Veteran DJ Johnnie Walker, 58, shocked listeners to his BBC Radio 2 drivetime show, revealing live on air that he is fighting a battle against colonic cancer, calling it 'a toughy'.
Walker said that although he would liked to have kept it private, he went public because he would have to take time off from his show for treatment.
He said: "Before I go there is something I want to mention. It is something that normally a person in my position would want to keep close to their chest but, because of the occasional time off I might be taking, I wanted to go public with it. Five weeks ago I was diagnosed with cancer, non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, which is apparently a very treatable type of cancer. I am kicking off the treatment tomorrow and will be taking a week off and will see how it goes. To all those who are facing that challenge - and those who love people and are part of a family facing that challenge - it's a toughy isn't it? I know how you feel."