Kym Marsh has spoken about how her family was "broken" when they learned her father Dave had been diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer.
The 78-year-old died in 2024 following a three-year battle with the illness, which had spread throughout his body after he postponed seeking medical attention during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The former Coronation Street actress, 49, has dedicated herself to raising awareness about the disease since losing her father, stressing how late detection can prove "so devastating to a family".
The Whiston-born star described the moment the family received the news of his incurable condition.
Ms Marsh's father died after his prostate cancer was found too late
|"When we found out dad was terminally ill and his cancer was incurable, it broke us," she said.
Marsh said her father is the "don of the family," a man who may have been small in stature but possessed immense courage.
"He was only little in terms of his height, but he had the heart of a lion," she told PA.
"He was just dad. He was everything to everyone – he was brave, funny and so supportive. He adored the bones of my mum, they were so close. They were always together."
The former Hear'Say singer recalled how her father had always bounced back from illness, making his final words about his diagnosis particularly devastating.
Ms Marsh's father left behind his three grandchildren from her
|"But he said to us: 'This is a fight I'm going to lose, I can't beat this one,'" she said. "That was devastating to hear him say that."
Her mother Pauline, married to Dave for six decades, has been "left devastated" by his death.
The family has channelled their grief into continuing Dave's mission of helping others, which Marsh said was "the first thing" her father wanted to do after receiving his diagnosis.
"We've done everything we can to make sure that dad's legacy is continuing, and that his memory lives on and to hopefully help other people," she explained.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Her son-in-law Mikey Hoszowskyj completed the TCS London Marathon in 2024, raising funds for Prostate Cancer UK.
This Sunday, the family will gather to support Carmen Dickinson, Marsh's future daughter-in-law, as she takes on the same challenge in Dave's memory.
"(Carmen) never met my dad, but it's just so lovely she wants to do this for us and for him, and for prostate cancer," Marsh said.
"She has got such a good heart. We'll all be heading down there to cheer her on."
Prostate cancer represents the most prevalent form of cancer affecting men in the UK, with Prostate Cancer UK reporting one in eight will be diagnosed during their lifetime.
Kym Marsh has three grandchildren
|The risk of developing the condition increases significantly for those aged over 50, men of Black heritage, and individuals with a family history of the disease.
According to NHS guidance, the cancer often progresses slowly, meaning symptoms may not appear for many years.
Warning signs to be aware of include a more frequent need to urinate, difficulty or straining when passing urine, and a sensation that the bladder has not completely emptied.
Marsh emphasised that her family's awareness work aims to prevent others from experiencing the same heartbreak of a delayed diagnosis.
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