Latest news with #terminalcancer
The Sun
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Terminally ill James Whale reveals he's now in a hospice as Talk radio host says ‘I probably won't be here next week'
RADIO legend James Whale has revealed he has moved into a hospice in a heartbreaking final broadcast. The 74-year-old, who has terminal cancer, spoke with a strained whisper in a short five-minute podcast from his bed and was joined by wife Nadine. 4 4 James said: "This is probably going to be our last podcast. "I'm in a hospice. I probably won't be here next week. I'm fine. I've got so many drugs in me, I can't feel a thing." He reassured listeners on his website that he was comfortable and being treated well. Though his voice sounded sore, James insisted that there was no pain and that it simply "wouldn't work" as it once did. "A lot of people get really upset when someone is going to die," continued James. "I'm the person who's going to die and I'm quite relaxed about it." The couple admitted they have been crying a lot, reading messages and voice notes from people that have praised James' contribution to their lives. He admitted he was "very upset and worried about Nadine", but she told him that she would seek comfort in all the brilliant memories they made together, such as trips to Cornwall and Antigua, and breakfast at London's five-star Savoy hotel. James' humour certainly hasn't deserted him. While explaining that there is a bathtub at the hospice that he is craned in and out of, he said the staff explained how Nadine can join him if she wanted to and that the lights can be dimmed, leading him to joke: "I began to wonder what sort of place this is." When it was time to say goodbye for a final time, James said to Nadine: "We've had the best time together haven't we. I love you." He added: "Thank you for being a listener I hope it helps in some way. Who knows what is next so I can only say au revoir." James Whale reveals he's got weeks to live in emotional update on cancer battle, saying 'I spend a lot of time crying' James has been courageously battling stage 4 kidney cancer since 2020. He and Nadine, who James has been married to since 2021, have been keeping his fans up to date with his health on his Tales of the Whales podcast. In his previous upload, James told how he was struggling to breathe, talk and think - and couldn't hear very well. He also admitted his speech has become very slow and he is forgetful, while suffering with painful pressure sores. On the emotional recording, he said: "The most tiring thing I found… I still can't hear very well, which is more frustrating than anything else. "I've become very slow in my speech and then forgetful and everything else." Talking about his sores, he said: 'I'm tootling along, which is all you can do really, trying to get my breathing sorted and the mark on my bum.' He humbly asked: "People have to go through a lot worse, don't they? Do they?" The poignant conversation concluded: "Anyway. I don't feel I can go on much more... "The other thing is, my energy levels have gone completely. "So I wish everybody well, and let us hope we go through these phases as quickly as we can." The star recently celebrated his "last birthday" surrounded by loved ones after stopping his cancer treatment. Back in May, the TALK radio host revealed his long-running programme could be coming to an end as he reached the final stage of his battle. One of the country's most revered radio personalities, James has been in the business for 50 years and, in 2023, received the first ever TRIC Recognition Award for his outstanding work. He's helped countless others too, having launched the James Whale Fund for Kidney Cancer in 2006 - now known as Kidney Cancer UK - the nation's leading specialist charity of its kind, after beating the illness two decades ago. 4 4
Arab News
17-07-2025
- Health
- Arab News
Book Review: ‘When Breath Becomes Air'
Published a year after the author's death aged 37 in 2015, 'When Breath Becomes Air' is an autobiography about the life and struggle with terminal lung cancer of Dr. Paul Kalanithi. In the book, Kalanithi, an American neurosurgeon at Stanford University, talks about his own journey from being a physician providing treatment to his patients to becoming a patient himself facing premature mortality. The narrative moves from talking about how Kalanithi saved lives to confronting the end of his own, reflecting on what makes life worth living in the face of death. Despite his diagnosis, Kalanithi continued working as a physician and even became a father, explaining to his readers how he embraced life fully until the very end. Unfortunately, the book had to be completed by his wife after his passing, and serves as a moving meditation on legacy, purpose, and the human experience. Among the book's strengths are its authenticity and depth of emotions, touching on everything from the day-to-day experiences of physicians to Kalanithi's own love of literature — originally, he had studied English at university. A fitting tribute, then, that his own work would go on to become a New York Times' bestseller. Neurosurgery, though, was in his words an 'unforgiving call to perfection' which not even his diagnosis could check. 'Before my cancer was diagnosed, I knew that someday I would die, but I didn't know when,' he wrote. 'After the diagnosis, I knew that someday I would die, but I didn't know when.' The book garnered praise upon publication, winning the Goodreads Choice Award for Memoir and Autobiography in 2016. Its run on the NYT's bestseller list lasted an impressive 68 weeks. Writing in the Guardian, Alice O'Keefe suggested: 'The power of this book lies in its eloquent insistence that we are all confronting our mortality every day, whether we know it or not. The real question we face, Kalanithi writes, is not how long, but rather how, we will live — and the answer does not appear in any medical textbook.'
The Sun
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
TalkTV's James Whale shares emotional cancer battle update as he says ‘I haven't got much longer' in heartbreaking video
JAMES Whale has shared a heartbreaking update after revealing last month that he only has weeks to live in his terminal cancer battle. The TalkTV presenter took to social media on Sunday to post a heartfelt message to his grandson on his birthday. 5 5 5 The 74-year-old shared a video on X in which he said: ''m not terribly well in the final stages of cancer, but I just want to tell my grandson how proud I am of him. ' He's a royal marine and he's been a royal marine for over six months, nearly a year now, he got through all his training, and I am so, so proud, you have no idea.' As he struggled to hold back tears, the Celebrity Big Brother star continued: 'Happy Birthday, mate. 'Happy Birthday to all of you who have put your lives where you have. '360 years ago, the royal marines were founded. Happy Birthday to you all.' Taking the opportunity to reassure his fans, he concluded: 'It's alright, I'm an old git, [I'm] 74. 'I'm still on the TV and radio but not for much longer. I love you all, guys.' Fans and well-wishers flocked to the comments section to send him their messages of support as he continues his final stages of terminal kidney cancer. One X user wrote: 'You have been the voice of many people, thank you. Your family are lucky to have such an inspirational loved one. Thinking of you and sending love.' Another fan commented: 'Bless you James, stay strong and keep fighting, we are all with you on this journey.' James Whale reveals he's got weeks to live in emotional update on cancer battle, saying 'I spend a lot of time crying' While a third expressed: 'Sending love and strength to you James. You are an incredible man who has fought this despicable disease with such defiance and at times humour. Your grandson is no doubt proud of his adorable grandad.' James was diagnosed with kidney cancer in February 2000 and underwent surgery to remove one of his kidneys, opting not to have chemotherapy afterwards. In 2020, the television personality revealed the cancer had spread to his spine, brain and lungs. Just last month, James announced on his show, which he has been filming from home, that he doesn't have long left in his battle. He told viewers: 'I'm actually in my last couple of weeks. Last time I saw my oncologist, he said I probably have only got weeks to go. 'Over the 50 years, I have interviewed and chatted to some of the most amazing people. It may have been you. Maybe we'll catch up for the last time.' Earlier this year, he celebrated his 74 th birthday in the company of his loved ones, surrounded by his family and friends. James has been married to his wife Nadine Lamont-Brown for four years, after tying the knot at a ceremony in Tenterden, Kent in October 2021. The broadcaster's first wife, Melinda Maxted, ironically, was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer in February 2018 and died three months later. They have two sons, James and Peter. 5 5
Daily Mail
06-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Small town neighborhood rallies together to create 'last' Christmas in summer for girl, 9, with terminal cancer
A tight-knit Maryland community came together to give a little girl who has been battling terminal cancer for years a spirited summertime Christmas celebration. Kasey Zachmann, 9, of Bethesda, was diagnosed with an aggressive brain cancer called medulloblastoma when she was five years old. After years of grueling surgeries, trials, and rounds of chemo and radiation, her parents, Alyssa and Joe, received heartbreaking news from her doctors on June 23. Doctors said Kasey's cancer had spread to her lymph nodes and she may only have a few weeks to live. Learning what no parent ever wants to hear, Alyssa and Joe were determined to make sure their daughter spends her time joyfully and surrounded by loved ones. And with Kasey's diagnosis day, June 28, just days away at the time, they planned to turn the glum anniversary into Kasey's favorite holiday - Christmas Day. 'I was trying to think of fun things that we could do for Kasey to build memories,' Alyssa told Bethesda Magazine. 'So we thought it would be amazing to give her the chance to celebrate Christmas one last time.' Her immediately parents reached out to their neighbors, asking for them to decorate their homes with Christmas lights. 'This week will be incredibly hot and not the best climate for putting up lights, but we're not sure how much time we have,' the Zachmanns wrote to their neighbors, NBC reported. Despite the scorching heat and humidity, hundreds of community members happily complied with the festive request. As neighbors decked the town with lights and wore Christmas-themed outfits, 25 firetrucks drove over to the Zachmann's house - bringing Santa along with them. Kasey, wearing a Nutcracker-themed dress, smiled as she enjoyed the day with other kids in her neighborhood and her sister, Zara. She also received cards and gifts. She and her family made sure to drive by each and every house that participated to show their gratitude. 'It was magical. We tried to get to every single house, so it took us two hours to drive around,' Alyssa told Bethesda Magazine, noting that some people were standing in the rain when they arrived. What started as an email to those living nearby blew up into an event spanning 11 neighborhoods along the DC-Maryland border, according to The Washington Post. This diagnosis day turned holiday party was even celebrated nationally, with people from all 50 states sending in videos to wish Kasey a merry Christmas. 'June 28 for us has been diagnosis day, has been a heavy day for us,' Alyssa told NBC. 'For us to now be able to think about June 28 as Christmas in June, especially next year, we're so thankful.'
News.com.au
24-06-2025
- News.com.au
‘Just about dead': Peter Falconio's murderer Bradley John Murdoch in palliative care
Outback killer Bradley John Murdoch has been released from prison into palliative care at Alice Springs Hospital, where he will be allowed out on excursions in his dying days. The 67-year-old, who was found guilty in 2005 of the 2001 murder of British backpacker Peter Falconio, is 'just about dead', a source told the NT News. Murdoch was diagnosed with terminal throat cancer in 2019, and has been receiving chemotherapy at the hospital. According to the source, a currently wheelchair-bound Murdoch returned to Alice Springs Correctional Centre to say goodbye to his fellow inmates. The killer, they claimed, gets 'special treatment for a murderer' – including more welfare checks than any other prisoner – and had been in and around the Northern Territory town on excursions, often accompanied by high-ranking corrections officers. A spokesperson for the NT Department of Corrections declined to comment on the state of Murdoch's health or his reported excursions around Alice Springs. 'The Department of Corrections does not comment on the health of individual prisoners,' they said in a statement. 'Additionally, we do not provide details about prisoner movements or escorts for operational security reasons.'
