TalkTV presenter James Whale was told he had 12 weeks “maximum” left to live, after being diagnosed with kidney cancer that has spread to his spine, brain and lungs
James Whale and his wife have made a devastating decision in his terminal cancer battle.
The TalkTV presenter has been diagnosed with stage four kidney cancer that has spread to his brain, spine and lungs. The broadcaster is now nearing the end of his life as he’s reaching the final stages of the cancer.
He and his wife Nadine Lamont have decided to limit those who can visit him as he’s feeling too unwell. Doctors had originally said he had 12 weeks “maximum” left to live, but seven of those weeks have now passed.
They gave an update on their podcast Tales of the Whales last week. James opened the show by telling fans: “Right, first of all, I’m sorry to be grumpy, okay?” as Nadine agreed: “You are being a little bit testy this morning.”
James explained: “I can’t breathe, I can’t think, I can’t talk. Anyway, good morning, welcome to Tales of the Whales, our weekly podcast. I have terminal five cancer.”
Nadine jumped in to correct him: “[Stage] four.” James asked: “Is it? Can you get five?” as his wife joked: “Well why not, let’s go up a grade.” James went on: “I told everybody I had 12 weeks to live. Which apparently I don’t.”
Nadine replied: “Well, you were told that a few weeks ago. Like seven weeks ago. And that was the maximum, so we don’t know where we are really. But you’re getting a bit confused about things, so now you’ve been telling everyone it’s 12 days, which isn’t the case.
“I don’t think there’s any point in trying to quantify it, we’ll just run with it and see what happens, and try and make the most of what time we’ve got.”
The couple have now been forced to halt visits from everyone but “very close friends and family” from this week. Nadine said: “You have said now you are getting quite tired, so from next week we’re restricting visitors to just very close friends and family. That’s it.”
TalkTV star James added: “The most tiring thing, I’ve found – I still can’t hear very well, which is more frustrating than anything else – but I’ve become very slow in my speech and forgetful.”
The presenter has a tumour pressing on his temporal lobe, as well as cancer in his kidney, spine and lungs – which his wife thinks is affecting his memory, as well as causing swelling and leaking in his legs.
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.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
