Former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce reveals cancer diagnosis

The Nationals MP has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, but says he is “lucky” to have discovered it early.

Former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

The Nationals MP was quietly preparing for cancer surgery on Saturday night as his supporters were celebrating his New England seat retention, the ABC reported.

He received the diagnosis following a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test, he said.

“I had a PSA test, which all men should get,” he said.

Barnaby Joyce during Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Mr Joyce said he returned an “elevated” result, leading to an MRI and biopsy before his diagnosis.

“Prostate cancer, if you get it early, is very, very treatable; in fact, about 97 per cent successful,” he said.

“So I’m very blessed and lucky to discover this early.

“I’ll have the operation on Monday and I will then have a couple of days in hospital and will recuperate after that.”

The maverick MP says he is positive about his prognosis, and again said he is “very lucky”.

“If I thought it was very serious, of course I’d resign, but my doctors or surgeons say, ‘You’re very lucky you’ve got it early.’”

Mr Joyce said he is confident in his capacity to continue in this MP role, and urged other men to get tested.

“I was lucky because I’ve got a very diligent general practitioner,” he said.

“She insisted on me getting a PSA and wasn’t I lucky that she did that, because otherwise we’d be having a different conversation in a couple of years’ time.”

The MP was confident about his decision to keep his health matters private during the election campaign which he described as a “welcome distraction”.

“I just didn’t want to distract from the campaign,” he said.

“I knew it would turn into a bit of a circus.

“I wanted the campaign to focus on the campaign and I didn’t think this issue needed to be a part of that.”

Originally published as Former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce reveals cancer diagnosis