BBC news star Dermot Murnaghan has shared an update on his stage 4 cancer during a TV appearance earlier today (August 27).
Back in June, BBC News legend Dermot Murnaghan revealed he had been diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer.
The 67-year-old broadcaster is best known for presenting several news programmes over the years on BBC, Sky and Channel 4. He has also fronted BBC Breakfast and hosted the quiz show Eggheads before Jeremy Vine took over.
But now, he has given an update on how he is keeping.
Dermot Murnaghan gives cancer update
Dermot spoke to Anna Jones on Sky News today to give an update on his own journey, while also calling for men to “demand” prostate cancer tests.
Sharing an update, he said: “I’m doing pretty good. I finished my chemotherapy in early July so I have been recovering since. We’ve just been waiting to see how it’s gone. But yeah, I’m feeling pretty good.”
Speaking about his chemotherapy, he joked that it’s not something he would “recommend” for people to go through.
“It’s hard. But the one thing is that you feel like you are actively doing something. You’re kicking back. But there’s a bit of a psychological gap now that it’s stopped. I’m just in the waiting and seeing phase.”
As well as issuing an update, Dermot was there to issue a plea for more screenings and tests. And he admitted that in his own situation, he “fell through those gaps”.
Dermot reveals how he was diagnosed
He admitted he “foolishly” sat in the news chair for “many years” speaking about this issue and always thought when he got to that age, he would go and get checked. But Dermot never had any of the main symptoms that come with prostate cancer.
Dermot explained: “I didn’t have any of that. So I kept thinking I’d get around to it. Life intervenes – all kinds of things. And I never did.”
Speaking about how he found out, he revealed: “At the end of last year, I fell very ill on holiday. I rushed back here to get treated by the Health Service. And then I was diagnosed – it was a real bolt from the blue.”
Dermot went on to call for automatic testing for prostate cancer because, currently, men have to request if they want to be screened for the illness.
He pleaded with men watching to “demand it” and make sure they get tested to avoid late diagnoses.
Chris Hoy reached out to help
Having experienced a similar situation, Chris Hoy, reached out to Dermot once he heard of his diagnosis.
Dermot said: “He talked me through it. We have been in regular contact. He is a year further down the track in terms of the treatment. We’re on a similar course. But he talked me through everything.”
The BBC star admitted that the “support” and “shared experiences” have “made a huge difference” to his own mindset.
Read more: All the celebrities facing life-changing health diagnoses
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