Jonnie Irwin , a presenter of A Place in the Sun , has spoken out about the first thing he noticed before his cancer diagnosis . Irwin, who first appeared on the popular property TV show in 2004, has been honest about his illness, sharing his journey on Instagram.
Dad-of-three Irwin has said that he refuses to be beaten by the terrible disease, which has spread from his lungs to his brain. Doctors told him that he has just months left to live.
Now, the star has opened up about the moment he knew that something was wrong. While driving in Italy, Irwin said that he noticed his eyesight was blurry while driving.
Read more: A Place In The Sun star Jonnie Irwin gives cancer update after night in pain
After undergoing tests at home, within a week Irwin learned that he not only had stage four lung cancer but that it had also spread to his brain. Problems with vision are a symptom of secondary brain cancer.
Lung cancer is one of the most common and serious types of cancer, with more than 43,000 people in the UK diagnosed with the condition every year. It mainly affects older people and is rare in people younger than 40.
Symptoms of lung cancer
According to Cancer Research UK, the most common symptom of advanced lung cancer is feeling tired and unwell. Other symptoms may include:
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a cough that doesn’t go away
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a change in a cough you have had for a long time
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breathlessness
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unexplained weight loss
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ongoing chest infections
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coughing up blood
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a hoarse voice
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difficulty swallowing
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changes in the shape of your fingers and nails called finger clubbing
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swelling of the face caused by a blockage of the main blood vessel (superior vena cava obstruction)
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loss of appetite
According to Cancer Research UK, lung cancer is one of the more common cancers that spreads to the brain. Symptoms of secondary brain cancer will depend on where in the brain the disease has spread to.
The cancer can cause pressure on the surrounding brain tissue and the symptoms will depend on what this part of the brain does. Symptoms can include:
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headaches
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feeling or being sick
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weakness of a part of the body
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seizures (fits)
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personality or mood changes
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changes to your eyesight such as loss of sight (vision)
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confusion and difficulty understanding
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difficulty speaking
Since learning of his diagnosis, Irwin has become determined not to let his disease take over his life. He has said that he wants to focus on spending time with his family, with hopes of making life as brilliant as possible for them. And although he has chosen not to inform his little ones of his personal situation, he wants to concentrate on making the most of his time with them.
He added: "It's only been recent that I've considered when we're going to tell them because the twins are only two-and-a-half years old, Rex is four at Christmas. So they're so young, but at the moment I'm me, in a version, and I don't think there's any need to tell them."
He continued: "And I think it would be a lot for them to get their heads round - so for now, let the good times roll for as long as possible."
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