James Whale has candidly admitted that he considered euthanasia following his tragic terminal cancer diagnosis two years ago.
The radio presenter, 71, first battled kidney cancer back in 2000 and the disease recurred in 2020, before spreading to his brain, spine and lungs.
Reflecting on his terminal diagnosis, James told The Express that he thought it would be ‘easier’ to go to assisted dying clinic Dignitas in Switzerland.
Speaking in an interview alongside his wife Nadine Lamont-Brown, he admitted he was thinking about the affect his diagnosis would have on his loved ones.
‘I am terminally ill, it would have been easier all round,’ he told the publication. ‘The reason I wanted to go to Dignitas was because I was thinking of others, not me.’
Heartbreaking: James Whale has candidly admitted that he considered euthanasia following his tragic terminal cancer diagnosis two years ago
However, James added that he was ‘glad’ he didn’t make the decision to go because it has given him ‘two great years’ with his wife Nadine.
Dignitas was founded in 1998 and only accepts patients who are terminally-ill or suffer from severe disabilities.
Euthanasia is the act of intentionally ending life to eliminate pain and suffering, with countries having different laws surrounding the practice.
In Switzerland, it is legal to provide an individual the means to commit suicide as long as the reason is not ‘based on self-interest’. In the UK, assisted suicide is illegal and punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
Elsewhere in the interview, James heartbreakingly spoke about the struggles of his terminal cancer, admitting he doesn’t want to ‘go on forever’ feeling as unwell as he does now.
The TV personality also reflected on his relationship with Nadine, saying he told her they should ‘cool off’ their romance when he was first diagnosed with cancer when they first started dating.
He said: ‘It was so unfair on her, so I said, “I think we should cool it and not see each other’, and she replied, “Oh that’s nice, so if I’d just been diagnosed with a terminal illness, you wouldn’t come and see me any more”, so we carried on.’
They then got married at Tenterden Town Hall in Kent surrounded by their loved ones in October 2021, with Nadine saying they didn’t have the ‘luxury’ of time.
Health: The radio presenter, 71, first battled kidney cancer back in 2000 and the disease recurred in 2020, before spreading to his brain, spine and lungs
The wedding came 14 months after the radio host revealed that he is battling spine, brain and kidney cancer, and three years after his first wife Melinda died from Stage 4 lung cancer in 2018.
James was previously given just three months to live when he contracted kidney cancer in 2000, twenty years before his second terminal diagnosis.
In January, James revealed his struggles with steroids amid his cancer battle, saying he was struggling with the withdrawal symptoms.
Stopping steroid use suddenly can cause your adrenal gland, which makes important hormones for the body, stop working resulting in extreme fatigue, nausea, dizziness and loss of appetite.
Cancer: Reflecting on his terminal diagnosis, James said he thought it would be ‘easier’ to go to assisted dying clinic Dignitas in Switzerland
He explained: ‘I’ve been on them for quite a while. They take away almost all pain and make you feel great, but coming off them is another story.
‘My sympathy goes out to anyone else going through steroid cold turkey. I seem to be through it now, thank goodness, and it’s a question of clearing your body out and giving it a rest, otherwise you begin to turn into Mr Blobby.
‘And, let’s face it – I was halfway there already!’
James also gave a heartbreaking speech at the British Curry Awards in London in November, saying his chemotherapy was ‘making it hard for him to breathe’.
Relationship: However, James added that he was ‘glad’ he didn’t make the decision to go because it has given him ‘two great years’ with his wife Nadine Nadine Lamont-Brown
He told assembled guests: ‘I know a lot of you won’t like me, but this time next year I won’t be here. I have terminal cancer.
‘As you might be able to hear, I am having chemotherapy which makes it harder for me to breathe, but I’m OK. Don’t worry.’
James also referenced his good friend Enam Ali MBE who died in July after a two year battle with cancer. The Epsom curry pioneer raised over £2million for charity before he died.
He continued: ‘I am in my 70s now and I just want to say don’t waste your time on stupid things that don’t matter.’
Marriage: The couple (pictured in November) got married at Tenterden Town Hall in Kent in October 2021, with Nadine saying they didn’t have the ‘luxury’ of time
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