大象传媒

TV news presenter Nick Owen has revealed he has undergone surgery for prostate cancer.

Owen, 75, well known for hosting shows including Good Morning Britain, said he had been diagnosed with the "extensive and aggressive" cancer in April, on "one of the worst" days of his life.

"I was told that it was pretty serious and [I] had to do something about it soon," he said.

The 大象传媒 broadcaster is now urging other men to get tested.

Owen, best known as a pioneer of breakfast TV and his partnership with Anne Diamond, said he had had no symptoms and the diagnosis had "come out of the blue".

He revealed he had had a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test which had shown slightly elevated results.

"My GP insisted that I go and see a specialist just to reassure me... he saved my life," he said.

A scan had revealed "there was something dodgy going on", he explained, "and then he sent me for a biopsy and it was the results of that [that] were the killer".

Owen, who has presented regional news show 大象传媒 Midlands Today since 1997 and is also the former Luton Town chairman, said the date of the diagnosis, 13 April, would "forever be imprinted" on his mind.

"He told us that it was extensive and aggressive and I had prostate cancer full-on and something needed to be done and done pretty fast," he said.

"And that was probably the worst day of my life, well certainly one of them, it was a very grim moment."

The broadcaster said it had been a "very difficult time" for him and his wife Vicki, who was "by my side all the time through this".

A scan before surgery had given him "a beacon of hope" as it showed the cancer was contained in the prostate and had not spread, the presenter said.

Taking advice from specialist doctors, Owen said he had opted for a radical prostatectomy, which involves removing the whole prostate gland.

The surgery was successful but he had been on a "pretty bumpy ride" afterwards, he said, and was supported throughout by Vicki.

"She had to do a lot of things medically when I came home, to look after me, including having to give me an injection once a day for about a month - and she's got no experience of that, I've certainly got no experience of doing [it] myself or having it done by a non medical professional," he explained.

"So that was one of the many ingredients [which] made it a tough time.

"Although I'm not exactly myself at the moment, I do feel a lot more like it," he said.

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