BBC Breakfast star told 'you might have saved my life' after cancer diagnosis

BBC Breakfast: Guest thanks Nick Owen for cancer diagnosis

BBC broadcaster Nick Owen was told by one viewer "you might have saved my life" after he'd revealed his own cancer diagnosis.

Fortunately for Iain Phillipson, he happened to be watching Nick's poignant message on prostate cancer last September on Midlands Today after he'd been told by medics test results had revealed he had the disease.

Nick decided he didn't want to stay silent on the matter and instead wanted to speak up in hope of helping others - and that's exactly what happened. Iain, had been watching the segment and despite knowing prostate cancer was in his family hadn't done anything about being tested until he saw Nick's "brave" update.

Iain immediately decided to press his GP for a PSA blood test and his results revealed he also sadly had the disease. Iain and his wife decided to keep the prognosis to themselves and hadn't even told their children until three weeks ago when Iain received the all clear.

Now in remission, Iain wanted to follow up with Nick to offer up his sincere thanks for encouraging people to go and get checked. He believes without Nick's insight, he may not have lived to tell the tale.

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Nick went public after he'd been diagnosed with cancer to help others (Image: BBC)

Meeting with Nick for the first time since receiving the all clear, Iain told him: "I wanted to thank you because without seeing your TV I wouldn't have had the awareness to actually go along and ask for a PSA test."

"You might have saved my life. Is the reality of this," said the 66-year-old from Herefordshire. Nick was interested to understand if Iain had received any "pushbacks" during his pursuit.

Alarmingly, Iain did come against a few challenges with his GP when he asked to be tested. However, because his father had had prostate cancer, his request was not ignored and the "door was opened".

Nick was hailed by a viewer for "saving his life" (Image: BBC)

In the heartwarming tribute segment, Iain told him: "I was, I suppose, touched by your openness and bravery," Nick interjected: "When I first talked about it, it was quite difficult.

The broadcaster admitted:"You know it's so personal, so private and so intimate that actually coming out with it to potentially millions of people it's quite an ordeal in a way but once you pass the first barrier it's fine."

It was at this point Iain confessed: "Well we only told our children about it three weeks ago when I got the all clear. We wanted to deal with it ourselves, not worry about them and not have people continually asking me 'how are you doing'."

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Iain told Nick he "might have saved his life" (Image: BBC)

"I'm quite happy telling my story, I think it's important that people who get through cancer do tell their story because staying silent doesn't really help people," added Iain.

Speaking to camera after the discussion, Nick described his meeting with the Herefordshire father as "heartwarming and inspiring". While he wished he "hadn't been through it [cancer] in the first place", he was "pleased that something good had come out of it".

Nick's bravery was recognised by royalty and he was awarded an MBE by Princess Anne for his service to charity and broadcast.

BBC Breakfast airs everyday on BBC One from 6am.