Radio presenter Jamie Theakston has spoken candidly about his ongoing battle with laryngeal cancer, two years after receiving a shocking diagnosis that changed his life. The Heart Breakfast host, aged 55, detailed his decision to undergo three surgical procedures instead of chemotherapy, which he describes as a successful approach to tackling the disease.
Choosing Surgery Over Chemotherapy
Speaking on his radio show during World Cancer Day, Jamie revealed that he was diagnosed in August 2024 after listeners noticed changes in his voice. He was presented with a choice between chemotherapy or surgery to treat the stage one cancer affecting his larynx, commonly known as the voice box. "I opted for the surgery," he explained, "and after three surgeries my cancer had gone, and it was a success."
The Absence of the Bell-Ringing Tradition
Unlike many cancer patients who celebrate the end of chemotherapy or radiotherapy by ringing a bell, Jamie never participated in this ritual. "Mine was slightly different because I had the surgery," he noted. "I then had to get monthly check-ups for a year and I’m still in that cycle. So, in year two I now go into two-monthly check-ups because it can come back."
He expressed reluctance to ring the bell technically because he remains in treatment, but added, "I also feel maybe I think if it inspires anyone else then we should all give it a go."
Keeping the Diagnosis Secret
Last year, Jamie disclosed that he initially kept his possible cancer diagnosis hidden from his wife, Sophie Siegle, for weeks during a family holiday to Japan. He worked hard to suppress the news to enjoy the trip with their sons, Sidney, 17, and Kit, 16. "I didn’t tell anyone," he recalled. "At that stage, I thought, well, it might not be cancer. So there’s no point really in saying anything. I just tried to suppress it."
The Emotional Toll on Family
When the biopsy confirmed the diagnosis, breaking the news to his family was particularly challenging. "She was distraught," he said of telling his wife. Explaining it to his sons was even harder: "When you say you’ve got cancer to a 14-year-old, they think you’re going to die." He also reflected on losing his mother to cancer in late 2022, expressing relief that she passed before his diagnosis to spare her the worry.
Voice Changes and Emergency Scans
Jamie’s cancer journey began when listeners and he himself noticed his voice wasn’t sounding right. A visit to a throat specialist led to emergency scans just hours before his family holiday. "He looked at my throat and said, ‘Oh yeah, that’s probably cancer’," Jamie recounted. "I said ‘What do you mean?’ And he said ‘Nine times out of ten, it is cancer and we need to get you scanned now.’"
Surgical Challenges and Success
After the initial surgery, doctors feared some cancerous cells remained, prompting a second and eventually a third operation. "We were getting dangerously close to removing so much of the vocal cord that I wouldn’t be able to talk again," he reflected. Fortunately, the third surgery was successful, allowing him to return to Heart Breakfast in January last year alongside co-host Amanda Holden, whom he credits with immense support. "Amanda was incredible," he said. "She checked in on me nonstop. She kept the show going. She’s a force of nature."
Understanding Laryngeal Cancer
According to the NHS, laryngeal cancer affects the larynx, which is part of the throat at the entrance of the windpipe and plays a crucial role in breathing and speaking. In the UK, there are over 2,000 new cases each year, with the condition being more common in people over 60 and in men than women.
Jamie’s story highlights the personal and emotional complexities of a cancer battle, from diagnosis and treatment choices to the ongoing fear of recurrence and the impact on loved ones.
