Wes Streeting reflects on own cancer journey following Chris Hoy’s terminal diagnosis

Wes Streeting reflects on own cancer journey following Chris Hoy’s terminal diagnosisSource: Sky News

Transcript

00:00West Streathing, we heard this morning of Chris Hoy's cancer diagnosis.

00:05Given your own experience, what's your reflection?

00:11Well, firstly, I mean, he's such an inspirational guy

00:18and I thought that was particularly true in the way that

00:24he's talked about his terminal cancer diagnosis today.

00:30I think to have, what is it, two to four years potentially left to live

00:36and yet to maintain that optimism and positivity

00:42that has characterised his life and career, I think is actually remarkable.

00:47I also feel, and I've felt this for the last few years,

00:51since my own brush with kidney cancer, very lucky

00:56because with cancer, it can go one of two ways.

01:02You know, you can survive and thrive

01:05and we've got much better cancer treatment now than we've ever had available.

01:12But then in cases like Chris's, you've got a terminal diagnosis

01:16and a life-ending diagnosis and prognosis

01:18and I'm just in awe, actually, of just how he's kind of dealing with that

01:26because I'm not sure how I would react in the same situation.

01:30Well, of course, we hear a lot more about it.

01:34For example, the King is living with cancer, with his treatment.

01:42What would you say, I guess, to anybody who themselves

01:46may be experiencing that?

01:50I mean, firstly, timing is everything with cancer.

01:53It's really important if you have symptoms that you go and get checked

02:01because faster diagnosis means faster access to treatment

02:06which means potentially life-saving outcomes

02:10versus the alternative of putting it off.

02:13Cancer doesn't have to be a death sentence in this country anymore.

02:16We've got better treatment available

02:19but those outcomes are largely determined on how quickly the NHS can get to you

02:25so it's really important that people come forward

02:28and regardless of the state of the NHS

02:30and it really is in a truly awful state at the moment,

02:33don't let that put you off going to seek care and treatment if you need it.