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Beloved ABC Presenter James Valentine’s health revelation sparks wave of love and support from fans

Matthew Hart
Mar 22, 2024
The news of Valentine's diagnosis has sparked an overwhelming response from fans, who have flooded social media with messages of encouragement and admiration for the veteran presenter. Source: Getty Images.

Beloved ABC radio presenter, James Valentine, has stunned his audience by revealing his ongoing battle with oesophageal cancer, prompting an outpouring of love and support from fans across the nation.

In a heartfelt message shared on Thursday, March 21 Valentine candidly disclosed his health struggle.

Despite the grim diagnosis, Valentine maintained his sense of humour and optimism throughout his announcement.

“So, there’s something I have to tell you,” he began.

“I’ve used that phrase a lot recently. To my 96-year-old mother, to an audience at a gig, to people I’ve never met.

“Due to circumstance, I have to tell them the ‘something’. I’ve become more adept at it and have found that it’s best to reveal the ending first.

“The end of the story is I’m going to be fine.

“The beginning is I have cancer. If you open with that, no-one ever believes you’re going to be fine. Cancer is a trigger word for just about everyone because your own body turning against you is a horrible thing and, for many, the course of the disease is ghastly, and for many it’s fatal.

“That’s why my cancer so far has been kind of odd. I’ve been fine. Right now, I’m completely fine.”

The incident that first raised concerns regarding his health occurred at a friend’s party last December when he found himself choking and retching after consuming food, prompting his wife to insist on a visit to her sister’s endoscopy clinic.

At the subsequent doctor’s appointment, Valentine received the shocking news of a 4-centimetre tumour at the junction of his oesophagus and stomach, a revelation that marked the beginning of his unexpected journey with cancer.

“The doctor comes over,” he recalled.

“It’s bad. You’ve got a 4-centimetre tumour where your oesophagus meets your stomach.”

Valentine’s cancer journey has involved a regimen of chemotherapy and radiation aimed at shrinking the tumour and preparing his body for surgery. Despite the fatigue induced by radiation and the discomfort caused by chemotherapy, he persevered, maintaining his work commitments and even performing saxophone gigs.

The news of Valentine’s diagnosis has sparked an overwhelming response from fans, who have flooded social media with messages of encouragement and admiration for the veteran presenter.

As Valentine prepares for surgery in the coming weeks, he remains hopeful for the future but acknowledges the uncertainty that lies ahead. Despite the daunting road ahead, he faces his diagnosis with courage and determination.

“In a few weeks, I will undergo surgery, which is the main treatment for my oesophageal cancer,” he explained.

“The surgery will remove my entire oesophagus and then stretch my stomach up and attach it to my throat. Marvellous what they can do these days.

“After that, I’m very likely to feel like absolute crap for quite some time. It is likely I will recover, although that may take some months.

“Cancer is confronting and of course I’m equal parts hopeful and terrified.

“I think I’ll be fine. That’s my ending. But right now, I’m still at the beginning.”

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