Broadcaster Danny Kelly, who joined talkSPORT in 2007, has died aged 69 after a public battle with cancer. He stepped back from his radio duties in March following a diagnosis of throat cancer and shared his treatment openly on social media.
Diagnosis and appeal to listeners
When announcing his cancer diagnosis, Kelly appealed to listeners to get themselves checked if they have any health concerns. He wrote: "I need to talk plainly to you all now because the majority of our listeners, better or worse, are men. And men are often very difficult people to talk about and talk to and talk with about medical issues."
He continued: "So I don't intend to mince my words here. I'm going to tell you that I am a sick man. Six weeks ago, I went to the doctor, hat on the side of my head, something going on with my eating. I thought it was probably acid reflux and he would give me a big bag of Gaviscon. Other tablets are available. Instead, it turns out that I have cancer."
"To be specific, I have cancer of the oesophagus, a really dangerous thing. Now look, that's the bad news. The less bad news, because it isn't really good news, is that after another long series of tests, after a very tense three or four weeks waiting for results, the medics say that the thing hasn't spread inside my body and that they can and they will help me."
Treatment and hospitalisations
Kelly was open about his treatment throughout. In June, he posted: "First off, forgive me for the month-long radio silence. I've not been in great shape. I'll explain here, not for drama or sympathy, but cos I said from the start I'd be honest....I've done the four blasts of chemo. Each one has been followed by hospitalisation with side effects and worse. After the last chemo 3 weeks ago, I began to feel worse and worse passing in and out of consciousness AandE in Dublin. They stuck a camera down my throat."
He described internal bleeding from the shrinking tumour and from a pair of previously unknown ulcers, noting that both of Ireland's best gut surgeons were on duty that night and stopped the bleeding. A nurse later described their intervention as "life and death."
In August, Kelly posted another update, writing: "Cos so many of you kindly asked for an update... My treatment has most definitely NOT gone to plan. SEVEN hospitalisations have turned an already tough journey into a messy stagger. I spent last week in the Intensive Care Unit. Scary stuff."
Support and final months
Kelly noted that the syndrome that put him in ICU was so rare that nobody in Ireland was an expert, and his tests were sent to London. He credited the ICU nurses, half locals and half from the south Indian seaside state of Kerala, saying their "diligence, compassion and humour pulled me through."
He also thanked supporters, including members of Dexys, the Waterboys, The Fall, Primal Scream, The Loft, The Coral and the Manics, among others, who had wished him luck. Kelly's death was confirmed after his long and difficult treatment journey.
