Former BBC breakfast host Bill Turnbull has died at the age of 66 after a five-year battle with prostate cancer.
The father of three was diagnosed with the disease in November 2017, and admitted that he was “angry with himself” for putting the doctor off for years.
Turnbull attributed his long-standing suffering to “old age,” when in reality the pains were a sign of something much more sinister.
Cancer has quietly spread from his blood to his bones, where it can become both inoperable and incurable.
The reporter said he regretted that he was proud of himself for not going to the doctor for four years. Prostate cancer has a survival rate of close to 100% if detected early.
Turnbull said inspiring men to get tested for the disease by making their diagnosis public was “the only useful thing” he had done in his life.
Prostate cancer is the most common form of the disease in men and affects more than 50,000 Britons, or one in eight, each year.
About 12,000 men die from the disease each year, the equivalent of 33 a day, making it the second-biggest killer after lung cancer.
Former BBC Breakfast and Classic FM presenter Bill Turnbull has passed away at the age of 66, his family announced this morning.
Bill Turnbull and Susanna Reid co-host ITV’s Good Morning UK on February 26, 2020
What is prostate cancer?
The prostate is a walnut-sized gland found in men, located under the bladder and surrounding the urethra.
Its main function is to produce a thick white fluid that forms sperm when mixed with sperm produced by the testicles.
Prostate cancer occurs when normal prostate cells begin to grow uncontrollably.
When cancer occurs, it feeds on sex hormones known as androgens and uses them as fuel for growth.
The prostate is a walnut-sized gland found in men, located under the bladder and surrounding the urethra. Its main function is to produce a thick white fluid that forms sperm when mixed with sperm produced by the testicles.
That’s why one of the main pillars of treatment for men is to lower a man’s androgen levels with drugs called “hormone therapy”.
According to Prostate Cancer UK, around one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, making it the most common male cancer in the UK.
Between 2016 and 2018, there were an average of 52,250 cases per year.
Around 11,500 deaths occur in the UK each year, accounting for 14% of all cancer deaths in men.
Lung cancer alone (34% of all cancer deaths) kills more British men each year.
What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?
Symptoms usually do not appear until the cancer is large enough to press on the urethra.
If you notice that you need to urinate more often, you need to wait longer before urinating, or you urinate involuntarily after going to the toilet, you should see a doctor.
Other warning signs include erectile dysfunction, weight loss with blood in the urine, or new and unexplained lower back pain.
These are normally signs that the cancer has spread from the prostate to other parts of the body.
These symptoms do not always mean you have prostate cancer. Many men’s prostates enlarge with age due to a noncancerous condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia.
How Deadly Is Prostate Cancer?
Like all cancers, the earlier the disease is caught and treated, the better the chances of survival.
In the first and second stages, the cancer is completely in the prostate gland.
When caught at these stages, about 100% of people survive five years or more after diagnosis.
The third stage indicates that the cancer has broken the prostate gland cover and may have spread to the tubes that carry sperm.
If detected at this stage, about 95 out of 100 men will survive cancer for five years or more. But if the cancer spreads to other parts of the body, including organs, lymph nodes, or bones, the survival rate drops to only 50 percent.
If detected at this stage, about 95 out of 100 men will survive cancer for five years or more.
But if the cancer spreads to other parts of the body, including organs, lymph nodes, or bones, the survival rate drops to only 50 percent.
At this point, the cancer is incurable, which means patients must rely on treatments that slow or shrink cancer cells.
Who is most at risk for prostate cancer?
The NHS website states that the risk of prostate cancer increases with age, with most cases developing in men aged 50 or older.
If you have prostate or breast cancer in your family, it may increase the prostate cancer deductible.
According to Prostate Cancer UK, around one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, making it the most common male cancer in the UK. Between 2016 and 2018 there were an average of 52,250 cases per year
This is because you have inherited the same faulty genes.
Black men are more likely to be affected, about a quarter likely to be diagnosed in their lifetime, less common in Asians.
Recent research shows that obesity increases the risk. No one knows how to prevent prostate cancer, but a healthy lifestyle can be important.
How is prostate cancer diagnosed?
After discussing the symptoms, the doctor will likely order a urine sample to check for infections and a blood sample to test for prostate specific antigen (PSA) level.
Digital rectal examination can be used when a gloved finger is inserted into the lower part to examine the prostate.
The primary care physician evaluates prostate cancer risk based on these tests, as well as age, family history, and ethnic group.
If a patient is at risk, the NHS website says they should be referred to hospital to discuss options for further testing, including an MRI or biopsy.
Men in their fifties can request a PSA test from their family doctor, but the NHS website states that there is no national prostate cancer screening program in the UK as the test is not always accurate.
How is prostate cancer treated?
Some people do not need emergency care and will be monitored.
This may be because the disease is in its early stages and causes no symptoms or is less likely to affect their natural lifespan due to their age.
This may include regular PSA tests, MRI scans and sometimes biopsies to ensure that any signs of progression are detected as soon as possible.
There are two main ways to treat prostate cancer: radiation therapy or surgery to remove the prostate.
Who Else Has Had Prostate Cancer?
Musician Jools Holland announced earlier this year that he was being treated for prostate cancer after being diagnosed in 2014.
Two years after her diagnosis, she performed with Sir Rod Stewart at a concert organized by Prostate Cancer UK, which was completely free in 2019.
“Guys, you really need to see a doctor,” Sir Rod said before his performance.
Stephen Fry said he was “stunned” after learning he had prostate cancer in 2018, but recovered as his disease contracted early.
In April, former Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal announced that numerous radiation treatments had cured his cancer.
“I had to wait five or six months to see if it did its job,” he said. “He did.”
Source: Daily Mail
I am Anne Johnson and I work as an author at the Fashion Vibes. My main area of expertise is beauty related news, but I also have experience in covering other types of stories like entertainment, lifestyle, and health topics. With my years of experience in writing for various publications, I have built strong relationships with many industry insiders. My passion for journalism has enabled me to stay on top of the latest trends and changes in the world of beauty.
