Lloyd Webber Refused to Cover Up Cancer

12 January 2010

0Comments | Comment on this Article

SIR Andrew Lloyd Webber incurred the wrath of his public relations team by telling the world about his battle with cancer - because his representatives wanted him to keep quiet about the illness.

The theatre impresario announced last year (09) he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

He underwent an operation and subsequent treatment and doctors have now given him the all-clear.

I hope my saga will be of reassurance to the surprisingly large number of men who find themselves in my situation

Lloyd Webber admits he had another battle on his hands when he wanted to go public with the news after he was first hospitalised - because his publicists didn't want him to admit to having cancer.

But the star was determined to tell the truth, hoping his struggle would help others dealing with the disease.

He says, "When I was told that I had prostate cancer, what hit me most was not the news about my nether regions but the reaction of my PR honchos. 'Say you are run down, need a hospital check-up. Say you have an infection, E-coli sounds good.'

"'Say what you want,' they chorused, 'but don't used the dreaded C-word. Do not say you have cancer.' Why? I thought. I have prostate cancer.

My specialist is certain that lives are lost because the symptoms can be the kind of stuff that the average macho male is embarrassed by.

This is barmy (crazy). I hope my saga will be of reassurance to the surprisingly large number of men who find themselves in my situation".

0Comments | Be the first to comment!