MX23RW : Thursday, April 3 21:51:59| >> :600:70093070:70093070:

Veteran broadcaster Dame Joan Bakewell diagnosed with cancer

Veteran broadcaster Dame Joan Bakewell diagnosed with cancer
© Sky
Dame Joan Bakewell reveals that she has been diagnosed with colon cancer during a routine check-up.

Dame Joan Bakewell has revealed that she is receiving treatment for colon cancer.

The veteran broadcaster, 89, who hosts Sky Arts' Portrait Artist of the Year, had an operation on the cancer before Christmas and is now undergoing a course of chemotherapy.

"I've recovered from that [surgery]," she said. "I'm feeling fine, and the chemotherapy is a mopping-up operation to make sure it doesn't come back.

"I've always been optimistic because I caught this cancer early on, and within a week I was in hospital having an operation."

She continued: "I've been able to do everything I needed to do.

"I should be having chemotherapy once every two weeks, but I'll still be out, and was at the ballet the other night.

"I don't let it interfere, as much as possible, but, obviously, I do as I'm told. You just have to get on with life.

"And, of course, I've been in a position to learn treatments have improved so much and cancer is no longer a death sentence – that's why we need to catch it early and do all the tests that arise and go through it.

"In a sense, it's made me optimistic, which sounds odd."

Every year around 44,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with colon cancer, which has a five-year survival rate of over 58%.

ID:503940:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect1463:
Written by
Neil Wilkes

Follow us on Bluesky or on X/Twitter and like us on Facebook for the latest entertainment news alerts.

Media Mole's Lowest Ever Sky Offer: Get Sky Essential, Sky Stream & Netflix for just £15 a month + £0 upfront fee for 24 months!
Prices may change during this period. Ends March 31, 2025


Click here for more stories about Joan Bakewell

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Erron Gordon headshot
Read Next:
Good Morning Britain director Erron Gordon reunites with Piers Morgan at talkTV
>
rhs 2.0
New TV Picks header

Wednesday, April 2


Coronation Street: ITVX, from 7am and ITV1, 8pm
Dee-Dee faces a tough decision, while Daisy and Christina get one over on Jenny

Take Me Home: BBC Four, from 10pm
Three-part drama from 1989 set in the Thatcher-era Midlands

Married At First Sight Australia: E4, 7.30pm
Family and friends week continues with one auntie asking some awkward questions...