Bill Turnbull has given his supporters an update on his health, after being diagnosed with incurable prostate and bone cancer at the end of last year.
Returning to his old stomping ground at ‘BBC Breakfast’ on Wednesday, Bill revealed he had undergone nine rounds of chemotherapy in the last year, insisting he remained optimistic about his condition.
He explained: “I did nine rounds of chemotherapy, which is a bit of a grind to be honest. That finished a few weeks ago.
“The effects of the chemo have been wearing off, which means my energy levels are back up and I feel a lot better in that respect.”
Bill added: “I’ve still got the disease and we’ve got an awfully long way to go, but for the moment I’m feeling OK.”
His appearance on the show coincided with the news of the so-called “Fry and Turnbull effect”, with hospitals now treating more men with prostate cancer following both Bill and Stephen Fry’s choice to go public with their diagnoses.
The broadcaster first disclosed that he had been diagnosed with cancer last year, explaining: “The only thing is, I don’t want the rest of my life to be defined by the illness.
“You have to be positive, don’t you? I know I’m not going to get cured and I’m realistic about the long-term prospects, but they’re not bad.
“Most importantly, I really do think I’ve had a wonderful life, with amazing experiences as a reporter and a presenter. And if it was all to end tomorrow, I couldn’t have any complaints. I’ve had a really marvellous time.”
Shortly before discovering his diagnosis, Bill pre-recorded an appearance on a celebrity edition of the ‘Great British Bake Off’ in aid of Stand Up To Cancer, and had viewers in tears when he filmed a video discussing his condition.