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Reform UK\u2019s Scottish leader has revealed he was diagnosed with prostate cancer on the day of the Holyrood election.<\/p>\n
Malcolm Offord said it \u201cwasn\u2019t the best day\u201d to receive the news, but after having surgery last week he is now \u201craring to go\u201d.<\/p>\n
Lord Offord has set his sights on winning a majority for Reform UK in the 2031 Scottish Parliament election, saying his party could then \u201cmake Scotland the most successful country in the world\u201d.<\/p>\n
The MSP was speaking to an audience at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival on Thursday.<\/p>\n
During Matt Forde\u2019s Political Party event,\u00a0the host noticed a hospital band on Lord Offord\u2019s wrist.<\/p>\n
The politician told him: \u201cI just had a procedure last Wednesday to remove my prostate. So I am now clear. It was last Wednesday.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said he was \u201cfeeling pretty good\u201d after surgery, and added that \u201cfinal confirmation\u201d of his prostate cancer had come on May 7, which was \u201cthe weirdest thing\u201d.<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cThe thing about the prostate is it is out and gone, I can move on.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut the point is it is pretty routine, I am 61 years old, about to become 62, it happens in a lot of men that age.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe good news is that medics are all over this, they know what they are doing, they know how to fix this, they can fix it fast and there is plenty of life after that.\u201d<\/p>\n
He urged men to \u201cjust get checked\u201d, saying: \u201cEvery male in the room knows that you get checked.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said having cancer diagnosed was \u201ca scary thing\u201d, but added: \u201cI\u2019ve got a couple of pals who have been through this, so it doesn\u2019t hold the same level of fear.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the benefit is people now talking about this, particularly men who didn\u2019t talk about this in the past.\u201d<\/p>\n