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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I’m a lung NET too, and I’ve helped raise awareness of lung cancer, and really don’t mind that they label me just as “lung cancer survivor”. In my opinion, the symptoms of bronchial NETS that I want people to be aware of piggyback the symptoms of most other types of lung cancer. Bronchial NETs are so different than GI – both specialists I’ve seen told me they are really a separate disease! And a grade 1 or 2 bronchial NET IS lung cancer. Just as small cell or large cell carcinoma (also NET, but grade 3) are lung cancer. There are many kinds of lung cancer, and you’re right – the media likes to label them all “lung cancer” without providing details. I mentioned neuroendocrine cancer in my interviews and they didn’t sneak that in to any of the coverage, but I’m okay with that. Lung cancer is underfunded, and needs awareness, whether its neuroendocrine, squamous cell, adenocarcinoma or something else. Of course NET needs awareness too – but lots of NET coverage focuses on GI symptoms, so I feel like bronchial folks fit into two camps. 🙂
I absolutely can see your point Maggie. I admit my approach is bias toward Neuroendocrine Cancer but as someone who blogs about it, that shouldn’t be a surprise! Lung Cancer is an awful disease and is already very well known (unfortunately for its links to smoking). Neuroendocrine Cancer is not very well known and that is the purpose of my blog. Thanks for taking the time to comment, it’s a very interesting debate!
So ask him for an interview… and plant the seed that he become a spokesperson for NETs.
I’d like to think he’s reading my blog under another name 🙂
It would be good if some of the high profile sufferers helped to raise the profile, as it helps us all.
absolutely although I doubt if he sees himself as a “sufferer” though 🙂
Maybe sufferer is a bit of a strong word😉