George Alagiah health: ‘It will get me in the end’ – newsreader on cancer – symptoms
BBC's George Alagiah discusses cancer diagnosis in 2019
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Having joined the BBC in 1989 in print journalism, Alagiah quickly made his way to screen, becoming one of the corporations leading foreign correspondents out in Southern Africa. Having enjoyed a hugely successful career, Alagiah began to present the Six O’Clock News in 2007, where he remains today. Yet it was in 2014 when the journalist was given a devastating diagnosis that would affect his life, as he has said will probably “get [him] in the end”. Speaking on the podcast Desperately Seeking Wisdom, the presenter counted himself as extremely lucky to have had the “great good fortune” that he has, but went on to say that he does not think he will ever be able to rid himself of cancer completely.
After first getting diagnosed, back in October 2021, the newsreader had to take a break from presenting after doctors recommended having chemotherapy and radiotherapy to hit a newly discovered tumour “hard and fast”.
In June 2020 the presenter confirmed that the cancer had now spread to his lungs, liver and lymph nodes, so further treatment was needed to try and keep the condition at bay.
At the time, the Alagiah added that working on the programme was the only thing to have “kept him sane” over the last few months, and was determined to make a return to the newsroom.
Now, in his latest discussion with former Downing Street director of communications Craig Oliver, the 66-year-old has revealed more about what it is like living with the disease.
Alagiah said: “I don’t think I’m going to be able to get rid of this thing. I’ve got the cancer still. It’s growing very slowly.
“My doctor’s very good at every now and again hitting me with a big red bus full of drugs, because the whole point about cancer is it bl**** finds a way through and it gets you in the end.
“Probably … it will get me in the end. I’m hoping it’s a long time from now, but I’m very lucky.”
Although saying that he never wished he had the dreaded condition, the newsreader remained grateful for all that he had achieved, and credited his diagnosis for making him figure out what is important in life.
He added: “I had to stop and say, ‘Hang on a minute. If the full stop came now, would my life have been a failure?’
“And actually, when I look back and I looked at my journey… the family I had, the opportunities my family had, the great good fortune to bump into (Frances Robathan), who’s now been my wife and lover for all these years, the kids that we brought up… it didn’t feel like a failure.”
Back in June 2020, when he was given the news that the cancer had spread, Alagiah spoke out again about what his doctors had told him about the fate of his condition.
“My doctors have never used the word ‘chronic’ or ‘cure’ about my cancer,” he said. “They’ve never used the word ‘terminal’ either. I’ve always said to my oncologist, ‘Tell me when I need to sort my affairs out’, and he’s not told me that, but what he did tell me is that the cancer is now in a third organ. It is in my lungs.”
He added: “I said to my doctor, ‘You’re going to have to do the worrying for me.’ I don’t want to fill my mind with worry. I just know that he’s a clever guy, doing everything he can.”
The NHS explains that bowel cancer is a general term for cancer that begins in the large bowel. It can also be used for cancers that start in the colon or rectal.
Bowel Cancer UK adds that although the condition is easily treatable, it is far easier to treat when it is diagnosed early. For those who are diagnosed later, there is a higher risk that the cancer will already have spread.
Due to this, it is important to be aware of the first signs and symptoms that the condition causes. These can include:
- Bleeding from your bottom and/or blood in your poo
- A persistent and unexplained change in bowel habit
- Unexplained weight loss
- Extreme tiredness for no obvious reason
- A pain or lump in your tummy.
If you or someone you know experiences any of the above symptoms it is advised to seek the opinion of a medical professional. In most cases, these symptoms will not indicate that you have bowel cancer, but a tumour can sometimes block the bowel causing strong stomach pains and a bloating feeling.
Once diagnosed with bowel cancer, individuals will be recommended appropriate treatment, depending on where the cancer is in your bowel and how far it has spread. Surgery is mainly used to treat bowel cancer, and may be combined with both chemotherapy and radiotherapy – common cancer treatments both used to kill cancer cells.
Surgery that involves removing a section of the bowel may lead to individuals needing a stoma bag. This is worn to collect poo that has been diverted away from the bowel and instead out through the abdominal wall. Stoma bags can either be permanent or temporary.
As previously mentioned, if detected early enough treatment may well be able to cure the cancer completely, and stop it from recurring. But in more advanced cases the cancer may not be able to be removed completely. In these circumstances, medications can be used to slow the spread.
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