George Alagiah is taking a break from TV after his cancer spread.
George Alagiah is taking a break from TV after his cancer spread
The 66-year-old newsreader - who was first diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer in 2014 - returned to BBC's 'News at Six' in April, after taking a break in October last year, but he has been forced to take some more time off.
He said: "A recent scan showed that my cancer has spread further so it’s back to some tough stuff.
"I’m missing my colleagues. Working in the newsroom has been such an important part of keeping energised and motivated."
George is hoping to get back to the newsroom as soon as possible.
He said: "I look forward to being back in that studio as soon as I can."
Last month, George told how he has a "tumour site" at the bottom of his back and has spent 18 months in "extreme pain".
He said: "It is near my L5 lowest vertebra. I’ve spent a lot of the last 18 months in extreme pain. There have been times when even lying down makes it worse."
Asked if the cancer has spread to his spine, he said: “I don’t know if it is into my spine. It is very technical so you have to be careful.
"What I have is a tumour that is resting very close to the spine and, as far as doctors can make out, has eroded a bit of a vertebra.
"More importantly, it is sitting very close to the nerve and the aorta. Both of which are significant. That’s the one we are watching."
After being diagnosed in 2014, George returned to presenting duties in 2015, saying at the time he was a “richer person” for his fight.
The cancer returned in 2017 and he underwent further treatment before again returning to work, but in 2020 the news anchor said it had spread to his lungs, before taking a break in October 2021 and returned to work in April.