James Whale misses show for hospital stay as he undergoes cancer treatment

24 July 2023 , 13:50
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James Whale has been absent from his TalkTV show for two weeks (Image: PA)
James Whale has been absent from his TalkTV show for two weeks (Image: PA)

James Whale again sat out his TalkTV shows as he continues to fight off stage four cancer for as long as possible.

But the brave veteran broadcaster, 72, is set to be back later this week as he refuses to let the deadly disease get the better of him.

James recently revealed he has reached the end of treatment for his terminal cancer and says he has just months to live.

Co-host and friend Ash Gould, 52, and Lizzy Cundy stood in for him this weekend and discussed his absence with listeners.

Ash told then: "Whale's not in tonight cos he was just feeling a bit rough. He went to hospital to get a few checks and he's back home now."

Baby boy has spent his life in hospital as doctors are 'scared' to discharge him eiqrkikqiqktinvBaby boy has spent his life in hospital as doctors are 'scared' to discharge him
James Whale misses show for hospital stay as he undergoes cancer treatmentLizzie Cundy says he's spoken to him and says he was in fine form (Talk TV)

Lizzie gave a welcome update, adding: "I spoke to him 10 minutes ago, in fine fettle."

Ash went on: "When I spoke to him, he said, 'Yeah I'm coming in Saturday, I'm coming in,' but then he wasn't... but you never know and hopefully he'll recuperate."

Lizzie reported that been giving his pal Ash some "stick" during their call and his spirits remain high ahead of his return.

Last month, the outspoken radio star said he will no longer be alive this time next year.

He said: “I’m kind of at the end, the end of my treatment.”

But with trademark humour he added: “When I lose a lot more weight when I get really ill, I’ll look fantastic.

“I’ve just come off all the steroids I was on, which made me look like a bloody balloon. I’m feeling better from that.”

TalkRADIO host James first battled kidney cancer back in 2000 before the disease returned in 2020 and spread to his brain, spine and lungs.

James explained his feeling in an emotional message to his fans after saying he had considered assisted death in a Swiss clinic but instead chose to spend time with his family.

“The cancer gets into your head and sometimes you can’t stand noise.

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“At the moment, I have got cancer fatigue, which makes you very tired.

“Some days I might feel sorry for myself. I feel sorry for my wife really. It’s more difficult for her.”

In 2018 James’s first wife Melinda died from lung cancer at 68, just months after her diagnosis. The pair were married for 48 years and had two sons.

Speaking in more detail about his most recent diagnosis, James told The Express he was all set to go to assisted dying clinic Dignitas in Switzerland to take his own life.

He said: “I am terminally ill. It would have been easier all round. I’m not scared of dying... the reason I wanted to go to Dignitas was because I was thinking of others, not me.”

James expressed his sympathies to A Place In The Sun's Jonnie Irwin, who also has terminal cancer.

He wrote: "I found it very difficult to talk about mine because I didn't want people to think I was using it to get sympathy or for any other reason. But along with a number of other people in the public eye, I am at stage four. There is no stage five."

Sam Elliott-Gibbs

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