NICK Owen is a household name and newsreader who many of us love and adore.
Nick announced a devastating cancer diagnosis - here's what we know so far.
Who is Nick Owen?
Nick Owen is an English TV presenter and newsreader.
He is best known for presenting Good Morning Britain and the BBC's local show Midlands Today since 1997.
He was also the chairman of Luton Town Football Club between 2008 and 2017.
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Nick was born on November 1 1947 in Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire.
His father Bertie was a headmaster and Dunkirk veteran.
His mother Esme was a music teacher.
He attended Kingsland Grange Prep School and later Shrewsbury School.
During his time at Kingsland Grange, Nick would hand-write his own newspaper and take it to a copier to print.
He later attended the University of Leeds earning his BA (Hons) degree in Classics.
What health condition has Nick Owen been diagnosed with?
Nick has been diagnosed with prostrate cancer and has undergone surgery.
After a period of absence from Midlands Today, Nick spoke about how the condition has impacted him since his diagnosis in April.
"13 April, a date (that) will for ever be imprinted on my mind."
“I went to a specialist, he wasn’t too worried because my figures weren’t that high."
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"But he decided I ought to have a scan, and then the scan said there’s something dodgy going on, and then he sent me for a biopsy, which he did."
"And the results of that were the killer.”
Nick was told by doctors that his cancer was "extensive and aggressive."
“I had prostate cancer full-on, and something needed to be done pretty fast.”
“And that was probably the worst day of my life, or certainly one of them.”
“It was a very grim moment … driving home after that sort of news and ringing people, texting people, my phone went crazy for hours on end."
"And it was a very, very difficult time for me, and indeed for my wife, Vicki, who was by my side all the time through this.”
Nick stated he planned to return to work at the BBC in autumn once he'd undergone the surgery.
“It all came out of the blue.”
“So almost immediately, I came off work and had an operation and hopefully (I’m) through it now, here I am.”
What is prostate cancer?
Prostrate cancer is a cancer that occurs within the prostrate.
The prostrate is a small walnut-shaped gland in males that produces that fluid that nourishes and transports sperm.
This means the cancer only affects those assigned male at birth.
Prostrate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer.
Some prostrate cancers can grow slowly and are confined to the gland meaning they may not cause serious harm.
Slow growing cancers may need minimal or in some cases no treatment.
However, some types of cancer are aggressive and can spread quickly.
The earlier the cancer is detected the better the chance of successful treatment.
Prostrate cancer may have no symptoms within its early stages.
However, prostrate cancer that is more advanced may cause these symptoms:
- Trouble urinating
- Decreased force in the stream or urine
- Blood in the urine
- Blood in the semen
- Bone pain
- Loss of weight
- Erectile dysfunction
If you have any symptoms are that are persistent or concerning you, please see your GP as soon as possible.
