A grandad who was diagnosed with the same rare cancer as celeb Jamie Theakston has sent a message of hope to the TV heartthrob, saying: “You will get through it and be okay.”
Jon Organ, 57, faced down stage four laryngeal cancer which attacks the voice box and was staring at a grim four-month prognosis. Defying the odds, Jon’s total fightback included a laryngectomy to remove his voice box and rounds of chemo and radiotherapy, which turned his fate around with an all-clear standing ovation.
Now, the inspiring survivor is throwing a lifeline of positivity to Jamie, 53, after the presenter shared his stage one laryngeal cancer diagnosis today. The
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courageous dad-of-four even dished out some real talk on what Jamie might expect if treatments are in the cards, describing radiotherapy as a “very difficult” experience.
Jon has offered these heart-to-heart words: “The diagnosis is a terrible shock, but you will get over it and you will get over it. Radiotherapy in that area kills the saliva and the taste buds, you have to wear a mask and it’s a very difficult treatment.”
But he championed Jamie with a gritty cheer: “But you will get through to it now.” Jon tipped the scales of advice, stressing: “The best thing is to eat as much as you can and put a lot of weight on because you will lose weight, because you can’t swallow food with the radiotherapy.”
With rock-solid assurance, he added: “You will get through it and you will be okay.” Touchingly, Jon has thrown open the doors of support, stating: “I am always there for him if he ever wanted to talk because it can be a lonely place because it deals with your voice and that’s your personality and who you are.”
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Cancer came knocking for Jon back in 2022 with a hoarse voice being the only red flag. Jon, a former builder from East London, was left gobsmacked after doctors initially dismissed his symptoms as side effects of an inhaler. The 56 year old hubby to Nicky recalled the shock: “It was like being hit by a truck, I had a head scan and the tumour had grown by 40% over my airways.”
He detailed the gruelling nine-hour surgery that followed: “It had grown into my thyroid and into my lymph nodes so I had a nine-hour surgery where they removed my voice box, my thyroid and 84 lymph nodes.” Despite having no other symptoms than a hoarse voice, Jon was stunned to learn he was battling stage four cancer: “I was only 56 when I was diagnosed – I had a hoarse voice and nothing else.”
After enduring chemotherapy and radiotherapy, Jon faced a tough decision when surgeons said he needed a full laryngectomy or face a grim four-month prognosis: “I said no thank you and the consultant said it was fine and said they would make me comfortable in a hospice.” The reality of his situation hit hard: “But I only had around four months left to live and they said I would bleed to death.”
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With Christmas looming, Jon had just three days to decide on the surgery: “But last minute, I said I would have it done.” Reflecting on the life-altering experience, he said: “Life totally changes, it changes overnight.”
Jon has bravely chronicled his battle with laryngeal cancer on his ‘Life after Lary’ Instagram, despite the huge changes it’s brought to his day-to-day existence. “life is very different and very challenging,” says the grandad-of-11.
Looking ahead, Jon knows what comes next for Theakston might be hard but is necessary: “This means that the treatment process, although tough, probably with a course of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. He will have small army of medical professionals who will treat, manage and support him through the whole process.”
“From oncologist, radiologists, cancer nurse special and potential speech therapists if needed. Jamie was checked out early, please ensure if you too see the signs, then get checked out too.”
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