Trevor Sorbie’s bowel cancer battle saw docs give ITV star 6 months to live – before rejecting ‘poison’ treatment
ITV STAR Trevor Sorbie was given just six months to live by doctors but still chose to reject “poison” treatment.
The celebrity hairdresser revealed he’d rejected chemotherapy that would have given him another month to live.
Trevor told The Times in an emotional interview: “I can’t face any more of that poison.
“When I asked a nurse if I’d still be here at Christmas, she said, ‘We don’t know, Trevor’. And that annoyed me. I’ve got cancer in my body, but not in here…
“My brain is my engine and I’ll go when I’m ready.
“I’m going to defy medical science.
“If the cancer reaches my brain, then I’ll accept it, but until then, I’m in charge, and I’m going on my terms.”
Trevor has groomed stars including Dame Helen Mirren, Kylie Minogue, The Beatles’ stars George Harrison and Paul McCartney, Robbie Williams, Bryan Ferry, and Lorraine Kelly.
Last month, Sorbie revealed on live TV that he had been diagnosed with terminal bowel cancer, which has spread to his liver.
The 75-year-old shared the heartbreaking news on This Morning, joined by his wife Carole in the studio.
Trevor tragically warned that he “might not make it to Christmas” in the appearance.
The celeb hairdresser, who found out about his devastating diagnosis in June, revealed to hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard that he had been given six months to live.
The businessman said, “I lost a lot of blood one night and was unusually disturbed about that. I went to the hospital, and they told me I had bowel cancer.”
Trevor shared the emotional turmoil that followed the diagnosis, including a panic attack that left him and Carole speechless.
He explained, “I had a little panic attack and Carole and I looked at each other and we were just both speechless walking down the road… I didn’t know what to say.”
Despite the initial shock, Trevor found temporary relief in a gin and tonic, confessing, “I went and had a big gin and tonic and that helped!”
However, his challenges were far from over as the cancer soon spread to his liver.
He said, “I had a six-hour operation, but it came back to my liver, had another operation, and now the major [growth] they won’t cut it out because it’s too close to a major blood vessel.”
Best in the business
Trevor was a renowned hairdresser, known for creating the iconic wedge haircut.
After starting his career as an apprentice to his father, he rose to prominence working for Vidal Sassoon.
He opened his first salon in 1977 and later launched a successful line of hair products.
Trevor is also the founder of the charity, My New Hair, which provides support to cancer patients with medical hair loss by training hairdressers to create custom wigs.
He was awarded an MBE in 2004.
What are the red flag warning signs of bowel cancer?
IT'S the fourth most common cancer in the UK, the second deadliest - yet bowel cancer can be cured, if you catch it early enough.
While screening is one way of ensuring early diagnosis, there are things everyone can do to reduce their risk of the deadly disease.
Being aware of the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer, spotting any changes and checking with your GP can prove a life-saver.
If you notice any of the signs, don’t be embarrassed and don’t ignore them. Doctors are used to seeing lots of patients with bowel problems.
The five red-flag symptoms of bowel cancer include:
- Bleeding from the back passage, or blood in your poo
- A change in your normal toilet habits – going more frequently for example
- Pain or a lump in your tummy
- Extreme tiredness
- Losing weight
Tumours in the bowel typically bleed, which can cause a shortage of red blood cells, known as anaemia. It can cause tiredness and sometimes breathlessness.
In some cases bowel cancer can block the bowel, this is known as a bowel obstruction.
Other signs include:
- Gripping pains in the abdomen
- Feeling bloated
- Constipation and being unable to pass wind
- Being sick
- Feeling like you need to strain – like doing a number two – but after you’ve been to the loo
While these are all signs to watch out for, experts warn the most serious is noticing blood in your stools.
But, they warn it can prove tricky for doctors to diagnose the disease, because in most cases these symptoms will be a sign of a less serious disease.