The tears of a clown after losing best friend to cancer

Published on Wednesday 13 January 2010 08:59

COMEDIAN Bruce Devlin has spoken of the heartache at losing his best friend to cancer – aged just 37.

The Edinburgh-based performer – a regular on STV's The Hour – said the experience changed his life, bringing home the fact that nobody is immune to the disease.

He is using his experience to back Macmillan Cancer Support's "Cancertalk" week, which begins on Monday, to try to get more men to talk about having the illness. Mr Devlin, 33, of Leith, said: "This was the first death of someone close to me – it put things into perspective.

"I realised this could happen to anyone at any age and began to understand how important it is to really enjoy and value people while they are here."

The comedian first made his mark on the Scottish comedy scene in 2000, going on to become a regular face at the Capital's Stand club and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

He has also worked with the BBC and Channel 4, as well as with some of the biggest names in the industry.

But his world was shattered when his long-standing friend Daniel, from Dundee, lost a three-year battle with lung cancer in 2007.

Research shows that despite female forms of cancer becoming increasingly high-profile, men are 16 per cent more likely to be diagnosed with the disease and 40 per cent more likely to die from it – yet most refuse to open up about their feelings.

Mr Devlin said: "In the last year of Daniel's life we both opened up to each other about our fears for his worsening condition.

"I let him talk about what scared him and while that was hard, I knew I had to allow that. He said our openness was the basis of our friendship, through good and bad.

"I think the problem is that many men believe they shouldn't show emotion, shouldn't crumble and should just get through things themselves.

"It is often seen as unbecoming for a man to look as though he needs help."

Macmillan hopes to encourage men to speak more freely about cancer through its campaign, stressing that there is information and advice available to help them share their experiences.

The charity's Scotland director, Elspeth Atkinson, said: "Bruce is a great example of how sharing how you feel, and allowing other people to share how they feel, can be very helpful. I hope more men follow his lead and open up about cancer."

For practical information, or support, call Macmillan on 0808 808 00 00 or log on to www.macmillan.org.uk