Brian Kennedy has opened up about making peace with his estranged brother, Bap, before his death.
The singer, who was diagnosed with rectal cancer five months ago, lost his brother Bap, who was also a singer-songwriter, to pancreatic cancer earlier this month. He passed at the Marie Curie Hospice in Belfast.
Speaking out since his death, Brian told how he made amends with his 54-year-old brother shortly before his passing.
“I went to see my brother – and we had a long period of estrangement – and I didn’t tell him I had cancer. I just wanted to focus on the fact that he was so sick,” he told The Irish Mail on Sunday.
Family: Brian made amends with his brother before he died | VIPIRELAND.COM
“And unsurprisingly the cancer won in the end, but he was taking all kinds of drugs. He was just so unwell. I am so glad that I got to see him and chat with him; we spent around an hour and a half on our own, and it was incredible.”
In many ways, Brian sees his brother’s passing as a relief – as he was in so much pain towards the end.
“Someone stopped me today and said they were sorry for my loss, but it feels great that people are so positive about him. I don’t feel an ounce of negativity about him, and we had a real peaceful time together.
“The last thing we said to one another was: ‘I want me to think of you really peacefully and I want you to think of me really peacefully’. Then we tried to hug and he couldn’t really do it because he was so sore. That was the last time I saw him.
“I am not a big fan of funerals. I am comforted that his spirit was gone. Because that body was in such pain and now he has gone from that painful place,” he explained.
Tough times: Brian is battling rectal cancer | VIPIRELAND.COM
The 49-year-old was diagnosed with cancer in July, and underwent radiation therapy after a rectal tumour was found. After his diagnosis, Brian went on The Last Word with Matt Cooper to encourage others to go and get checked.
“I was diagnosed on the 29th of July this year. I was kind of in shock for a couple of days. I didn’t tell anybody at first, and I actually went out that night and got really drunk. Because the minute someone says that to you, it is surreal. You just think “Holy s***, is this where I am at?”
“I’d just turned 50 a couple of weeks ago. When I got used to that, I asked myself how could I turn it around and talk to other men. As I started talking to the medical people, I realised that men don’t talk about this.”
Since going on the radio to open up about his diagnosis, Brian found out that at least three men went and got checked after hearing his interview, and it may have saved their lives.
“In the last month I have had three men approach me privately to say that after that interview they went and got checked.
Making a difference: Brian has encouraged other men to go and get checked | VIPIRELAND.COM
“One of them was brought into hospital that night and operated on. And the other two guys found something early and have started treatment because of that interview. If it had only been one person, I would have gone, job done. But three different men have approached me to tell me that is what prompted them to get checked. I felt like crying.
“My message is always get a second opinion, go with your instinct and don’t be afraid of insulting anybody. Most of all, don’t be afraid of having your nether regions checked out by your doctor.
“My next thing now is to have another colonoscopy to see if the tumour is still there – if it is bigger or smaller or if it has disappeared. I feel very well. The symptoms are all gone… so fingers crossed.
“That is in the middle of December and they said it is important to have a gap between the treatment and the follow-up just to make sure it has worked. It will be really good news or a setback and that will mean more treatment.
“Whatever happens, I know I am in good hands and I am alive, I am not dead; I am alive at 50, which is not bad,” Brian added.
