Stephen Fry has prostate cancer surgery
Stephen Fry tells of cancer ordeal
STEPHEN Fry yesterday revealed he is recovering from “life-saving” surgery to treat prostate cancer.
The TV host and actor explained why he had been out of the public eye for two months during a video on his website.
He told how a routine health check led to diagnosis of an aggressive cancer, which was operated on in January.
Stephen said: “As far as we know, it’s all been got. I genuinely felt my life was saved by this early intervention.”
He added: “Here’s hoping I get another few years left on this planet because I enjoy life at the moment and that is a marvellous thing to be able to say.”
The broadcaster, 60, said his “rather unwelcome and unexpected adventure” began when he went to his GP for a flu jab and ended up having a health MOT.
Tests showed he had elevated levels of PSA – a protein produced by the prostate gland – before an MRI scan and biopsy revealed cancer. He said: “We had a couple of options.
“One was radiotherapy but that’s a very long, difficult process.
“And the other was to get rid of the prostate – to get it out. So where are we now? We’re in December and it’s nearly Christmas and an operation is decided on and in the first week of January, I had the operation.
“And it all seemed to go pretty well, they took the prostate out, they took out 11 lymph nodes, and they were examined.”
He got nine out of 10 on the Gleason score – a measure of prostate cancer’s aggressiveness. Stephen added: “This was clearly an aggressive little bugger.” The former QI presenter has spent the past month recovering and is being cared for by husband Elliott Spencer, 30, and close pals.
He is now awaiting tests to see if he has the all-clear.
Ending his 13-minute message, Stephen urged other men to get themselves checked out.
He continued: “Cancer is just a word that rings in your head. It’s an old cliche but you don’t think it’s going to happen to you.
“As far as we know, it’s all been got. But I won’t know for sure until my PSA levels are checked and they should be zero now because I have no prostate. But maybe there will
For the moment, I’m fit and happy. I genuinely feel my life was saved
be something on the bed of the prostate and that will spread and I’ll need radiotherapy and the whole damn thing will start again.
“But, for the moment, I’m fit and well and happy. I genuinely felt my life was saved by this early intervention so I would urge any of you men of a certain age to think about getting your PSA levels checked. “I can’t tell you how fortunate I am. “One in eight men will get prostate cancer at one time. Just get yourself checked and follow your doctor’s advice.
“Otherwise I am bloody lucky to be surrounded by such wonderful people.”
Stephen pulled out of hosting the BAFTA Film awards for the first time in 12 years on January 5. This was around the time of his operation.
Writing on his Twitter page, Stephen said: “I’m sorry I haven’t felt able to talk about it till now but here I am explaining what’s been going on.”