http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016-10-11/bbc-radio-4-broadcaster-steve-hewlett-telling-my-boys-about-my-cancer-was-the-hardest-thing-ive-ever-had-to-do

He’s usually on around 6pm. I’ve listened to the last 3 weeks and I’m torn by being too scared to listen, but too engaged to switch it off.

It’s fantastic radio isn’t it. PM has had some stuff that really is worth listening to

I have been listening, found it really interesting. The way he is dealing with being ill is not unique but it’s good the the BBC are reporting it. The effects of a serious condition on those closest to the sufferer are often ignored. All the best to him and his family, really hope things go well for him.

PM/Eddie Mair is great. Kind of wish it and the Today program would switch as I am rarely free at that time of day. Might have to start listen againing. Steve Hewlett – fascinating, brave and heart wrenching in equal measures.

He has an amazingly matter-of-fact attitude to the fact that he’s dangerously ill.

Our recent experience of caring for my MIL as she declined and died with cancer has shown us how the NHS has some amazing people but it has also taught us to be assertive in asking for what we want. Mrs Gti had an episode of acute chest pain, bad enough to get her taken to A&E. Her aunt reminded her that gallstones run in her family so she went to the GP who dismissed her, saying she didn’t fit the typical profile. She refused to be brushed off and demanded a scan. The scan revealed a 3cm gallstone.

I am in awe of people like Steve who deal with illness like this with such dignity.

I’ve just remembered the other PM interview that affected me which was the interview with Alicia Kozakiewicz who was kidnapped when she was 13. It was one of those things you just catch in the background when walking round the house then have to stop because you can’t quite take in what you are listening to. Mesmerising and powerful

This story on iPM (and PM) made waking up at 5:45 on a Saturday morning ok.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-37484900

having followed it through from the initial interview with her siblings, the investigation and now an arrest has been fascinating.

well worth a download and a listen;

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02vn2mt/episodes/downloads

There was an excellent interview on Today at 07:45 last Thursday; John Simpson interviewed a woman who had got pregnant at 16 and as a Catholic had been banished to a home to have the baby, which was taken away from her immediately. She only met her daughter when the girl turned 18. It was a harrowing story to hear; the cruelty of the Catholic system was awful and you could hear that even Simpson was affected by it. It was a sensitive and considerate interview, as you would expect from a journalist of his age and experience.

I was a fan of Steve Hewlett before this terrible news. He is articulate and sharp, I love his probing interview technique. I understand the prognosis is very poor. It is heart wrenching and he is incredibly brave to share his experience. I wish him well.

I listened to the interview with Steve and his sons. Beautifully told, Eddie Mair allowed time for the answers to come, not rushing them. I thought the son’s are incredibly brave

For me it was also very personal. I am about the same age as Steve and my sons are the same age as his. My father died of cancer when he was Steve’s age and I was slightly older that Steve’s sons. I only wish I was as courageous as Steve and his sons. For his son’s I know what they are going through and, sadly, what they have yet to go through.

Did you hear it today?
Reading between the lines, it’s grim. He has hope, but I’m not sure that is enough.

Quite heroic and retains his sense of humour.

It’s compulsive listening isn’t it . Always used to be on a Monday but seems to move around a bit so it can be difficult to catch . He is incredibly matter of fact about it all and he told a really not very PC joke about cancer the other week which I’m surprised the BBC allowed.

Love that his Doctors are listening too.

I hadn’t heard much about him before, but huge respect for what he’s doing here.

As above, can’t imagine that I would have even a fraction of his courage if in the same situation.

I followed this story on pm and found it fascinating. Eddie Mair is a great presenter and interviewer. In fact i am a huge r4 fan, i know some of the comedy has got a bit tired but the general standard is excellent. Well done talking about it..

Whilst I am not trying to rain on any parade, but a ordinary but extraordinary chap called Steve Evans set the bar very high. He told his story of living with cancer in a series of interviews with Richard Bacon on Radio 5 Live. I had to stop the car to listen to his “final” interview.

Perhaps you need to be called Steve.

i only caught the end of it – what has happened that he’s now in the Marsden?

Didn’t listen today, but I do like to hear his voice, even just to know he’s still with us and doing well. He’s a great speaker on the subject – very down to earth and frank about what is happening. Every time I hear his name I fear the worst.

I wish him all the best.

Yeh was a tough listen today, doesnt sound promising at all now. It is a fantastic feature though

Been listening since his first broadcast on PM as a good mate was diagnosed with the same cancer last summer, I hope steve can turn the corner regarding prognosis but after his last few reports i’m fearing the worst – it’s been harrowing listening as my mate was going through very much similar but thankfully is now on the mend after removal of his oesophagus and I’m taking him up to Edinburgh on friday to get his feed tube removed as he has not used it since his release from hospital on 23rd Dec, he’s getting scans as well on friday so fingers crossed for the all clear.

My thread here

Well done somafunk i m taking a good friend to hospital on friday too, local specialist one for a referral, doesnt half make you appreciate your own wellbeing

Remember the Steve Evans interviews – amazing guy, tough listening but also strangely positive how people can deal with these kind of awful situations.

doesnt half make you appreciate your own wellbeing

Exactly poolman, I remember him sitting me down on the afternoon of his original diagnoses and saying “I may not be here much longer, I’ve a large tumour in my throat and if the worst happens can you……………”. It’s weird how the shock hits you and affects how you view everything in your daily life, even thinking about it now turns my stomach into knots and tightens my chest. Fingers crossed though for Friday.

Best o’ luck for your mate, all we can do in these situations is to make ourselves available at all times and remind your friend that no matter what the outcome you’ll be there to kick them up the arse when needed 😉

I was concerned when Steve wasn’t presenting the media show at 1630 today and then it all made sense once I listened to PM. Hope he’s well enough to host the media show again next week. His spots on PM are addictive listening, what an honest, articulate man.

Agree with all the above – great radio and such a brave man. His voice sounded weaker today 🙁

Missed it, but know the story all too well. It’s worth saying, people don’t get cancer, the whole family does. Bravery isn’t normally part of the equation either. Although there is plenty of that in my family that are left behind. Hope he is back too.

i only caught the end of it – what has happened that he’s now in the Marsden?

He’s having experimental treatment, which should be suited to him. He has had one treatment, and going in for another tomorrow. It sounds like, if it doesnt work, then his liver is going to give up. Some current symptoms could be either him getting better, or declining. Blood in his vomit, could be good or bad, they won’t know for a few more days.
He sounded awful, but has hope, and says he actually feels a little better now.

Had it on last night but not fully paying attention. I did catch that things didn’t sound great – hopefully just the depths of treatment. Must listen more. Lost my dad end of 2015 and he didn’t talk at all about it so could only imagine what he was feeling.

It was riveting listening, and I really wish Steve the very best. His current batch of symptoms could just be related to the mab therapy kicking in, I really hope thats the case.

From what he said, the gastroscopy would seem to agree with that.

The next thing will be whether his liver functions will permit further treatment- here’s hoping.

PM is an excellent radio programme; luckily I’m usually in the car between 5.15 and 6 so I can hear it. I prefer it to Today, which I always catch on the way to work and is a bit more heavy-duty.

Apart from Hewlett’s remarkable stoicism, I have really enjoyed the little moments of gently joshing humour, which he and Eddy Mair manage from time to time. It seems to be something specially British.

I saw a snippet on BBC News where Steve was interviewed a couple of months ago. It brought back the painful memories (not that they ever go away) losing my dad 5 years ago to the same disease after successfully getting the all clear at one stage having had his oesophagus removed – unfortunately it had spread to his lymph nodes. My dad managed 8 months back at work after the op. Wished we had spoke more about it when he was alive but my dad was the strong and silent type not comfortable with showing his emotions to his 2 sons. I wouldn’t wish the rollercoaster ride our family were put through over a 4 year period and my heart goes out to those affected.

Keep fighting Steve

PM gives space and time to stories that Today always seems to lack.

Eddy Mair is a great interviewer – the opposite of Humphries but he seems to get more out of his subjects as a result of his gentle approach.

iPM is a fantastic program too – I’d recommend anyone to listen to it on iPlayer or as a podcast. The effort they went to to find the killer of that brother and sister’s sibling was important journalism.

It sounds like, if it doesnt work, then his liver is going to give up.

Apologies if I’ve got any of this wrong – I didn’t hear the whole thing – but I thought the gist was that his liver was potentially “misbehaving” and if his liver deteriorates or won’t behave properly then the current treatment potentially couldn’t continue – effectively if the liver doesn’t do it’s job then the treatment (both the experimental one he’s having now and “standard” chemo) itself could kill him..

+1 for PM being generally one of the best things on R4 (and by extension, radio everywhere).

Always thought things would go this way. Still very painful to listen to.

The interview this evening is incredible. Any main broadcaster talking about death a dying in such a clear manner is really fantastic

Yes, but very upsetting too.
Was it Eddie Mair with a few tears during the interview? Steve seemed too composed afterwards, so I assumed it was Eddie.

Harrowing but compelling this evening.

…but with levity as well.

It’s been interesting as a minimum and very moving at times.