JEREMY Clarkson’s partner, Lisa Hogan, is “proud” of his decision to go public with his cancer diagnosis, saying it has helped thousands of people.
The former Top Gear presenter is in remission after revealing on the latest series of Clarkson’s Farm that he had been diagnosed with “aggressive” prostate cancer.
Lisa says The Sun columnist was initially reluctant to share his diagnosis with the public.
Speaking to the Daily Star, she said: “I’m really happy he caught his prostate cancer early and I’m really proud of him for putting it on the show, because that was a really big decision.
“When I was filming him in hospital, at first he said please don’t.
“It was (producer) Andy Wilman who convinced him to do it, to help everybody else.
One in eight men will get prostate cancer
The risk of developing prostate cancer depends on many factors, here are some of the facts about the disease and how many men it affects.
- One in eight men will get prostate cancer in their lifetime
- It is the fourth most common cancer worldwide, and the most common in men
- There are 55,000 new cases every year in the UK, and 1.4million globally
- Around 12,000 people lose their lives to prostate cancer annually in the UK and almost 400,000 around the world
- Prostate cancer accounts for 28 per cent of all new cancer cases in men in the UK, and 14 per cent of all new cancer cases in men and women combined
- Prostate cancer survival has tripled in the last 50 years in the UK
- More than three-quarters (78 per cent) of patients survive for 10 or more years
- About 490,000 men are living with and after prostate cancer in the UK
- It is most common in men aged 75 to 79
- Since the early 1990s, cases have increased by 53 per cent in the UK
- Mortality rates are up 16 per cent since the early 1970s in the UK
- Incidence rates are projected to rise by 15 per cent in the UK between 2023 to 2025 and 2038 to 2040
- Mortality rates are expected to fall five per cent in the UK over the same years
- Source: Prostate Cancer UK, World Cancer Research Fund International and Cancer Research UK
“When the show came out, Prostate Cancer UK had 30,000 people going on to their website in one day.”
The charity confirmed that in the 24 hours after Jezza, 66, dropped the bombshell news, some 16,749 men took their online risk checker.
That was the highest figure since former Prime Minister David Cameron, 59, revealed last year that he’d also had prostate cancer.
The organisation also had 43,543 visitors to its website – the highest of the year so far and double the number they’d normally receive.
Hogan says Clarkson has also benefited from opening up to those around him.
“Yes, of course it was a terrible worry,” she added. “But what I did encourage him to do was to talk to his friends.
“He didn’t want to initially, but he’s got lots of friends who’ve been through the same thing and he’s been talking to them about it. I think that’s really helped.”
Clarkson revealed in June that he is in remission.
Recently speaking with The Times, Jeremy said of his health: “I am well. I am not unwell.
“I mean, I was unwell, but only for a very short period of time.”
He also revealed in June lifestyle changes after his cancer battle as he admitted “I want to see my grandchildren grow up”.
Jeremy said to The Sunday Times: “I really like seeing my grandchildren. I want to watch them grow up.
“I drive much more slowly. I’m a bit of a dawdler. I go for walks a lot. I have vegetarian food.”
He shares three children – Emily, Finlo and Katya – with his ex-wife Frances Cain.
His eldest, Emily Clarkson, has two children with her husband Alex Andrew.
The NHS has also revealed a new study which will see thousands more men have access to the prostate cancer test used to diagnose Jeremy.
The Stockholm 3 blood check is said to be more accurate at spotting aggressive tumours than the prostate-specific antigen test currently used by the NHS.
The test will be offered to up to 10,000 men aged 45 to 74 at a discounted £99 and given free on the NHS to 2,000 more on lower incomes.
It would typically cost £500 at a private clinic.