Jon Holmes, the writer, comedian and broadcaster known for creating Jon Holmes Says the C-Word, has launched a new podcast aimed at helping men understand their prostate cancer treatment options. The one-off episode, The Big C QuizCast with Jon Holmes, blends humour, personal experience and expert insight to make complex medical decisions more accessible.
Holmes was diagnosed with prostate cancer in early 2023. He said the idea for the podcast came from his own lack of knowledge about the prostate before his diagnosis. “For many men (myself included) the prostate knowledge gap is a yawning one,” he said. “In fact, before I was diagnosed, I hadn’t the slightest idea what a prostate was or did.”
The podcast is launched alongside research commissioned by GenesisCare UK, which found that nearly half of men (47%) did not feel fully informed about their treatment options at diagnosis. Many cited feeling overwhelmed (45%), frightened (36%), confused (36%), or embarrassed to ask questions (26%). Nearly two-thirds (60%) said they felt better informed when buying their last car than when choosing prostate cancer treatment.
Dr Yae-eun Suh, consultant clinical oncologist at GenesisCare UK, said modern radiotherapy offers strong outcomes. “From a large trial, the chance of PSA control after 5 years with stereotactic radiotherapy is very high at about 96%,” she said. She also stressed the importance of discussing quality of life, noting that radiotherapy is better for sexual function than surgery.
Alongside the podcast, GenesisCare has launched a “Mind the Gap” treatment pathway guide and a white paper report to help patients and clinicians understand available options. Holmes added: “We do have a knowledge gap, and minding that gap is very important. So anything that can make this process simpler and easier can only be a good thing.”
