A PLACE in the Sun’s Jonnie Irwin has revealed he ‘doesn’t know how long he has left to live’ following a terminal cancer diagnosis.
The 48-year-old was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2020, which has now spread to his brain.
Jonnie Irwin was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2020. He is pictured above with his two-year-old twins Rafa and Cormac
He has spoken out about his condition and says he wants to do as much as he can with wife Jess (pictured together above) and his three children
Irwin revealed the first warning sign of his illness came while he was filming A Place In Trending In The News in August 2020 in Italy, when his vision became blurry while driving.
“Within a week of flying back from filming, I was being given six months to live,” he said.
Speaking to Hello! magazine, he said he now wants to do as much as he can with wife Jess, 40, son Rex, three, and two-year-old twins Rafa and Cormac.
“I don’t know how long I have left, but I try to stay positive and my attitude is that I’m living with cancer, not dying from it,” he added.
The Escape to the Country host was initially told he had six months to live and since then has prolonged his life against the odds with cancer drugs and chemotherapy.
He previously said that he first knew something was wrong when he experienced blurred vision.
But what are the main signs of lung cancer you must never ignore?
Official guidance from the NHS states that there are usually no signs or symptoms of the illness in the early stages and that these develop as the condition progresses.
The main symptoms are:
- A cough that does not go away after three weeks
- A long-standing cough that gets worse
- Chest infections that keep coming back
- Coughing up blood
- An ache or pain when breathing or coughing
- Persistent breathlessness
- Persistent tiredness or lack of energy
- Loss of appetite or unexplained weight loss.
While these are the main eight signs, the NHS says that there are also less common signs some people might suffer.
These include wheezing, a hoarse voice, swelling of your neck or face, persistent chest or shoulder pain or difficulty with pain or swallowing.
The experts added that you may also experience changes in your fingers, such as them becoming more curved or their ends becoming larger.
You should see your GP if you experience any of these symptoms and in the event of an emergency, always call 999.
According to Cancer Research UK, there are around 48,500 new lung cancer cases in the UK every year, that’s more than 130 every day.
It’s the third most common form of cancer in the country, accounting for 13 per cent of all new cancer cases.
In the US, the American Cancer Society states that there are around 236,740 cases of the illness each year, with around 130,180 deaths from the condition.
The NHS says that lung cancer is usually caused by smoking – although those who have never smoked can also develop the condition.
Official guidance states that smoking is responsible for more than seven out of ten cases.
Experts at the NHS state: “While smoking cigarettes is the biggest risk factor, using other types of tobacco products can also increase your risk of developing lung cancer and other types of cancer, such as oesophageal cancer and mouth cancer.”
However, they also warned that exposure to certain chemicals and substances which are used in different professions could also increase your risk.
This includes jobs where you are more likely to work with arsenic, asbestos, beryllium, cadmium, coal and coke fumes, silica and nickel.
