- The 58-year-old is said to be ‘optimistic’ about a positive outcome
- Will step aside from presenting BBC News at Six while having treatment
- Has asked for space and privacy while he recovers from the illness
- Bowel cancer is third most common cancer in men in the UK
09:07 EST, 17 April 2014
|
09:52 EST, 17 April 2014
BBC newsreader George Alagiah has been diagnosed with bowel cancer.
He will be off air for the near future while he receives treatment, the BBC said today.
The 58-year-old, who has been a familiar figure on TV news bulletins for many years, is said to be ‘optimistic’ about a positive outcome.
Newsreader George Alagiah has been diagnosed with bowel cancer, the BBC said today
The 58-year-old, who has been the face of BBC1?s News At Six since 2007, is said to be ‘optimistic’
The Sri Lanka-born journalist has been the face of BBC1’s News at Six since 2007. He was made an OBE in 2008?s New Year Honours.
In a statement the BBC said: ‘He is grateful for all the good wishes he has received thus far and is optimistic for a positive outcome.
‘George asks that he and his family are given the space and privacy they require whilst he recovers.
BOWEL CANCER – THE THIRD MOST COMMON CANCER IN MEN
Bowel cancer affects 40,000 Britons and kills 16,000 each year.
Symptoms usually include abdominal pain, blood in the stool, unexplained constipation or diarrhoea and unexplained weight loss.
It is the third most common cancer in the UK, and the third most common in men.
Around 72 per cent of cases occur in those aged over 65 but numbers of young people developing the disease are rising rapidly.
Age, a low-fibre diet, being overweight, a high alcohol intake, smoking and a family history of the disease puts you at an increased risk.
The disease is usually treated with a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Early detection and treatment usually results in a cure but late diagnosis only has a five year survival rate of 6 per cent.
‘Our thoughts are with him and his family and we send them our very best wishes during this time.
‘Until such time as George is well enough to return to work the BBC News at Six and GMT on BBC World News will be presented as usual by familiar faces from BBC News.’
Mr Alagiah first began hosting the 6pm news bulletin in early 2003, but he stepped up to front it solo four years later following the departure of his co-host Natasha Kaplinsky.
He has previously been a prominent
foreign correspondent, often as a specialist in Africa with coverage of
civil wars in Somalia and Liberia, as well as the genocide in Rwanda 20
years ago.
Mr Alagiah
joined the BBC 25 years ago after working as a print journalist and he
has gone on to write a number of books including A Home From Home, which
looked at what it means to be British.
He has also presented other
shows such as Mixed Britannia, looking at the UK’s mixed-race
population.
Bowel
cancer is the third most common type of cancer in men, behind prostate
and lung, with almost three-quarters of cases affecting people over the
age of 65.
In
response to the news, Mark Flannagan, chief executive of the charity
Beating Bowel Cancer, said: ‘We’re sorry to hear that George Alagiah has
been diagnosed with bowel cancer. We wish him all the best with his
treatment and recovery.
Mr Alagiah with former news co-host Natasha Kaplinsky. A statement issued today said: ‘George asks that he and his family are given the space and privacy they require whilst he recovers’
‘Almost 41,000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer every year in the UK, that’s one person every 30 minutes.
‘However, bowel cancer is very treatable when caught in the early stages when over 90% of cases can be successfully treated.’
For more information, visit www.beatingbowelcancer.org
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Truth Seeker,
Globetrotting, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba,
7 minutes ago
Wishing George a positive outcome. May God be with him.
c rose,
Manchester uk,
7 minutes ago
Get well soon
Eileen,
Herts,
7 minutes ago
My very best wishes to you George and your family.
A true professional, you will be missed from the screen, hopefully we will see you again in the future.
John14,
Dorking,
7 minutes ago
Good luck George, a real professional.
drhabibk,
ISB, Pakistan,
8 minutes ago
George, get well soon, my family and friends just prayed to Allah for your perfect and quick recovery. We love you very much.
Jack,
Bristol, United Kingdom,
10 minutes ago
One of the best presenters on television come back soon.
peter,
eastleigh, United Kingdom,
10 minutes ago
Get well soon you will be missed.
Kerry,
Colchester,
11 minutes ago
Wishing you a speedy recovery George my news crush.
james,
wirral,
11 minutes ago
good luck to you and any one going through this terrible disease .
Willieboy,
Birkenhead, United Kingdom,
11 minutes ago
I’m sure that the the whole country is thinking of you George. You may have to fight through some bad days to earn the best days of your life, but remember, cancer is a word, not a sentence.
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