Cancer (disease)

WEIGHT loss jabs could prevent a medication taken by millions of women from working – and increase patients’ risk of cancer.

The British Menopause Society said the jabs could cause hormone imbalance in women taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT), particularly for those with obesity, putting them “at increased risk of womb cancer”.

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It follows warnings to women on weight loss medications to take effective contraception, as the jabs could render the pill less effective.

That’s because weight loss drugs Wegovy and Mounjaro – as well as diabetes jab Ozempic – can delay the absorption of pills taken orally, as well slowing down the passage of food through the gut.

Guidance suggests women taking HRT in pill form may also be at risk.

The British Menopause Society (BMS) told doctors to closely monitor menopausal women on HRT who are also using weight-loss jabs.

The treatment tops up the hormones oestrogen and progesterone, which dip to low levels as the menopause approaches.

Data from 2023-24 showed that 2.6 million women in England rely on the drugs to alleviate hot flushes, night sweats, difficulty sleeping and mood changes.

“During the last two years, since semaglutide and tirzepatide [the active ingredients in Wegovy and Mounjaro] received licenses for weight loss, there has been an increase in uptake of these medications through private clinics, while NHS prescribing is limited to specialist weight management services,” the BMS guidance stated.

“There are no current data available about numbers of women receiving HRT concurrently with semaglutide or tirzepatide.”

The most common form of HRT is a progesterone pill alongside a skin patch or gel to deliver oestrogen, but some people opt for a combined pill.

Progesterone balances out the effects of oestrogen, which on its own stimulates the growth of the womb lining, and can cause “abnormal cells and cancer” to grow.

The menopause experts expressed concern over the loss of the progesterone’s protective effect on the womb as a result of weight loss jabs.

They recommended that doctors move women taking progesterone orally to an intrauterine device, such as a Mirena coil, or increase their dose of progesterone.

Prof Annice Mukherjee, a consultant endocrinologist and member of the society’s medical advisory council, who led on the guidance, told The Telegraph that a hormone imbalance could put women “at increased risk of womb cancer” – particularly if they are obese.

“Oestrogen is almost always given through the skin for HRT in women living with obesity, but progesterone is frequently given as a tablet, and that formulation is thought to be the safest route for women who have complicated health issues,” she said.

“If we then start one of these injectable weight-loss drugs, then you’re preferentially stopping absorption of the progestogen that’s coming in orally, but you’re allowing plenty of the oestrogen through the skin.

“The rules are very clear that if you give a very high dose of oestrogen and you don’t give enough progesterone, however that happens, you’re putting that woman at risk of womb cancer,” she said.

Prof Mukherjee said there was currently a “culture of putting women on very high doses of oestrogen”, which can make the womb lining thicken.

“It’s like having a lawn in a woman’s womb. Oestrogen makes the lawn grow. Progestogen cuts the lawn. But if it’s not being cut, it grows thicker, and then you can get abnormal cells and cancer.”

But she also stressed that the biggest risk factor for womb cancer was obesity – meaning that on the whole, weight loss jabs can cut the risk of disease.

“These drugs reduce the risk of cancer,” Prof Mukherjee said.

“But if they are prescribed to a woman who’s on oestrogen through the skin, and she might already have womb thickening because she’s living with obesity, and she’s not absorbing the progesterone because she’s been put on a weight-loss injection, she’s potentially getting loads of oestrogen on top of her thickened womb lining, and that could potentially unmask cancers that are there or drive an early cancer to a more advanced stage.”

The BMS put together the guidelines after calls from GPs for advice to give to patients.

Dr Janet Barter, the president of the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare, told The Telegraph that weight loss jabs can cause side effects such as “vomiting and severe diarrhoea in some patients”.

“Obviously this could render any medication, such as HRT tablets or oral contraception, ineffective if there hasn’t been enough time for them to be fully absorbed,” she said.

“If these side-effects are occurring, then people should discuss the matter with their doctor or specialist clinician to find the combination of drugs that’s right for them.”

Sun Health has contacted Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly – the makers of Wegovy and Mounjaro – for comment.

It follows warnings from the Medicines and Healthcare products Agency (MHRA) that GLP-1 weight loss drugs could reduce the absorption of contraceptives, due to the fact they slow down the emptying of the stomach.

The watchdog also said the jabs should not be used during pregnancy, while trying to conceive or breastfeeding, over fears they could lead to miscarriage or birth defects.

The MHRA explained: “This is because there is not enough safety data to know whether taking the medicine could cause harm to the baby.”

Dr Bassel Wattar, a consultant gynaecologist and medical director of clinical trials at Anglia Ruskin University, told The Sun: “It’s not the medication itself, but the weight loss that helps regulate a woman’s hormones allowing her ovaries to function properly again.

“Pregnancy is more of a happy side effect.”

ATOMIC Kitten’s Natasha Hamilton opened up about her skin cancer battle, revealing she was diagnosed with the disease after getting a persistent itchy spot on her back.

In an emotional Good Morning Britain interview, the singer, 42, revealed she’d had basal cell carcinoma (BCC).

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BCC is the most common skin cancer type in the UK.

It begins in the basal cells — a type of cell within the skin that produces new skin cells as old ones die off – and is more likely to develop on skin regularly exposed to the sun, like the face, head or neck.

The cancer often tends to appear as a pearly lump, but it can also develop as a scar-like patch on the skin or rough, scaly growths.

Natasha initially mistook the diseased patch of skin as a mosquito bite.

She told her hosts Kate Garraway and Rob Rinder that she developed an itch after catching a bit too much sun while on holiday in Majorca.

Natasha said: “So I had been on holiday, I wasn’t actually in the sun a lot, my baby was only about five months old and I was breastfeeding.

“One afternoon I had her on my lap, my back was in the sun and I burnt.

“I don’t know if it was later that day or the next day, I had an itchy spot on my back.

“I felt it, I went “oh mosquito bite”.

‘It wasn’t until four weeks later when I was at home and it was itching I was like ‘hang on a minute, that seems a bit long for a mosquito bite’.

‘I asked my husband to have look and he went “oh that’s not a bite,” he took a picture.

Natasha revealed: “Originally it had just been a dark freckle that I’d had on my back for many years.

“It wasn’t even raised, it wasn’t a mole, it was just a freckle.”

The star sought specialist help and was diagnosed with BCC.

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She was able to have the cancerous skin removed and is now living cancer-free.

But she revealed: “Now I have to be really vigilant, I have to check my skin all the time.

“Since then I’ve had a few things appear where I’ve had to go back to the dermatologist, they’re on the ‘watch list’.  

“This is probably something I am going to have to keep an eye for the rest of my life,” Natasha said.

The 4 signs of BCC

When you think of signs of skin cancer, a mole probably comes to mind.

This is usually the case with melanoma, the deadliest form of the disease.

But non-melanoma skin cancer – which includes BCC – can manifest in other more subtle ways.

According to Macmillan Cancer Support, a BCC might have some of these features:

1. A smooth, firm lump that may be pearly, pink, red, brown or black – on black or brown skin, it is more likely to be pearly, brown or black
2. A lump that is sunken in the middle like a crater
3. A flat patch of scaly, crusty or irritated skin
4. A scar-like area of pale, shiny skin

This type of skin cancer tends to be painless but it can cause itchiness or bleeding.

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Over time, a BCC may develop into an open sore that does not heal.

Any part of your skin can be affected, but it’s most common in areas exposed to the sun, such as the:

• Head, face and ears
• Neck and shoulders
• Back
• Hands
• Lower legs

BCCs mainly people with fair skin, but those with other skin types may also be at risk, according to the British Skin Foundation.

Those with the highest risk of developing a basal cell carcinoma are: 

• People with pale skin who burn easily and rarely tan
• Those who have had a lot of exposure to the sun, such as people with outdoor hobbies or outdoor workers, and people who have lived in sunny climates
• People who have used sun beds or have regularly sunbathed.
• People who have previously had a basal cell carcinoma

Almost all cases of BCC can be cured and it’s almost never a danger to life, according to the charity.

However, if a BCC is not treated early, it may get larger and may be more likely to come back.

Treatment can include surgically removing the affected area of skin.

A BEAUTY buff has shared how she banished her forehead wrinkles for good after ageing her skin with sunbeds.

Despite long being linked to cancer and banned in countries such as Australia and Brazil, sunbeds are still popular in the UK – and in fact, it seems that their use on the rise.

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Last year, a survey by the charity Melanoma Focus found that 28 per cent of UK adults use sunbeds, rising to a whopping 43 per cent among 18 to 25-year-olds.

In another study from Skin Health Alliance, 60 per cent of young people admitted to sunbed use, with 25 per cent using them on a frequent basis.

But while just one sunbed session can increase the risk of developing squamous cell skin cancer by 67 per cent, it’s also worth remembering the skin ageing factor.

Sunbeds emit extremely high levels of UV radiation, which damages the skin’s collagen and elastin fibres, leading to wrinkles and a loss of elasticity, warned Public Health Agency.

The faux golden glow can also cause increased melanin production, leading to the formation of sun spots or age spots, which can appear as dark patches on the skin.

One former beauty buff, Chloe White, recently took to TikTok where she showed the damage caused by soaking up the harmful UV rays – as well as how she drastically improved the appearance of her skin.

”I used to use the sunbeds and it aged my skin a lot quicker than I wanted to,” the young woman said in the video where she also shared a snap of her wrinkly forehead.

As well as saying goodbye to sunbeds, Chloe began to take better care of her skin – which also included using retinol.

Ideal to start incorporating into your routine as you approach your mid to late 20s, retinol increases skin cell production.

As well as unclogging pores, it also exfoliates your skin and increases collagen production, which can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, giving your skin a fresher, plump appearance.

While the high street is full of different retinols to suit every budget, there are also more affordable options – such as
The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion Serum, £15.20 at Boots.

”Look at my forehead now – compare to that picture.

”I was actually thinking about getting Botox and I thought ‘Before I start injecting my face with things, why don’t I just try this?’

”And it was worked so, so unbelievably well for tightening up my skin.”

The blonde beauty went on: ”The only thing that I didn’t know when I started using it is that you do have to wear SPF as well, because it makes your skin more sensitive to the sun.

”But yeah, it’s worked amazing compared to what my wrinkles used to look like,” said Chloe, adding it too her just two weeks to see results.

”I actually promise I have no filter on my skin, my sister in law came over and she’s in her 30’s BEST SKIN EVER and that’s what she said she uses, never looked back,” said the TikTok who posts under the username @chloe.w.hite.

Risks of sunbeds

THE promise of a constant glowing tan is too tempting for some people to deny.

But while popping to the sunbed shop may seem harmless, people who use tanning beds should be aware of the risks.

Approximately 10 per cent of the population of Northern Europe use sunbeds on a regular basis, the World Health Organization says.

Some people use them for years on end, accumulating risk of serious disease.

We are here to give you the lowdown on sunbeds and if they are safe to use.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), sunbeds are as dangerous as smoking.

Like the sun, they give out harmful UV rays that damage the DNA in your skin cells.

Over time, this may lead to malignant melanoma – the deadliest form of skin cancer – studies have shown.

According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), there is significant evidence to show that using tanning beds causes melanoma.

They report that sunbeds increase the risk of skin cancer by up to 20 per cent, and also state that they have no positive benefits to our health.

Cancer Research back this statistic, adding that ” there is no such thing as a safe tan from UV radiation”.

One study found that sunbeds can almost double the risk of cancer compared to never using them – with women 83 per cent more likely to develop the disease.

While some people think tanning beds are safer than sitting out in the midday sun, according to Cancer Research, the risk is still twice as high when compared to spending the same amount of time in the Mediterranean sun at lunch time.

The Sunbed Association claim there is not enough evidence to link sunbed use with melanoma, adding: “It is over-exposure and burning that will increase a risk of skin cancer, not responsible UV exposure.”

But the WHO says: “The majority of tanning parlours provide inadequate advice to their customers.

“The use of eye protection such as goggles or sunglasses should be mandatory.

“However, as sunbed users aim to have an even tan, they often decide against protecting any part of their body.”

Referring to the link with skin cancer, the world health experts add: “Sunbeds for self-tanning purposes have been available for the last two decades and due to the long latency period for skin cancer and eye damage it has been difficult so far to demonstrate any long-term health effects.

“Even though the causes of malignant melanoma are not fully understood, tumour development appears to be linked to occasional exposure to intense sunlight.

“Sunbeds subject their users to intermittent high exposures of UVA and UVB radiation – this may provide the ideal setting for the development of malignant skin cancer.

“However, the few epidemiological studies that have been carried out to date have not provided any consistent results.”

Despite the WHO’s cautious stance on the skin cancer link, it discourages the use of sunbeds, quoting an expert who said the use of tanning parlours is like “an industrial-scale radiation exposure experiment”.

Regardless of skin cancer, sunbeds don’t just have long-term health risks.

Users have reported a range of short-term symptoms including itching, dryness and redness of skin, freckling and photosensitivity.

Common outcomes in the longer term, especially in fair-skinned people, may involve blistering of the skin.

“Sagging and wrinkling of the skin are an almost certain price to be paid by frequent sunbed users”, the WHO says – not quite the outcome you hope for when going to the sunbed shop for a beautiful, youthful look.

How to use retinol?

The beauty bag must-have, a form of vitamin A, is to be added to your evening skincare routine – and never in the morning.

Before you use a retinol product for the first time, do a patch test on a small area of your skin to see if you have any negative reactions.

If, after a couple of days, your skin patch isn’t very red or itchy, you can safely add it to the skincare regimen.

Fabulous’ Beauty Editor, Tara Ledden, explained how to safely use this beauty bag must-have to reap the benefits.

Once you wash your face in the morning, pile on the nourishing products, too. 

The golden rule is that less is more. Less product – a pea-sized amount should cover your whole face, using more won’t make it work faster – and less frequently.

Start with one night a week, then after a few weeks, once you know your skin is tolerating it, scale up to twice a week for a few more weeks and so on.

Don’t be disheartened if your skin can only handle it every other night, you’ll still be reaping the rewards and it’s better to use it consistently over a longer period than ramp it up and have to take a break because your skin reacts.

Avoid sensitive areas, like around your eyes and lips, as that’s almost guaranteed to cause problems, and our skin is porous so enough of the product will creep towards both when applied further away.

If you’re impatient, retinal works faster than retinol – yes, one letter makes all the difference.

Both have to convert into retinoic acid before unleashing their skincare benefits, and the former is one step further in that process, which many dermatologists I’ve spoken to mean it’s also kinder to skin, and better tolerated by those of us with sensitive complexions. 

AN immune boosting drug can stave off throat cancer for years longer than current treatments, a trial found.

Recovering head and neck cancer patients treated with pembrolizumab, also known as Keytruda, remained cancer-free for an average of five years.

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That was twice as long as the 2.5 years for patients given regular chemotherapy.

The risk of tumour cells spreading elsewhere in the body was also 10 per cent lower, the Institute for Cancer Research in London found.

Pembrolizumab is an immunotherapy that is given before and after surgery.

It works by boosting the body’s own ability to seek and destroy cancer cells.

Professor Kevin Harrington, trial leader author from the ICR and consultant oncologist at the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, said: “For patients with newly-diagnosed, locally-advanced head and neck cancer, treatments haven’t changed in over two decades.

“Immunotherapy has been amazingly beneficial for patients with cancer that has come back or spread around the body but, until now, it hasn’t been as successful for those presenting for the first time with disease which has spread to nearby areas.

“This research shows that immunotherapy could change the world for these patients.

“It significantly decreases the chance of cancer spreading around the body, at which point it’s incredibly difficult to treat.

“The results of this trial show that pembrolizumab dramatically increases the duration of disease remission – for years longer than the current standard treatments.”

Head and neck cancer refers to a group of cancers that can develop anywhere in the head or neck, including the mouth, the oesophagus, the space behind the nose, the salivary gland, and the voice box.

Standard care, which includes surgery to remove tumours followed by radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy, has not changed for these patients in more than 20 years, according to researchers.

The global Keynote-689 trial was carried out at 192 sites in 24 countries, and involved 714 patients.

Some 363 people received pembrolizumab followed by standard care, with the remainder receiving standard care only.

Pembrolizumab works by targeting a protein known as PD-L1, which is found on T cells and helps the immune system recognise and fight cancer.

By blocking this protein, the treatment helps the immune system fight cancer more effectively.

The treatment is already approved for use on its own or in combination with chemotherapy for patients with a certain type of head and neck cancer that has come back or spread around the body.

The trial, which is being presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (Asco) annual meeting, found cancer returned in half the patients given pembrolizumab after five years, compared with two-and-a-half years in those receiving standard care.

After three years, the risk of cancer returning somewhere else in the body was also 10 per cent lower among those on pembrolizumab.

‘It could change the world’

“It works particularly well for those with high levels of immune markers,” Prof Harrington said

“But it’s really exciting to see that the treatment improves outcomes for all head and neck cancer patients, regardless of these levels.”

Around 13,000 Brits develop head and neck cancers each year and 4,200 die from them.

Many tumours are linked to smoking.

Symptoms vary depending on the type of cancer but include: persistent ulcers, white or red patches, lumps, sores and pain.

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FRANCESCO ACERBI was the oldest player on the pitch in Inter Milan’s memorable Champions League semi-final win over Barcelona.

But he defied his veteran 37 years and centre-back defensive instincts to grab a dramatic 93rd-minute equaliser at the San Siro.

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So yes, it may well have been Davide Frattesi who was the one who actually scored the winning goal to set up Saturday’s final showdown with PSG.

But Inter head to Munich still thanking their old-timer for keeping their Champions League dream alive, desperate to be crowned Kings of Europe for the fourth time.

And not only did Acerbi’s superb striker’s finish epitomise a bonkers two-legged tie against Barcelona.

But that cute, near-post effort to get in front of Ronald Araujo and find Wojciech Szczesny’s top corner may well be his own personal crowning moment of a career that has seen it all. 

Born in the outskirts of Milan in February 1988, Acerbi is now 90 minutes away from completing the circle by leading I Nerazzurri to European glory. 

But his road to the San Siro – the site of his goal that will live long in the memory of all Inter fans – is far longer than the 15 miles from suburban Vizzolo Predabissi.

And it features battles on the pitch with the world’s best strikers but more importantly off the pitch, too, with cancer, depression and alcohol. 

JOURNEYMAN CAREER

Acerbi started out in Serie C at Pavia in 2006 and even featured in the semi-professional Serie D on loan at Renate.

A loan to Spezia’s youth team followed before permanent spells at Reggina, Genoa and Chievo, where he eventually made his top-flight debut. 

AC Milan came calling in 2012 and he was briefly team-mates with the likes of Robinho and Mario Balotelli.

But after just six months of struggling for minutes, he was sold to Genoa, who immediately loaned him back to Chievo.

It wasn’t until Acerbi signed for Sassuolo in 2013 that he finally had stability, spending five seasons there before four at Lazio.

He initially joined Inter on loan in 2022-23 where he was reunited with ex-Lazio boss Simone Inzaghi and made the move permanent the following summer. 

That transfer took his tally to 14 spells with ten different clubs.

FRAN THE MAN

Acerbi scored an all-important header against bitter rivals and former employers AC Milan in April 2024.

That helped his side to a 2-1 win which saw them confirmed as Serie A champions for the 20th time.

A year earlier, towards the end of his loan season, Acerbi came in for huge praise for his performance in the Champions League final.

Inter were ultimately beaten 1-0 by Manchester City but the Italian centre-half managed to keep Erling Haaland quiet and off the scoresheet. 

HEALTH STRUGGLES

However, Acerbi’s toughest challenges have come away from football.

His father died during his short stint at AC Milan, triggering depression which led to him turning and even relying on alcohol to numb the pain and suffering. 

Then upon signing for Sassuolo in 2013 at the start of the next season, Acerbi was diagnosed with testicular cancer. 

A regular health check-up flagged unusual blood test results and he immediately underwent surgery to remove the tumour. 

But having returned to training and competitive action, he failed an anti-doping test. 

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Acerbi denied taking any banned performance-enhancing drugs and it transpired the irregular hormone levels were because the cancer had come back again. 

As a result, the defender had two months of chemotherapy at the start of 2014.

But Acerbi actually credits the two bouts of cancer for “saving” him from the depression and alcoholism.

He candidly explained to La Repubblica in 2019: “After my father died, when I was playing for Milan, I hit rock bottom. 

“It was as if I’d forgotten how to play, or why I was playing. I started drinking and, believe me, I’d drink anything. 

“It might seem like a terrible paradox, but the cancer saved me. I had something new to fight against, a limit to overcome. 

“It was as if I got to start life all over again and saw the world in a way I’d completely forgotten. I stopped being scared. 

“I was thinking to myself, ‘What will you do if it comes back again?’ ‘I’ll face it again,’ I replied.

“Chemotherapy was like stepping into a parallel world, the entrance to which is closer than you could possibly think, so you never leave it again. It’s a world of pain and of courage.

“I think having that illness improved me as a person, cancelling out remorse and regret. 

“I became an observer of my surroundings. I eliminated the superfluous, the negative, but also the illusions. I stopped dreaming big and started to focus on simple targets.”

EURO HERO

Incredibly, Acerbi made his senior Italy international debut later in the same year he underwent the chemotherapy. 

But by 2019, he had still only managed to add two further appearances – one in 2016, one in 2018 – before being brought back into the fold by Roberto Mancini.

And while Acerbi won’t go down as one of the all-time great Italian defenders with the likes of Paolo Maldini, Fabio Cannavaro, Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini et al, he was awarded the top Order of Merit in Italy after being part of the Euro 2020-winning squad.

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He set up the extra-time winner against Austria in the round of 16 then was an unused sub in the quarters, semis and final, where the Azzurri beat England on penalties. 

Acerbi, though, has not added to his 34 caps since 2023 and pulled out of the squad in March 2024 after allegations he made racist comments to Napoli’s Juan Jesus during a Serie A match earlier that month.

A Serie A sports judge dismissed the case, citing a lack of evidence, as Acerbi escaped punishment – a decision furious Napoli labelled “astonishing”. 

BARCA DRAMA

Acerbi hit the headlines for all the right reasons, though, with his goal against Barcelona – four months on from marrying Claudia Scarpari, the mum of his two daughters.

Inzaghi deployed him in the Harry Maguire role – throwing the big centre-back up front in the desperate hunt for a goal.

And just like the Manchester United man against Lyon, Acerbi came up trumps.

Incredibly, that was his very first career goal in European football in his 66th appearance across the Champions League and Europa League. 

To make the finish even more impressive and remarkable, the left-footed 6ft 4ins unit scored with his right foot. 

So it was no wonder he ripped his famous black-and-blue shirt and then his underlayer off in sheer unbridled delirious delight to reveal his tattooed torso.

Acerbi’s many inkings will tell their own stories.

But the image of the seasoned and battle-scarred pensioner unsure how to celebrate his magic moment other than jumping gleefully on to his knees punctuates a truly turbulent tale of football with the most emphatic of exclamation marks.

Now can he write one more chapter in his rollercoaster novel at the Allianz Arena?

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JOE Biden is facing fresh scrutiny over his health while in office amid his “aggressive” prostate cancer diagnosis.

The former president, 82, claimed to have had cancer in a speech he gave three years ago – which sparked fears for his health at the time.

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Biden’s comments came during a speech about “cancer-causing” emissions from oil refineries near his childhood home in Delaware.

He said: “That’s why I and so damn many other people I grew up with have cancer and why for the longest time Delaware had the highest cancer rate in the nation.”

Biden’s use of the present tense led to speculations that the president was suffering from cancer.

But these were dismissed after it was suggested that the comments were a reference to “non-melanoma skin cancers”.

Before assuming the presidency, Biden had a number of “localized, non-melanoma skin cancers” removed by surgery.

In November 2021, Biden had a polyp removed from his colon that was a benign, but potentially pre-cancerous lesion.

And in February 2023, he had a skin lesion removed from his chest that was a basal cell carcinoma, a common form of skin cancer.

Non-melanoma skin cancer typically develops in the areas of the body most exposed to the sun such as the face, ears, hands, shoulders, upper chest, and back.

But Biden is now facing fresh scrutiny over his cancer comments following the announcement of his cancer diagnosis on Sunday.

This comes as Donald Trump took a swipe at his predecessor and said he was “surprised” the public wasn’t told long ago about Biden’s cancer.

The US President cast doubt on the timeline of Biden’s diagnosis on Monday as he said it usually takes a “long time” to reach such an aggressive stage of cancer.

Trump was backed up by a leading oncologist who claimed that the former president likely had cancer when he took office in 2021.

Dr Zeke Emanuel said: “He had it while he was President.

“He probably had it at the start of his presidency, in 2021.”

Biden announced his cancer diagnosis in an official statement from his personal office on Sunday.

The statement said that he was seen by doctors last week after suffering urinary symptoms, with a prostate nodule then being found.

He was then diagnosed with prostate cancer on Friday, with the cancer cells having spread to the bone.

The statement read: “Last week, President Joe Biden was seen for a new finding of a prostate nodule after experiencing increasing urinary symptoms.

“On Friday, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, characterized by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with metastasis to the bone.

“While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management.

“The President and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians.”

A Gleason score of 9 means the cancerous cells “look very abnormal” and that the disease is “likely to grow quickly”, according to Cancer Research UK.

Biden served as US president from 2021 to 2025, with his term ending on January 20 when Donald Trump took office.

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ITV viewers were completely stunned as a late soap legend was spotted on TV, eight months after she passed away.

The actress sadly died in her sleep at the age of 72 last year in her home city of Melbourne, Australia.

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Janet Andrewartha was best known for her role as Lyn Scully in the hit soap, Neighbours.

She first made her debut on the former Channel 5 serial drama back in 1999.

She had a number of on and off stints on Ramsay Street, before departing for the final time in 2019.

But less than three months after she received a cancer diagnosis, the star passed away in July of last year.

At the time, her friend – and Neighbours co-star – Jackie Woodburne paid a heartfelt tribute to her pal.

She said: “[Janet] was one of the finest actors of a generation. I will miss her every day.”

However, viewers were shocked to see her appear on-screen once again in the ITV drama, Fake.

The show focuses on a smart magazine writer named Birdie (Asher Keddie) who seems to have found her ideal match.

On a dating app, she meets a successful farmer, but she later discovers that all is not as it seems.

Viewers were pleasantly surprised to see that Janet popped up on screen in scenes that were filmed before her death.

She starred in the gritty series as, Kath Tovey, which is a supporting role.

Her Neighbours co-star Anne Charleston, 82, is known for playing the beloved Madge Bishop on the soap for decades from 1986.

She also appears in Fake in a supporting role as the character, Shirley Burt alongside Janet.

Anne recently made her return to Neighbours in a new role as part of Harold’s departure storyline.

This was after Ian Smith revealed that he was diagnosed with “a very aggressive non-fixable cancer.”

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FORMER Ipswich manager George Burley has received the all-clear following his cancer diagnosis.

The 68-year-old publicly announced his diagnosis in September but did not disclose the form of the disease.

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He said: “It has been a difficult time, but I am feeling much brighter now.

“In fact, I am able to get to matches at Portman Road and I am enjoying watching the team playing back in the Premier League.

“We are grateful to the club (Ipswich) for the support they have shown me and my family and I would ask that everyone is respectful of our privacy at this time.”

Burley, who played for Ipswich before managing the club, underwent six cycles of chemotherapy as well as an operation which left him in hospital for three weeks.

But the former defender has this week revealed that he is now cancer free.

He told BBC Radio Suffolk: “It’s been a long road – it didn’t happen overnight.

“It started almost a year ago where I was having symptoms and wasn’t feeling great.

“It was great to eventually come through it all – I’ve been very, very lucky with the amount of support I’ve had.

“My family’s been unbelievable… and I’ve been very well looked after.”

Burley felt unwell for several months before being diagnosed with cancer.

Opening up on the early stages of his battle, the Ipswich legend continued: “Eventually, when I did get diagnosed, I thought I’ve got to get on with it.

“The people around you, you’ve got to make sure you’re not moping around [and] keep their chins up.

“It’s not easy because initially you don’t want to speak much about it, but once you grow into it, people around you know you’re accepting the fact – and [you] get on with life as normal as possible.”

The Ipswich hero also said he was “lucky” his body responded to the treatment and believes the fitness levels he built up as a player helped him in his recovery.

Burley enjoyed spells with Sunderland, Gillingham, Motherwell, Ayr United, Falkirk and Colchester United as a player.

But his longest term came in the form of 13 years overall at Ipswich.

After hanging up his boots, he spent eight years as manager of the Tractor Boys.