has been diagnosed with testicular cancer.
The radio presenter shared the news with his followers in a heartfelt Instagram post today.
Stark explained that he discovered his diagnosis "around a couple of months ago" following what he described as "a routine trip to my local doctors".
The announcement comes after fans noticed his absence from radio and podcast appearances in recent weeks.
In his statement, Stark detailed that he underwent surgery "pretty quickly" after receiving the diagnosis.
He has been away from his broadcasting duties whilst receiving chemotherapy treatment to prevent the cancer from returning.
Stark's candid message revealed his current treatment status, saying: "I had surgery pretty quickly and have been off the radio/podcasts the last couple of weeks having chemotherapy to best prevent anything from coming back."
The radio personality reassured fans that his prognosis is positive.
Chris Stark announced the news on social media
"Although I'm effectively cured and it was caught early, my hope is any bloke reading this will perhaps think to check themselves today," he wrote.
Stark's decision to share his diagnosis publicly appears motivated by a desire to raise awareness.
He expressed regret at not identifying symptoms earlier, stating: "I feel like an idiot that I didn't spot this sooner."
The presenter's openness has already prompted supportive responses from fans and colleagues.
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The radio star's message emphasised the importance of men checking themselves regularly.
"Caught early, this cancer is so so treatable," Stark wrote in his Instagram statement.
He highlighted that testicular cancer is "most common in men aged 18-49".
Stark acknowledged the difficulty many men have discussing such health concerns.
"I also think it's a tricky subject matter to talk about," he admitted.
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With characteristic humour, he added: "I'm willing to put my now one ball on the line here if it helps make that conversation less tricky for guys."
His ultimate aim is clear – to encourage others to be vigilant about their health.
Stark hopes his openness might potentially save lives by prompting men to seek medical advice if they notice unusual symptoms.
Testicular cancer is highly treatable when detected early, as Stark emphasised in his message to followers.
