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'Awareness raised by Bill Turnbull saved my life'

Andy Probert Andy Probert on holiday with the sea behind him on a hot, sunny day. He has short black hair with sunglasses perched on top of his head. He is wearing a black polo top with the top button undone and he is smiling while squinting.Andy Probert
Andy Probert said he had no cancer symptoms but was struggling with a bad back

A prostate cancer survivor has credited the late broadcaster Bill Turnbull with saving his life.

Andy Probert, from Watford, got checked for the disease as a result of the BBC Breakfast host raising awareness of his own condition.

Turnbull, 66, died at his home in Suffolk in August 2022 after being diagnosed with prostate cancer four years earlier.

Mr Probert, 52, said it was "quite wonderful" to share his story in a similar fashion to Turnbull, in the hope it would help others.

Despite having no symptoms, the father-of-two made a routine appointment with his GP in September 2022 and was told something was not right.

Andy Probert Andy Probert sitting in a pub garden while holding a pint of beer up in his right hand. He is smiling while wearing a navy polo shirt and has sunglasses on top of his head. Behind him is a black weatherboarded building on a sunny day.Andy Probert
Andy Probert hopes sharing his story will inspire others to get checked

Following a series of examinations, Mr Probert was diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer in December that year.

"Part of me didn't believe it because I just wasn't feeling ill, I was perfectly normal," he told the BBC.

"I never thought in my life that I would be that person who has to sit through a diagnosis meeting like that.

"It's very surreal - part of you is worried, part of you is relieved, reassured that you’ve caught it early."

'Saved my life'

The heating engineer elected to have his prostate surgically removed in March 2023 and has since gone on to fully recover from the cancer.

He said lives would be saved by people sharing their stories and reassuring others about getting checked.

Figures from Prostate Cancer UK suggest one in eight men will get the disease in their lifetime, with many finding out too late.

Bill Turnbull sat on the famous red BBC Breakfast sofa while smiling. He has his feet on the table in front of him and is wearing a black suit with a white shirt underneath. Turnbull has short brown hair and is looking away from the camera.
Bill Turnbull found he had cancer himself while taking part in a charity edition of The Great British Bake Off

Six-time Olympic cycling champion Sir Chris Hoy announcing his diagnosis was terminal led to a near eight-fold increase in NHS searches for prostate cancer symptoms.

"There is a very possible chance I would be in the position Chris Hoy is in if I didn't get checked when I did," Mr Probert said.

"I think of Chris and Bill [Turnbull] and part of me feels guilty, it's a really weird thing. Bill Turnbull potentially saved my life.

"I have an 18-month-old grandson and a granddaughter on the way. Without Bill raising awareness, I might never have seen anything."

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