Devastating new blow for cancer-stricken ABC radio legend James Valentine after he had his oesophagus surgically removed
ABC star James Valentine has revealed he will starting chemotherapy and immunotherapy after doctors discovered his cancer has spread.
The ABC Radio Sydney Afternoons presenter was diagnosed with cancer in March last year.
The following month he had most of his oesophagus removed, along with a quarter of his stomach, after doctors found a four-centimetre tumour where his oesophagus and stomach met.
On Friday, the 63-year-old announced he would be starting chemotherapy and immunotherapy next week after tumours were found in his omentum.
'My current scans, and a biopsy have confirmed that I have tumours in my omentum. Yes, omentum, I'd never heard of it either,' Valentine wrote in a piece for the ABC.
The omentum is a layer of fatty tissue that stretches from the stomach, over the small intestines and doubles back, ascending to the colon.
It acts as an important storage for fat deposits, connect the stomach and intestines to the liver and also plays a role in immunity and fighting infections.
Valentine said the tumours were currently impacting and constricting his bowel which was causing constipation and general discomfort.
He hoped 'a big blast of 21st century science' would help rid him of the tumours, with the immunotherapy considered 'very likely' to be an effective treatment.
While he undergoes chemotherapy and immunotherapy, the radio veteran told his fans he would be taking a break from the airways for at least three months.
'I won't be able to keep working so I'll be off air now for at least three months,' Valentine wrote.
'Side effects of the treatment range from mildly irritating to horrendous, so I think I'll just deal with them. Best I focus on this one thing, and give the medicine and the process its best chance.'
He added he will also be putting his saxophone playing, gigs and live theatre shows on hold until the cancer has been removed.
It comes just 10 months after Valentine returned to the airways following his esophageal surgery to remove a tumour.
When Valentine discovered he had a tumour in his oesophagus he was presented with two options, either a full removal of the oesophagus or to just remove the tumour.
Valentine was given just three days to decide.
Valentine opted to remove the tumour and to leave the majority of his oesophagus intact.
He explained a complete removal of his oesophagus would have likely left him with other diseases and difficulties which would have been challenging.
'To remove the tumour was to accept that I'd be initially ok, but cancer could return. In fact, in both procedures there was always the likelihood of future cancer,' Valentine wrote.
'I'm not that concerned about that, the how, the why, the might have been. I find cancer, like any other major insult to my being, has a way of bringing me very firmly into the present.'
Valentine added he was already missing his fans and radio hosting but conceded that the next few months would involve treatment, rest, building strength and more treatment.
He was first diagnosed in December 2023 after realising something was wrong while trying to eat.
The radio host was eating a massaman curry at a friend's birthday party when he began to choke and retch.
It was then that his wife recommended he see her sister's endoscopy clinic for a gastroscopy, during which the cancer was found.
He underwent five weeks of chemotherapy and radiation in January 2024 before surgery in April.
Valentine's extensive career with the ABC started when he joined the Afternoon Show on ABC TV and the children's afternoon TV series in February 1987.
IN 1990, he continued at the ABC as a presenter of TVTV, before transitioning into a role as a radio presenter, working on 666 ABC Canberra.
For more than 20 years, Valentine has also presented the Afternoons show on ABC Radio Sydney and Upbeat, every Sunday on ABC Jazz.
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