YouTube star Mark ‘Angry Dad’ Orval, 53, gives update on his ‘aggressive’ prostate cancer

Retired Australian rules footballer Mark Orval, known around the world as YouTube sensation ‘Angry Dad’, announced ‘aggressive’ prostate cancer diagnosis last week.

And on Thursday, the father of three, 53, gave a heartbreaking update on his health battle on Channel Nine’s Today show, with his wife Sharon by his side.

The lovable larrikin spoke candidly about his ‘numb rollercoaster ride’ after getting ‘that call that everyone dreads’.

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‘I can’t say I’m doing good’: YouTube star Mark ‘Angry Dad’ Orval gave heartbreaking update on his ‘aggressive’ prostate cancer diagnosis on Thursday. Pictured with his wife Sharon

Mark, who recently lost his own mother to cancer, received his diagnosis from a specialist after a blood test several weeks ago ‘concerned’ his GP.

‘Four weeks ago, my life changed pretty much… From that point it’s just been a pretty much numb rollercoaster ride,’ he told Today hosts Karl Stefanovic and Leila McKinnon.

Mark said the early stages of the diagnosis were ‘overwhelming’, as he required regular prostate specific antigen (PSA) checks, MRI scans and a biopsy.

‘The knockout punch was last Thursday when the biopsy results came in, which did reveal an aggressive cancer, and that’s when I decided to come out,’ he explained, referring to his decision to go public with his diagnosis.

As Mark prides himself on being an open and honest guy, he refused to sugarcoat his condition, saying: ‘I can’t say I’m doing good, but the overwhelming support and love and messages that I’ve had have been incredible.’

Journey: Mark and his family celebrated a small victory this week when they received news the cancer hasn't spread beyond his prostate, but he still has a tough battle ahead

Journey: Mark and his family celebrated a small victory this week when they received news the cancer hasn’t spread beyond his prostate, but he still has a tough battle ahead 

Mark’s wife Sharon says the family unit is ‘very strong’ and they are all immensely proud of Mark of how he’s handling the diagnosis and sharing his journey and spreading the word to other men to be tested regularly.

Meanwhile, Mark and his family celebrates a small victory this week when they received news the cancer has not spread beyond the prostate. 

‘I now focus on the treatment and recovery because this journey for me and the message to every man out there is I’m gonna be a cancer sufferer, but the chapter ends being a cancer survivor and that’s just the drive that I’ve got within me at the moment,’ he said.

'The chapter ends being a cancer survivor': While admitting he was 'not doing good', he told Today viewers he was facing his diagnosis with a strong and optimistic attitude

‘The chapter ends being a cancer survivor’: While admitting he was ‘not doing good’, he told Today viewers he was facing his diagnosis with a strong and optimistic attitude 

Health battle: Retired Australian rules footballer Mark Orval (right), known around the world as YouTube sensation 'Angry Dad', was diagnosed with 'aggressive' prostate cancer last week. Pictured here with his son Mitchell

Health battle: Retired Australian rules footballer Mark Orval (right), known around the world as YouTube sensation ‘Angry Dad’, was diagnosed with ‘aggressive’ prostate cancer last week. Pictured here with his son Mitchell

The YouTube sensation shared the news with his Instagram followers last week, and said revealing his health battle publicly was ‘the hardest [thing] I have ever done’.  

Mark, who played seven games for Collingwood in the VFL in 1987 before his career was cut short by injury, explained: ‘Several weeks ago I got the call you regret from your GP, concerned over blood test results to do with your prostate.

‘Sadly the events that have unfolded since have confirmed I have an aggressive prostate cancer.’

He said he’s not sure what will happen yet because ‘more tests are required… to check for spreading beyond the prostate’.

Once doctors know if the cancer has spread to other parts of his body, then they will decide on a treatment plan.

 

Going public: He shared the news with his 155,000 Instagram followers on April 1, and said revealing his health battle publicly was 'the hardest [thing] I have ever done'

Going public: He shared the news with his 155,000 Instagram followers on April 1, and said revealing his health battle publicly was ‘the hardest [thing] I have ever done’

Who is Angry Dad?

Mark Orval, a 53-year-old retired Australian Rules footballer who played for Collingwood in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

He became a reluctant Internet celebrity in 2015 when his sons, Mitchell and Dylan, began secretly filming his expletive-laden tirades and posting them on Facebook and YouTube.

He is now known to millions of fans around the world as Angry Dad.

Mitchell launched a career as an influencer and YouTube prankster after Angry Dad became a viral sensation.

Mark’s daughter, Hannah, is also a notable social media influencer 

Mark said he felt it was important to share his diagnosis to encourage other men to get tested for prostate cancer.

He also revealed doctors could have caught the cancer earlier, but he missed his annual check-up last year.

He wrote: ‘While this is a very private matter I feel the immediate need to share this as a message to all men that are at risk of this disease to get tested.

‘I regrettably missed my annual test last year due to Covid and whilst that now doesn’t matter and can’t change things it highlights the importance of regular tests.’

Mark said his diagnosis came as a ‘massive shock’ after losing his mother to cancer just a few months ago, but insisted he wasn’t after sympathy.

‘This isn’t about sympathy, rather it’s about highlighting the reality of life as I am not the first and won’t be the last to face a life challenge,’ he said.

‘And believe me I will hit this harder than I have ever hit anything in my life!’

Support: Mark's wife, Sharon, paid tribute to her husband on Instagram after he shared his cancer diagnosis. 'Our family is heartbroken for you, but we are so proud of your courage and strength, just like your beautiful mum and dad showed,' she wrote

Support: Mark’s wife, Sharon, paid tribute to her husband on Instagram after he shared his cancer diagnosis. ‘Our family is heartbroken for you, but we are so proud of your courage and strength, just like your beautiful mum and dad showed,’ she wrote

Mark’s wife, Sharon, paid tribute to her husband on Instagram after he shared his cancer diagnosis.

‘Our family is heartbroken for you, but we are so proud of your courage and strength, just like your beautiful mum and dad showed,’ she wrote.

‘While it’s going to be a journey, we remain positive and look forward to our future and happiness. I’m mostly proud that your using your platform and this opportunity to remind all men to be please get regularly tested for prostate cancer.

‘It’s a very simple blood test and can save your life. Please do it.’

Viral fame: Mark's son Mitchell (left, with his partner Chloe Szepanowski) launched a career as an influencer and YouTube prankster after Angry Dad became a viral sensation

Viral fame: Mark’s son Mitchell (left, with his partner Chloe Szepanowski) launched a career as an influencer and YouTube prankster after Angry Dad became a viral sensation

Mark became a reluctant viral celebrity in 2015 when his sons, Mitchell and Dylan, began secretly filming his expletive-laden tirades and posting them on Facebook.

He is now known to millions of fans around the world as ‘Angry Dad’.

Mitchell launched a career as an influencer and YouTube prankster after Angry Dad became a viral sensation.

Mark’s daughter, Hannah, is also a notable social media influencer. 

Family: Mark's daughter, Hannah, is also a notable social media influencer

Family: Mark’s daughter, Hannah, is also a notable social media influencer