Jimmy Tarbuck reveals he has prostate cancer and tells how friend Tom Jones became his ‘mentor’

Jimmy Tarbuck revealed he has prostate cancer today.

Earlier this month he revealed he was being tested for prostate cancer just before his 80th birthday after showing some symptoms.

Tarbuck credited Rod Stewart with giving him the courage to get tested, and said that singing legend and his longtime friend Tom Jones had helped him and advised him in the last few months, urging him to speak to a doctor when he told him about his symptoms. 

The comedian appeared on Good Morning Britain today where he said: ‘Yes, I have prostate cancer. I’m going to try and beat it. 

Jimmy Tarbuck appeared on Good Morning Britain where he said: ‘Yes, I have prostate cancer. I’m going to try and beat it’

Tarbuck said that singing legend Tom Jones had helped him and advised him in the last few months, urging him to speak to a doctor when he told him about his symptoms

Tarbuck said that singing legend Tom Jones had helped him and advised him in the last few months, urging him to speak to a doctor when he told him about his symptoms 

Asked how he was feeling, he said: 'I feel great. I'm on the telly and I'm having a good time'

Asked how he was feeling, he said: ‘I feel great. I’m on the telly and I’m having a good time’

‘All men out there watching, and all wives, get your husbands to go for the tests, I think after 50… you will be relieved and be with your families for extra years. Men are shy.’

Asked how he was feeling, he said: ‘I feel great. I’m on the telly and I’m having a good time.

‘What do I do? Do I say, ”no I haven’t got it?” Own up.’

He went on: ‘Tom Jones has been my mentor, he told me what was going to happen, all the tests. 

‘He said I’ve had this done and he told me ”you’ll get bloods shown”…Boys go. 

Tarbuck credited Rod Stewart with giving him the courage to get tested

He added that singing legend Tom Jones had helped him and advised him in the last few months

Tarbuck credited Rod Stewart (left) with giving him the courage to get tested. He added that singing legend Tom Jones (right) had helped him and advised him in the last few months

Friendship: Jimmy and Tom Jones have been close friends for decades, previously enjoying boozy meals at Chelsea restaurant La Famiglia (pictured in 1971)

Friendship: Jimmy and Tom Jones have been close friends for decades, previously enjoying boozy meals at Chelsea restaurant La Famiglia (pictured in 1971) 

‘It is embarrassing. The fella said to me, ”We’re going to give you the thumbs up”. 

‘I said, ”I hope not”. He roared laughing.’

He went on: ‘I’m having injections and taking tablets and then I take a yearly cycle.’ And he explained the cancer had not spread.

WHAT IS PROSTATE CANCER? 

Prostate cancer is the growth of tumours in the prostate gland.

Only men have a prostate, which is a walnut-sized gland between the rectum and the penis which creates a fluid to be mixed with sperm to create semen. 

How many people does it kill? 

More than 11,800 men a year – or one every 45 minutes – are now killed by prostate cancer in Britain, compared with about 11,400 women dying of breast cancer.

It means prostate cancer is behind only lung and bowel in terms of how many people it kills in Britain. In the US, the disease kills 26,000 each year. 

How quickly does it develop? 

Prostate cancer usually develops slowly, so there may be no signs someone has it for many years, according to the NHS. 

If the cancer is at an early stage and not causing symptoms, a policy of ‘watchful waiting’ or ‘active surveillance’ may be adopted. 

Some patients can be cured if the disease is treated in the early stages.

But if it diagnosed at a later stage, when it has spread, then it becomes terminal and treatment revolves around relieving symptoms.

Thousands of men are put off seeking a diagnosis because of the known side effects from treatment, including erectile dysfunction.

Tests and treatment 

There is no national prostate screening programme as for years the tests have been too inaccurate.

Doctors struggle to distinguish between aggressive and less serious tumours, making it hard to decide on treatment.

Men over 50 are eligible for a ‘PSA’ blood test which gives doctors a rough idea of whether a patient is at risk.

But it is unreliable. Patients who get a positive result are usually given a biopsy which is also not foolproof. 

Scientists are unsure as to what causes prostate cancer, but age, obesity and a lack of exercise are known risks. 

Anyone with any concerns can speak to Prostate Cancer UK’s specialist nurses on 0800 074 8383 or visit prostatecanceruk.org.

He also spoke about some mistakes in the recent Judy Garland film saying he was asked to fill in when she couldn’t go on stage. 

‘She was a wonderful performer, one of the all time greats I’ve worked with.’    

Tarbuck had revealed earlier this month that knowing Rod Stewart previously battled prostate cancer had helped him to face the possibility of being diagnosed. 

He said: ‘The thought of having prostate cancer is scary but I am determined to face it head on – and that’s because of learning that Rod Stewart has gone through it too.’ 

Tarbuck and Jones have been close friends for decades, previously enjoying boozy meals at Chelsea restaurant La Famiglia.

The pair have had more refined meetings in recent years as they have both given up alcohol, however Tarbuck had joked he might indulge for his birthday.

Tarbuck previously faced a health scare when he had to pull out of Strictly Come Dancing in 2006 due to heart problems.

Tarbuck has faced controversies in the past and was previously arrested over historic allegations of sex abuse.

Police never proceeded with a case against Tarbuck, who said he never should have been caught up in Operation Yewtree.

The comedian said that for everyone who went through the ordeal, it was ‘shocking’ and ruined a lot of people’s lives.  

It comes after he saw Rod Stewart publicly speak about his battle with cancer and was experiencing symptoms at the time himself, including blood in his urine and the need to frequently urinate.

The comedian added that listening to Rod Stewart, who was given the all clear in September, confirm he had beaten the disease gave him hope. 

Stewart, 74, was diagnosed in 2016 but said the disease was caught in the early stages during a routine checkup.

He revealed his plight during a fundraising evening with former Faces bandmates Kenney Jones and Ronnie Wood.

He said: ‘Two years ago I was ­diagnosed with prostate cancer. No one knows this, but I thought this was about time I told everybody. I’m in the clear, now, simply because I caught it early. I have so many tests.’

Prostate cancer is the growth of tumours in the prostate gland. Only men have a prostate, which is a walnut-sized gland between the rectum and the penis which creates a fluid to be mixed with sperm to create semen.

Stewart, who previously had a cancerous growth removed from his thyroid, urged the audience to ‘go to the doctor’, telling them he tried to ‘keep a smile on his face’ throughout the ordeal.

Jimmy said: 'The thought of having prostate cancer is scary but I am determined to face it head on' (pictured in July 2019)

Jimmy said: ‘The thought of having prostate cancer is scary but I am determined to face it head on’ (pictured in July 2019) 

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