British film director Steve McQueen has opened up about his diagnosis of prostate cancer.
In a recent interview, the filmmaker disclosed being informed about a small tumor on his prostate while working on the latest production, Blitz.
According to sources, the 12 Years a Slave director underwent surgery to remove the cancerous tumor, and he is now “fully recovered and fully functional.”
McQueen, 55, said he had to delay the film shoot for two weeks so he could undergo the procedure but did not inform his cast about the condition in order not to throw them off-track.
After his recovery, he returned to work because he “really just wanted to get on with the job.” “…that’s kind of like who I am. I’m a ‘get on with it’ kind of person,” he added.
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McQueen’s father is said to have died of prostate cancer in 2006. Before his demise, his father launched a campaign for prostate cancer research.
Due to his family history and diagnosis, the producer has urged other men, especially Black men, to get early cancer screenings.
“In some ways, you could say my dad saved my life because, unfortunately, he died of it…
“I knew that if it did come my way if I did get it, it could be dealt with in an extremely effective way, and that’s the end of it,” he stated.
Aligned with prostate cancer awareness, McQueen, in 2021, released a short film titled Embarrassed to raise awareness of the disease in the Black community. The film featured Idris Elba, Morgan Freeman, and other stars.
