I thought my incurable cancer was just ‘old age’
Former BBC Breakfast host reveals ‘deep shock’ at diagnosis and urges men to get their prostates checked
BILL TURNBULL, the broadcaster, has urged men to get checked for prostate cancer, as he discloses he has been diagnosed with the disease after suffering aches and pains he put down to simple “old age”.
Turnbull, 62, the former BBC Breakfast host, said he would not be cured of the cancer, which has spread to bones in his legs, hips, pelvis and ribs.
Saying he “can’t plan beyond 12 years”, he described the “deep shock” he experienced after learning of his diagnosis, and “probably the worst days of my life” to follow.
He now hopes to raise awareness about the illness, saying of speaking out: “If one man gets tested who might not otherwise have gone to their doctor, it’s worthwhile.”
Turnbull, who has three grown-up children, is interviewed about his illness in this week’s Radio Times by Sian Williams, his BBC Breakfast co-host who had a double mastectomy for breast cancer. Williams learned of Turnbull’s diagnosis through a text message when she got in touch after hearing he was “under the weather”. She said her friend had prided himself on not visiting his GP in four years, having had prostate tests at 40 and 50 and no cancer in his family.
“Well, it’s stupid, really. I’m cross with myself,” said Turnbull, who now hosts a show on Classic FM. “Maybe if I’d got it earlier and stopped it at the prostate, I’d be in a much better state.”
The broadcaster had experienced aches and pains for a year or so, and noticed his “pee pattern” had changed, but had put it down to just “old age”.
As the pain increased, he was sent for a blood test which revealed prostate cancer had spread to the bone.
Turnbull said he visited a consultant, hopeful of a better conclusion only to be told the survival rate was 10 years.
Of telling his family – including wife Sesi and children Henry, 29, Will, 28 and Flora, 26 – he said: “Those first few days were probably the worst days of my life. That first moment is a real shell shock. You can’t remember the precise words, you just remember the hammer blow.”
Turnbull, who insisted life was currently “very liveable” and that he was remaining positive, said: “I know I’m not going to get cured and I’m realistic about the long-term prospects, but they’re not bad. Most importantly... I’ve had a wonderful life, with amazing experiences as a reporter and a presenter. And if it was all to end tomorrow, I couldn’t have any complaints.”
The average life expectancy for his form of cancer is 10 years, he explained, or 14 with chemotherapy, with his consultant hoping to give him 18. He has had chemotherapy, hormone injections and a “cocktail of drugs”.
“It saddens me that I’m not going to be around as much as I thought with my wife and family,” he told Radio
Times. “It’s a shame. I do need to plan to make sure my life is spent well. To make sure all the days count.”
Turnbull was diagnosed while filming The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up to Cancer, which airs tonight at 8pm with a short update about his own illness. The full interview is published in this week’s
‘I know I’m not going to get cured. I’m realistic about the long-term prospects, but they’re not bad’