Post by Taxigirl on Jan 4, 2004 11:15:25 GMT
Television presenter Michael Aspel has revealed he is suffering from cancer.
The Antiques Roadshow presenter has told the News of the World he has non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, which affects the body's immune system.
The 70-year-old, of Weybridge, Surrey, said he had undergone a course of chemotherapy and had been told the condition was not life-threatening.
"Thankfully it's low-grade cancer," he said. "The strange thing about it is you don't feel unwell."
The father-of-seven told the paper the condition was detected during a routine check-up with his doctor.
He said: "Without that check-up I may not have found out about it at all because there are no symptoms."
The 70-year-old gave up hosting This Is Your Life in September after 15 years.
The following month, the BBC announced it was axing the show, which was one of the longest-running on British television, after 48 years.
Aspel still presents the Antiques Roadshow on BBC1, which regularly attracts nine million viewers.
"Although the condition hasn't gone, my doctor tells me my life isn't threatened by it. It just ticks away and needs monitoring," he told the paper.
"I have regular check-ups and I'm in a very positive frame of mind about the situation.
"After the initial shock of finding out, I was given leaflets and I've read up on the condition and I feel okay. It hasn't gone but it hasn't developed."