HEARTBREAKING: BBC Legend Dermot Murnaghan Makes DEVASTATING Health Confession as He Opens Up About His Cancer Struggle

BBC news star Dermot Murnaghan has shared an update on his stage 4 cancer during a TV appearance earlier today (November 4).

Back in June, BBC Breakfast legend Dermot Murnaghan revealed he had been diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer.

But now, during an appearance on BBC Breakfast today, he has given an update on how he is keeping.

Dermot returned to BBC Breakfast today and shared a health update (Credit: BBC)

Dermot Murnaghan gives cancer update

Speaking to presenters Sally Nugent and Jon Kay, the former BBC anchor gave an update, after going public with his diagnosis earlier this year.

He said: “I’m doing good. I’m stage four, [let’s be] very clear about that. At this point it’s incurable, but it’s not untreatable and that’s the big point you’ve got to make to people.”

However, he continued: “There’s so, so many, millions of people, affected by stage four cancer of various kinds in the UK at the moment, listening to this. Their families I’m including as well. It isn’t game over. It’s bad, but there are great treatments out there, there are great professionals out there looking after people. And they’re looking after me. So, yeah, you can see I’m feeling good and doing good.”

Jon then asked Dermot how he’d been coping with the diagnosis. He told the host: “Well, it changes your focus. Your focus, mentally first of all, your priorities, it’s very clear what your priorities are. Your own health, of course, and the effect for so many people who are in this position, your family.

“It affects so many people who may or may not have anything wrong with them. But that’s who it affects. So, your focus changes and you get your priorities right, which are family first.

“My message here today is men, if you’re in a high-risk group, go and get yourself checked.”

Dermot was diagnosed with prostate cancer last year (Credit: Sky)

News anchor admitted he ‘fell through the gaps’ ahead of diagnosis

Earlier this year, Dermot spoke to Anna Jones on Sky News to give an update on his own journey, while also calling for men to “demand” prostate cancer tests.

Sharing an update in August, he said: “I’m doing pretty good. I finished my chemotherapy in early July so I have been recovering since. We’ve just been waiting to see how it’s gone. But yeah, I’m feeling pretty good.”

Speaking about his chemotherapy, he joked that it’s not something he would “recommend” for people to go through.

“It’s hard. But the one thing is that you feel like you are actively doing something. You’re kicking back. But there’s a bit of a psychological gap now that it’s stopped. I’m just in the waiting and seeing phase.”

As well as issuing an update, Dermot was there to issue a plea for more screenings and tests. And he admitted that in his own situation, he “fell through those gaps”.

He issued a plea to men to be vigilant in terms of checking for signs of the disease (Credit: ITV)

Dermot on how he was diagnosed

He admitted he “foolishly” sat in the news chair for “many years” speaking about this issue and always thought when he got to that age, he would go and get checked. But Dermot never had any of the main symptoms that come with prostate cancer.

Dermot explained: “I didn’t have any of that. So I kept thinking I’d get around to it. Life intervenes – all kinds of things. And I never did.”

Speaking about how he found out, he revealed: “At the end of last year, I fell very ill on holiday. I rushed back here to get treated by the Health Service. And then I was diagnosed – it was a real bolt from the blue.”

Dermot went on to call for automatic testing for prostate cancer because, currently, men have to request if they want to be screened for the illness. He pleaded with men watching to “demand it” and make sure they get tested to avoid late diagnoses.

Chris Hoy reached out to help

Having experienced a similar situation, Sir Chris Hoy, reached out to Dermot once he heard of his diagnosis.

Dermot said: “He talked me through it. We have been in regular contact. He is a year further down the track in terms of the treatment. We’re on a similar course. But he talked me through everything.”

The BBC star admitted that the “support” and “shared experiences” have “made a huge difference” to his own mindset.