By MATHEW DEARNALEY
Broadcaster Paul Holmes revealed last night that he has "very invasive" prostate cancer, but vowed to stay on the airwaves for as long as possible.
Holmes, aged 49, said the disease - which kills more than 500 New Zealand men a year - was diagnosed six weeks ago and
doctors feared it had spread to his bones.
But they found from a "hideous" biopsy that it was confined to his prostate and his chances of beating the disease with the help of a course of radiotherapy appeared favourable.
He was glad he could keep working through the election campaign, although his crew had been busy supplying tissues for hot flushes.
"It is rather like having premenstrual tension continuously - it is extremely uncomfortable," said Holmes, adding that he had faced tough battles before and was determined to destroy the cancer inside him.
"We have a treatment programme and the treatment seems to be going pretty well and I am determined to carry on [broadcasting] at the moment.
"The outlook is very good, but it is going to take quite a few months and possibly a couple of years.
"The cancer has got to be destroyed and we are going to do it - I simply won't let it grow."
Holmes said he had decided to disclose his condition because people had noticed him perspiring a lot on television and he wanted to let other men know there was no shame in having prostate cancer.
"It is one of those areas that men don't want to speak out about because it has to do with very personal parts of your manhood."
At the same time, he suddenly realised just how angry the women must have been whose cervical cancer treatment was delayed by a secret experiment at National Women's Hospital.
Among the first Holmes told about his condition were those at his old school in Hastings.
Recalling a brush with death 10 years ago in a helicopter crash that killed his cameraman colleague Jo Von Dinklage, he said: "Nothing seems to happen to me that's not drama. It might be a signal to start to slow up a bit."
About 1100 cases of prostate cancer are detected annually in New Zealand. It is increasing so fast that it is forecast to become the most fatal cancer in men within five years.
Seventy-five per cent of sufferers are aged over 70 years.
By MATHEW DEARNALEY
Broadcaster Paul Holmes revealed last night that he has "very invasive" prostate cancer, but vowed to stay on the airwaves for as long as possible.
Holmes, aged 49, said the disease - which kills more than 500 New Zealand men a year - was diagnosed six weeks ago and
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.