Charisa Bossinakis
Jonnie Irwin has been tragically diagnosed with terminal cancer.
The property TV presenter recently sat down with HELLO! Magazine to reveal that he ‘makes the most of everyday’ amid his diagnosis.
The 48-year-old shared that his lung cancer has spread to his brain and he's been given six months to live.
He told the outlet: "I don’t know how long I have left, but I try to stay positive and my attitude is that I'm living with cancer, not dying from it.
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"I set little markers – things I want to be around for. I got into the habit of saying: 'Don't plan ahead because I might not be well enough.”
The presenter revealed how he was hesitant to come forward about his illness but is now speaking candidly to shake the ‘monkey off his back’.
Until now, Irwin had only shared the news with family and close friends.
He said: "I hope that by shaking that monkey off and talking to HELLO!, I might inspire people who are living with life-limiting prospects to make the most of every day; to help them see that you can live a positive life, even though you are dying."
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The Brit said he first became aware of his declining health in 2020 when his vision was blurry as he was driving on location in Italy to film A Place in The Sun.
Tests soon after revealed that he had developed lung cancer.
He said: "Within a week of flying back from filming, I was being given six months to live.
"I had to go home and tell my wife, who was looking after our babies, that she was on her own pretty much. That was devastating. All I could do was apologise to her. I felt so responsible."
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While cancer medication and chemotherapy have prolonged Irwin’s prognosis, he admitted to the outlet that he knows his illness will one day ‘catch up’ to him.
However, until then, he plans to tick off his bucket list while continuing to spend as much time with his wife, Jessica, and their three children.
He hopes that speaking out will encourage more people to take out life insurance.
While the property expert is a self-proclaimed ‘risk taker’, he took out life insurance shortly after his twins were born.
He said: "That has helped so much and when I leave this planet, I'll do so knowing Jess and the boys are in a house that is fully paid off and there's a bit of money in the bank for them to live off."