BBC international editor Jeremy Bowen, 64, has been discharged from the Royal Marsden Hospital after more than five years of treatment for stage 3 bowel cancer. He shared a selfie on X, formerly Twitter, outside the Chelsea hospital, writing: 'Discharged 5 years & 4 months after diagnosis of stage 3 bowel cancer - it was in my lymph nodes plus the highly undesirable B-RAF mutation.'
Bowen urged others to seek testing, stating he had none of the usual symptoms but experienced 'agonising' stomach cramps. These were initially diagnosed as bowel adhesions on scar tissue from a previous hernia operation. He noted his GP agreed to a test despite being considered 'too young' at 58 for routine NHS screening.
In a previous interview on Desert Island Discs, Bowen revealed his cancer diagnosis helped him regain a sense of perspective, describing himself as 'a glass half-full' person. He underwent surgery and chemotherapy, and has been in remission for four-and-a-half years.
Bowen's openness about his diagnosis has encouraged thousands to undergo tests. The NHS advises anyone experiencing bowel cancer symptoms for three weeks or more to consult their GP.
