Paul Burrell, 64, reveals he has prostate cancer
An emotional Paul Burrell has revealed he has prostate cancer.
The 64-year-old made the tearful announcement about Lorraine, sharing that he found out about it last year.
Paul admitted he didn’t think such a thing would ever happen to him, and he’s now on an “emotional and educational roller coaster”.
Giving an update to the daytime presenter, he said: “I’m tired, I’m on hormone therapy, it’s robbing me of my testosterone, so my beard isn’t growing as it should, I’m tired and getting flushes of heat.
“In the summer I had to have a medical for a TV program I was doing and their duty of care was to have a full medical.
“And from there, there was a high level of the chemical PSA produced by your prostate.”
Struggling to hold on, Paul, whose children live in America, added: “I was wrapping Christmas presents thinking, ‘Will I be here next Christmas?
“I had to tell my boys, and they were like, ‘Dad, we need to spend more time with you,’ and that’s what it’s all about.”
Princess Diana’s close confidante went on to urge viewers to get checked out and take “a simple blood test” to catch possible signs of prostate cancer early.
Symptoms of prostate cancer may include
- Need to urinate more frequently, often at night
- Need to rush to the toilet
- Difficulty starting to urinate (hesitation)
- Forcing or taking a long time while peeing
- Low flow
- Feeling that your bladder has not emptied completely
- Blood in urine or blood in semen
He said he was “lucky” to have caught his when he did, because “there are thousands of men out there who don’t have symptoms”.
“You’ve got plenty of pretty female viewers who can tell their men ‘Go get tested,'” he told the Scottish host.
Paul was catapulted into public life when he served as footman to the late Queen Elizabeth II and butler to Diana, Princess of Wales.
Aged just 18, he worked as the Queen’s personal footman for a year, with the late Princess once describing him as her ‘rock’ after they got together.
Macmillan Cancer Support
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with cancer, Macmillan can offer support and information.
You can contact their helpline on 0808 808 00 00 (7 days a week from 8am to 8pm), use their online chat service or visit their site for more information.
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