Originally published March 2015. Updated 10th February 2025
Nick Robinson, well-known and ex-BBC Political Editor starts his new job today (16 Nov 15) on BBC Radio 4. He was until earlier this year, the most recognised political reporter face on UK TV, frequently stood outside 10 Downing St reporting on anything politics and at any time of the day. Nick is pretty good at painting politicians into a corner, trying to eek out what they really think, not the ‘spin’ which they are normally pretty good at.
Like a lot of people, Nick’s life changed when he was diagnosed with Cancer in Feb 2015. A self-confessed workaholic, he is now hoping to live a more balanced life after surviving lung cancer according to an article in the Sunday Times in early 2015 (unfortunately this is now a subscription paper so I cannot link in – you’ll just need to believe me).
He assumes the post vacated by James Naughtie, an extremely hard act to follow – a man who would frequently sink his teeth into a politician’s leg and not let go until he got an answer – or at the very least he would paint them into an embarrassing corner. It’s a tough job as most politicians are extremely wily characters, masters of ‘double speak‘ and expert in answering a question without getting into the detail the questioner wants. As we all know, the devil is in the detail.
Although the article introduces some new facts about his cancer experience, I was really looking for more detail. That said, even without the ‘devil’, the latest article is inspiring for most (….man goes back to work after a tough fight with Cancer). So why am I so interested in the detail of Nick’s Cancer? Simple – because he does not have Lung Cancer as frequently and widely reported in the media. It’s true he had a cancer of the Lung but not Lung Cancer in the way people think of Lung Cancer. Lung Cancer is the ‘politician’s answer‘ or the ‘double speak answer’ to avoid going into complicated detail. The correct answer is he has Neuroendocrine Cancer with a Lung Primary.
In 2018,m Nick said “I have much to be thankful for. The tumour in my lung was removed successfully. The damage to my vocal cords – which was a side-effect of the operation – almost robbed me of my voice. But another op and many many hours of therapy restored it so I could fulfil my career ambitions and become a presenter on the Today programme on BBC Radio 4.”
I’d really like to turn the tables and interview Nick, we seem to have so much in common. We are both self-confessed workaholics, we both went to an annual Asthma clinic, we both told our Asthma nurses we had lost weight and we were both sent for a scan as a result. Following our scans, we were both diagnosed with Neuroendocrine Cancer. Like Nick, I also have an interest in politics but wouldn’t make a good one due to my love of detail and hate of ‘double speak‘.
This is not a new problem for Neuroendocrine Cancer. The most famous of patients is the Apple founder and now deceased Steve Jobs. He is frequently (even to this day) reported to have had Pancreatic Cancer rather than Neuroendocrine Cancer of the Pancreas (an Insulinoma to be precise). Although not as famous as Jobs, UK musician Wilko Johnson (of Dr Feelgood fame) is a similar story. I touched on this dilemma in my article The Human Anatomy of Neuroendocrine Cancer.
Nick – good luck with the new job.
Edit – February 2025. I met Nick on 4th Feb 2025 in Westminster as I was representing Macmillan Cancer Support at a debate chaired by Nick – the main target of his questions was the UK Government health minister.
At the end, I shook Nick’s hand. His voice sounded perfect! He agreed to me taking his photo – with me in it of course! Thanks Nick, please stay healthy – and please continue to hold politicians to account!
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