Food critic and BBC star Giles Coren has revealed he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
In a heartfelt announcement on Friday, the food critic shared he learned of the diagnosis at precisely 9.30am on Wednesday. Writing in The Times, he explained he initially decided to get tested a few years ago after high-profile cases like Stephen Fry and Bill Turnbull brought awareness to the disease.
Giles’s prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test initially returned a result of four, which is considered abnormal. His doctor explained his cancer was a “slow cancer all men get” if they live long enough. Following an MRI scan, which came back inconclusive, Giles initially declined a biopsy but later agreed to further examinations at the Royal Free Hospital in North London.
Over time, his PSA score rose to six and then seven. Doctors discovered less than a millimetre of cancer in three out of the 21 samples he provided. While the malign tumour does not require immediate treatment, it will be closely monitored for any signs of growth.
The former presenter of Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby has been a well-known figure in journalism and broadcasting for years. He has written for The Times since 2002 and was named Food and Drink Writer of the Year at the British Press Awards in 2005.
Born in Paddington, Giles is the only son of the late journalist and humorist Alan Coren and the older brother of comedian and television presenter Victoria Coren Mitchell.
Prostate Cancer UK highlights 1 in 8 men will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime. The disease primarily affects men over 50, with risks increasing with age, particularly for black men and those with a family history of the illness.
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