BBC star Nick Owen reveals emotional cancer update after ‘worst day of his life’
A BBC presenter has shared an emotional update after experiencing the “worst day of his life”.
Famous for hosting Good Morning Britain, Nick Owen was first diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer two years ago.
After going public with his diagnosis, Nick has been credited for helping raise awareness for the disease.
There was even a surge of men getting tested after Nick spoke of his lack of symptoms.
It was only after a blood test in April 2023 that his elevated prostate-specific antigen led to his diagnosis and consequential surgery.
A record 55,033 men were diagnosed with the disease that year.
The 77-year-old presenter told the Mirror: “It was possibly the worst day of my life. But I’m still thriving, I’m still grateful. I’m feeling pretty well and glad to be where I am now. Hopefully I’m cancer free. I’m a lucky boy.
“Every week someone is writing to me to say hearing my story made them get a PSA test, they were diagnosed and having the operation.
“I was in our village this week and a man came up to thank me. He had a PSA test as a result of the publicity, was diagnosed with prostate cancer and had the operation seven weeks ago. Like me, he had no symptoms. It’s constant. It’s happened hundreds of times. It’s breathtaking and emotional. I’m glad some good has come out of this. It’s vital that people get tested.”
Nick co-hosted Good Morning Britain with Anne Diamond, who also revealed she was undergoing treatment for breast cancer at the time but has since returned to television twice a week.
He spoke of slowing down but continuing his work whilst he can.
The Midlands Today host and former TV-am presenter has four children and three grandchildren.
After his first wife Jill, he has been married to wife Vicki for five years.
He previously spoke to the Deadly Silent Podcast: “I’ve been through the middle of it. And I realised that the sooner you get seen the better.
“We had an MRI, there was a hint there was something going on. Then I had a biopsy. And that would tell us that it was really nasty and aggressive. And we need to do something quickly.
“Telling my children was difficult. I’ve got four children, three are our boys, two in their forties and one in their late thirties, and it was quite emotional.”
Last year, the BBC veteran broke down in tears amid his ongoing cancer battle.
During an on-air tribute following the MBE announcement, Nick was seen getting visibly emotional.
Colleague Ben Godfrey read out messages, which were also shown on a nearby screen.
Edward’s Trust, whom Nick has supported for over 30 years, shared: “He’s become part of our family. He’s always found time to support us in our work His MBE is well deserved.”
Another read: “I got tested myself after his illness and was diagnosed late last year with prostate cancer.
“So far, it looks like early detection has paid off.”
A third remarked: “He’s the reason we’ve not had our aerial changed to the local East Midlands transmitter.
“No higher accolade than that!”
Nick’s own son, Tim, simply said: “Very proud of you Dad.”
This prompted the presenter to become visibly overcome with emotion, as he said: “My Tim… oh bless you.
“And I do want to thank everyone who’s been in touch, you know, and so supportive.
“And I’m so grateful that people have responded to the message in the first place about prostate cancer because that’s such an important thing.
“People are talking about it far more now. Not just because of me, but various people have been in the same situation.”
One in eight men will get prostate cancer
The risk of developing prostate cancer depends on many factors, here are some of the facts about the disease and how many men it affects.
- One in eight men will get prostate cancer in their lifetime
- It is the fourth most common cancer worldwide, and the most common in men
- There are 55,000 new cases every year in the UK, and 1.4million globally
- Around 12,000 people lose their lives to prostate cancer annually in the UK and almost 400,000 around the world
- Prostate cancer accounts for 28 per cent of all new cancer cases in men in the UK, and 14 per cent of all new cancer cases in men and women combined
- Prostate cancer survival has tripled in the last 50 years in the UK
- More than three-quarters (78 per cent) of patients survive for 10 or more years
- About 490,000 men are living with and after prostate cancer in the UK
- It is most common in men aged 75 to 79
- Since the early 1990s, cases have increased by 53 per cent in the UK
- Mortality rates are up 16 per cent since the early 1970s in the UK
- Incidence rates are projected to rise by 15 per cent in the UK between 2023 to 2025 and 2038 to 2040
- Mortality rates are expected to fall five per cent in the UK over the same years
Source: Prostate Cancer UK, World Cancer Research Fund International and Cancer Research UK