JAMES Whale is ending cancer treatment, three years after being diagnosed with stage four disease.
Broadcaster James, 72, told The Sun: “This could be my last Christmas”, as he continues to live with kidney cancer, which he first beat 20 years ago.
4
James Whale completes cancer treatment, three years after being diagnosed Credit: James Whale
4
Media presenter James told The Sun: ‘This could be my last Christmas’Credit: Getty – Contributor
The terminally ill radio veteran has been receiving chemotherapy since the second detection in 2020, but has now decided to stop the aggressive drugs after being given the choice between “quality and quantity of life”.
James’ wife Nadine, 58, whom he affectionately calls Lady W, has looked after him during his health battle and keeps a close eye on his hospital appointments and prescriptions.
Given only a few months to live during the pandemic, he has shown incredible resilience and continues to present his TalkTV show every Saturday night, as well as his weekly podcast with Nadine, Whale Stories.
Reflecting on his doctors’ prognosis, James said, “I’ve been around for a pretty long time.”
Never one to feel sorry for himself, the former ITV presenter explained how he came to the decision in his typically light-hearted way.
He began: “My oncologist Professor Tom Powles is the greatest kidney cancer expert in the country, in my opinion, and the last time Lady W and I spoke to him, it was quite funny.
“The conversation started with the words, ‘I’m really sick of your treatment.’
“I replied, ‘Yes, I am too!’
“That’s when he said, ‘It’s probably time to stop it,’ because of course it only lasts so long. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. I’ve been ready for this for years.”
James, whose cancer spread to his spine, brain and lungs at the start of the decade, takes a multitude of medications every day to keep him alive.
He said: “They are still treating some of the issues. I have a brain tumor on my pituitary gland, which affects your hormones, but it can still be treated in a number of ways.
“Essentially, I have to choose between quality and quantity of life and I chose quality so I could have a good time and create beautiful memories with my wonderful wife Nadine.
“We always die at some point. For me it could be anytime, but luckily at the moment I can still work here at TalkTV and radio.”
One of the most respected radio personalities in the country, James has been in the business for no less than 50 years and recently received the first TRIC Recognition Award for his outstanding work.
He has also helped countless others, having launched the James Whale Kidney Cancer Fund – now known as Kidney Cancer UK – the leading national specialist charity of its kind in 2006.
James reflected, “I’ve had a good life, I can’t complain. But I’m just going to make the next few months as fun and interesting as possible, which is all any of us can do.
“Whatever age you are, if you were told you only had a year or a few months left to live, instead of sitting at home feeling sorry for yourself, I think you’d have a great time.”
The Surrey native, who often credits Nadine for her support, concluded: “Please also remember that it must be so much harder to be the partner of someone going through this.
“Well, as they say, further and higher. And who knows where?”
- James Whale Unleashed airs Saturdays between 10pm and 1am on TalkTV and TalkRadio.
4
James’ wife Nadine looked after him during his health battleCredit: Twitter/James Whale
4
He has been in the business for no less than 50 years Credit: Rex
Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: HIS Education