Stephen Fry announces he is recovering from prostate cancer

The broadcaster underwent a successful operation in January to remove the prostate

Stephen Fry has revealed that he is recovering from prostate cancer.

The actor, writer and broadcaster underwent a successful operation in January earlier this year during which his prostate was removed. ”So far as we know,” Fry says in a video message, “it has all been got.”

The former QI presenter announced the news on Twitter, posting a 13-minute home-shot video with the caption: “For the last two months I’ve been in the throes of a rather unwelcome and unexpected adventure. I’m sorry I haven’t felt able to talk about it till now, but here I am explaining what has been going on.”

Simply titled ‘Stephen Fry Announcement’, the clip features Fry discussing how — after getting a flu jab — his doctor advised him to get an MRI scan because of high PSA [prostate-specific antigen] levels.

Following the scan, the actor’s doctor pointed him towards a specialist who wanted to perform a transrectal biopsy, which confirmed there were cancerous tissues in the 60-year-old’s prostate. Fry was then offered two options, to go through radiotherapy or have the prostate removed, deciding to have the surgery.

The operation took place during the first week of January and 11 lymph nodes removed. Fry says the surgery “seemed to go pretty well,” adding: ”So far as we know it’s all been got.”

“So, what next?” Fry asks. “Well, you have to recover, and that’s what I have been doing, in case you have been wondering why I’ve been out of the public eye. I’m sure you haven’t!”

Fry goes on to say the operation had a “rather traumatic effect” on his body: “You think you’re going to recover really well, but it takes longer than it might and it’s pretty undignified.”

After thanking his family and “darling husband” — who he describes as being “discrete and kind” — Fry discussed the stigmas surrounding cancer, and how one woman couldn’t say the word because it’s almost taboo.

“I went around saying to myself, ‘I’ve got cancer. Good heavens, Stephen, you’re not the sort of person who gets cancer.’ I know it’s an old cliche but you don’t think it’s going to happen to you. Cancer is something that happens to other people.” Fry then urges men to get themselves checked, as the early intervention likely saved him.

“Here’s hoping I get another few years left on this planet, because I enjoy life at the moment and that’s a marvellous thing to be able to say.”

Earlier this year, Fry stepped down from presenting the Baftas, which took place last week, with Joanna Lumley stepping in as a replacement.