I hid my cancer from kids for 5 years, says All Creatures star
CHRISTOPHER Timothy fought a secret five- year battle against prostate cancer without even telling his children.
The actor, who played young vet James Herriot in All Creatures Great And Small, did not tell most of his family until he was eventually given the all-clear by doctors.
Timothy, 77, has spoken publicly about his condition for the first time to raise awareness about the disease and to alert people to the hereditary risk. He said he was shocked to discover that there was a greater chance of getting prostate cancer if a relative had the disease.
The actor’s three biological sons are two and a half times more likely to get it because he and his father have had it.
Timothy said yesterday that his second wife, Annie, 67, was one of a few people who were aware of what he was going through.
He added: ‘I’ve been clear for five years. There were only one or two people who knew.
‘At the time I discovered I had prostate cancer, it was not long after my first wife had died, so my children had lost their mum.
‘I felt that it would be wise not to make things worse for them. The death of their mum was a shock.
‘My eldest daughter said at the funeral, “Please look after yourself, Dad”. I realised then that it was right not to tell them. But I did tell them when I was given the all-clear.’
Timothy and his wife, who live near Chichester, West Sussex, have one daughter, Grace, 34.
He and his first wife, Susan Boys, had three biological sons – Simon, 52, Nick, 51, and Robin, 49.
He also has a biological daughter, Tabitha, 47, an adopted son David, 43, and an adopted daughter Kate, 45.
David, who is black, is twice as likely to get prostate cancer because statistics show Family: Timothy with his first wife Susan and their children. Left: In EastEnders that one in four black men are at risk of getting it, compared to one in eight men generally. His son Tyri, 21 – Timothy’s grandson, is also at higher risk because he is black.
Timothy said: ‘I have four sons. Three of them are biologically mine and they are at significant risk – but not as high as my adopted son.’
The actor, who has played Ted Murray in EastEnders for a year, discovered his symptoms in a bizarre twist in 2008. He said: ‘I was up North doing a play. I was chatting with one of the other actors when he mentioned he had prostate cancer. I asked what the symptoms were and he said, “Blood in my urine”. When I went back to the digs I was staying at, I went for a pee – this was less than an hour after I had left the pub – and I looked in and thought, what’s that? It was blood. I thought, “This is bizarre”.’
Timothy then went for tests and just ‘zoned out’ when he was diagnosed with cancer because he was frightened.
Because the cancer was caught early, he and the doctor decided to monitor it rather than treat it, and he was given blood tests every three months for about four years. When it became more active, he had radiotherapy five days a week for eight weeks. Two months later – in 2013 – he was given the all-clear.
‘I don’t ever remember feeling hopeless and that life is awful – not ever, and that’s down mostly to Annie,’ he told the Sunday Express.
‘I don’t know whether having cancer has changed my attitude to life. I can’t even say that now I live every day to the fullest – I think I always have, really.
‘Now, I feel fine, really fine. I’m pretty happy, too – and I’m very fortunate.’
Timothy, who played Herriot in All Creatures Great And Small on BBC1 from 1978 to 1990, and starred in Doctors on BBC1 from 2000 to 2006, spoke out after becoming involved with the charity Prostate Cancer UK. He said: ‘I’m talking publicly now because it’s only in the last fortnight, after talking to the charity, that I discovered the heredity problem. It shocked me.’
The Daily Mail has been campaigning to improve prostate cancer treatment and diagnosis, which lag years behind other cancers. It is the most common cancer among men.
With 47,200 cases a year and 11,800 deaths, it has the third highest death toll, having overtaken breast cancer.
‘Only one or two people knew’