BBC radio star's heartbreaking end of life confession after devastating cancer news
He shared the first words he said to them following the diagnosis.
BBC Radio 4 star Jon Holmes has opened up about the heartbreaking moment he told his children he had prostate cancer after receiving the shock diagnosis in 2023. The Dead Ringers co-creator revealed he only ended up being tested because he is adopted and could not provide doctors with a family medical history.
Holmes, 57, has now spoken about how he broke the news to his daughters, Isla and Maisie, after doctors confirmed he had the disease. Recalling the emotional conversation, he explained that medics had reassured him early on that his cancer was treatable.
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Speaking to the Daily Mail, he said that the first thing he told his children was he wasn't going to die from it.
Holmes explained he sat his daughters down in the kitchen after receiving the diagnosis and tried to reassure them that the cancer had been caught in a "fixable" place and that treatment options were available.
He shared, "And then the youngest one just said, 'Right, is that it? Can I have an apple?' Yes, and that was it."
The broadcaster later underwent a radical prostatectomy, which is surgery to remove the prostate gland and surrounding tissue, after being told the cancer was curable.
Despite the positive outlook from doctors, Holmes admitted the diagnosis forced him to confront his own mortality and think seriously about the future of his family.
One year ago today I was having surgery for cancer. Apart from regular blood tests (next result on Monday) I’m all mended and cancer free. Men don’t really talk about this stuff, so I did. If you’re going through it or know someone who is, give it a listen https://t.co/qeXRWaeZq0 pic.twitter.com/ZeZqmLf3EO
— Jon Holmes (@jonholmes1) September 12, 2024
He revealed he even organised a will the day before surgery because he had never previously made one.
The dad-of-two has since confirmed he is now cancer-free following successful treatment last year. He also revealed that after initially being told he did not need testing because he had no symptoms, the doctor changed course after learning he had no access to family medical history.
He explained that if he had not been adopted, the cancer may have gone undetected until it was too late.
Holmes has since teamed up with GenesisCare for a new awareness campaign encouraging men to ask more questions about prostate cancer testing and treatment.
According to the NHS, prostate cancer is now the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men in the UK, with thousands of new cases detected every year.
