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Heart Breakfast co-host Jamie Theakston has announced he has been diagnosed with stage one laryngeal cancer.
The radio presenter, who hosts the station's breakfast show alongside Amanda Holden, revealed the news in an Instagram post on Tuesday morning.
In a statement, the 53-year-old said the prognosis was “very positive” and added that he hopes to return to Heart Radio in October.
The 53-year-old decided to have his throat tested after listeners noticed his voice sounded different on air.
In a health update shared on September 1, Theakston thanked his listeners for urging him to get checked.
“I got it checked out. The doctors found a lesion on my vocal cords which they removed this weekend. Thanks for all the kind messages. I should be able to recover soon,” he wrote at the time.
After announcing that his condition had been identified as cancerous, Theakston received well wishes from his fellow celebrities and fans.
What is the larynx? cancer?
“Laryngeal cancer is a rare type of cancer that starts in the larynx,” explains Maxine Lenza, health information manager at Cancer Research UK.
The larynx is part of the throat that sits at the entrance to the trachea and plays an important role in helping you breathe and speak.
Laryngeal cancer has five stages (stage zero, followed by stages one through four, often expressed in Roman numerals I through IV) that describe the size of the cancer and whether it has spread.
“In stage 0, abnormal cells are found in the lining of the larynx, but they have not spread beyond the top layer of cells. There are usually no symptoms and this can be considered precancerous,” explains Professor Vijay Nayar from Healthium Clinic.
“While stage IV, the most advanced stage, is when the cancer has spread to distant parts of the body, to multiple lymph nodes, or has invaded nearby structures.”
According to the NHS, there are more than 2,000 new cases of laryngeal cancer in the UK each year.
Who is most at risk?
According to the NHS, the condition is more common in men than women and in people over the age of 60.
“The risk of developing cancer depends on many factors, including age, lifestyle and environmental factors,” explains Rachel Rawson, senior clinical nurse specialist at Perci Health.
Lenza adds: “It is not always clear what causes laryngeal cancer, but there are ways to reduce the risk, such as quitting smoking or drinking less alcohol.”
What are the symptoms?
The larynx plays an important role in breathing, speaking and swallowing, so the symptoms of laryngeal cancer are related to these functions.
“Symptoms of laryngeal cancer may include hoarseness of voice, difficulty swallowing, weight loss and shortness of breath,” Lenza said.
Nayar adds: “Other symptoms include a sore throat or a feeling of having something stuck in the throat. There may also be earache, a persistent cough or a lump in the neck.”
The NHS website advises people who have had a hoarse voice for more than three weeks to contact their GP.
“It can be tempting to attribute changes in your body to aging or another health problem, but it’s important to tell your doctor if you notice something that isn’t normal for you or that doesn’t go away,” Lenza advises. “In most cases it won’t be cancer, but if it is, catching it at an early stage can make a real difference.”
How is it diagnosed?
“Diagnosis usually involves the doctor checking for lumps or abnormal areas in the throat, followed by a laryngoscopy, when an endoscope is inserted into the throat to view the larynx under local anesthesia,” Nayar explains.
“If a suspicious area is found, a small tissue biopsy is taken for further microscopic examination.”
If cancer is confirmed, further scans may be done to assess the extent of the cancer and whether it has spread to other areas.
“These imaging tests may include CT scans, MRIs or PET scans,” Nayar adds.
What treatments are available?
Treatment options depend on the stage of the cancer and the patient's general health. Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy, or a combination of these, are usually offered.
“Patients with early-stage cancer are usually offered laser microsurgery or radiotherapy,” Nayar says. “Those with more advanced disease will be offered surgery and radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy.
“Surgery involves removing part or all of the larynx (laryngectomy) depending on the extent of the cancer. If the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes in the neck, these may also be removed.
“In all cases, patients will require rehabilitation with speech and swallowing therapy after treatment.”
