A UK radio and TV personality announced his throat cancer diagnosis just weeks after thanking listeners for flagging a change in his voice that had prompted him to see a doctor.
Breakfast radio host Jamie Theakston shared the news on social media, with his on-air co-hosts Amanda Holden and JK also telling fans the news on their Heart Radio show on Tuesday.
“Hi Folks. As you know – I recently had an operation to remove a lesion from my vocal cords,” 53-year-old Theakston wrote.
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“The biopsy has identified this as stage 1 Laryngeal cancer. So – I have cancer – but cancer doesn’t have me.
“The prognosis is very positive and I’m hoping to be back with you in October.
“Until then I’ve been told to give my voice a rest and leave you in the mostly capable hands of JK and Amanda.”
The presenter told fans to “be thankful for this day” and in an uplifting finish, shared “when I next see you, I’ve got a great story to tell”.
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Holden sent her love to Theakston, his wife Sophie and their “gorgeous boys” Sidney, 16, and Kit, 15, telling him encouragingly that with “us and the entire nation with you… YOU WILL GET THROUGH THIS”.
Earlier this month, Theakston shared his thanks with fans for alerting him to the vocal change, which prompted a visit to his GP.
“Sooo – a few of you listeners have noticed my voice hasn’t sounded right these past few weeks – I’ve got you to thank,” he wrote on September 2.
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“Got it checked – Doctors found a lesion on my vocal cords which I’ve had removed this weekend – thanks for all the kind messages – should be back on my feet soon – in the meantime… [zipped-mouth emoji].”
Theakston has been a presenter on the radio station since 2005 and prior to that had been on BBC Radio, as well as co-hosted the world famous music TV show Top of the Pops from 1998-2003.
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