Johnny Ball has given fans a health update – and revealed he didn’t tell his children about his cancer diagnosis until he knew it was curable.
The father of BBC Radio 2 DJ Zoe Ball revealed last week that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2022.
This morning, he spoke about his health on Good Morning Britain (GMB), saying his treatment was “tremendous” and he is “totally through it now”.
However, on first being told about his diagnosis, the 87-year-old said he felt unsure what would happen. “So suddenly, I’m told I got cancer, and you have a few days where I’m thinking, Well, how do I sort things out? How do I say goodbye to everybody.”
He explained that he didn’t tell his children, daughter Zoe and sons Dan and Nick, until doctors had confirmed his cancer hadn’t spread and he knew it was curable.
“You save it for a while [telling them], because sooner or later, we’ve got to tell them and discuss that,” he told hosts Susanna Reed and Ed Balls.
In an interview with The Telegraph this weekend, Ball also said, of telling his daughter: “I never told Zoe anything when we didn’t know that it was going to be fine. It was only when we knew that I said: ‘I’ve got it, but it’s all going to be fine, so don’t worry.'”
Johnny Ball spoke about his treatment on Monday’s Good Morning Britain with Susanna Reed and Ed Balls. (Shutterstock)
Explaining that he didn’t have any symptoms, Ball said he was diagnosed following a prostate-specific antigen test (PSA) as part of a check-up with his GP. A PSA test checks for high levels of PSA in in your blood. Ball was then referred for a biopsy and underwent 12 weeks of radiotherapy.
“The treatment I had was three months of radiation, but I believe that’s down to less than a quarter of that now because they’re getting so good at spotting it, knowing how to treat it, evaluating it and attacking it,” he explained.
While there is no nationwide screening for prostate cancer, Ball encouraged all men over 50 to ask their doctor for a free PSA test.
Ball is married to his second wife, Diane, a former dance teacher. The couple share two sons. His ex-wife – and Zoe’s mother – Julia Peckham died last year after being diagnosed with cancer.
How common is prostate cancer?
Broadcaster Dermot Murnaghan shared his diagnosis on social media in June. (Getty Images)
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK. Well-known people living with the disease include former US president Joe Biden, cyclist Sir Chris Hoy and former Sky News presenter Dermot Murnaghan.
There are more than half a million men living with prostate cancer in the UK.
The cancer is found in the prostate gland, which produces semen, underneath the bladder. The gland is typically the size of a walnut, but it may increase as men age.
Prostate Cancer UK estimates that one in eight men in the UK will get prostate cancer during their lifetime, so it’s crucial to know the signs and symptoms in order to get an early diagnosis. Though it largely affects men over 50 or those with a family history of the condition, it can occur at any age.
Sir Chris Hoy, 49, revealed his terminal prostate cancer diagnosis in October last year. (Getty Images)
Six prostate cancer facts
The early signs can be subtle – so checking them is crucial
Prostate cancer often does not have any symptoms at first. The NHS says that if the cancer grows or spreads, symptoms can include difficulty urinating, blood in your urine, unexplained weight loss, erectile dysfunction, tiredness, back pain and having to urinate more often. Not all of these symptoms will be cancerous, but it’s important to get them checked out.
The risk increases with age
The risk of developing prostate cancer increases with age, with the incidence in the UK highest in men aged 75-79. Therefore, men over 75 should take extra caution and act swiftly if they are experiencing any uncommon pains, aches or issues with their urine.
Getting tested is key
If you have symptoms, don’t delay getting checked to know for certain what your diagnosis is and the next steps. If you don’t have symptoms, it’s still worth getting tested. A PSA (prostate specific antigen) blood test measures the levels of PSA in your body and may detect prostate cancer early. The NHS doesn’t routinely offer this test but any man or person with a prostate can book an appointment with a GP to discuss having it. Alternatively, you can pay for it privately.
There are a number of tests
There are a number of checks a GP can perform to determine if symptoms are a sign of prostate cancer. Often, the first test is an examination of the prostate and if a GP finds any lumps or abnormal hard areas then there will be further investigation with a blood test, biopsy or a scan. These additional tests will be able to say for certain if cancerous cells are present and what stage the cancer is, as well as predict the prognosis.
There’s no need be embarrassed
It can be daunting talking to the GP about your prostate, but try not to be embarrassed as it’s a completely confidential meeting. Prostate cancer is also the most common cancer amongst men in the UK, so know that you aren’t alone in this process.
Treatment is varied
The treatment for prostate cancer varies from person to person depending on how aggressive and advanced the cancer is, as well as the general health of the patient. Treatments can include radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and surgery to remove the prostate gland.
Additional reporting PA.
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