Jane Elliott BBC News Online health staff

He had no symptoms

Until last year news presenter Nick Owen had seldom been off work sick.

Then totally out of the blue doctors told him he had kidney cancer and needed to have a kidney removed.

He had suffered no symptoms and was unprepared for the shocking diagnosis.

"It was completely by chance that they discovered it.

Tumour

"I went to my doctor because I had irritable bowel syndrome and although my doctor could find nothing wrong, he suggested that I have a scan just to make sure.

"When I had the scan they said I had a tumour in my right kidney.

With a bit of luck I should be alright Nicholas Owen

"It was a complete shock. I had a complete lack of knowledge about this cancer. It was a mystery to me."

Luckily for the popular ITV news presenter doctors said the 1-2 cm growth appeared to be restricted to the kidney and they were hopeful that by removing it they would solve the problem.

"I was off work for nine weeks. I had almost never had any time off before and it was actually rather fun.

"I had hundreds of lovely letters and I was quite busy replying to them as I had said that I would personally reply to everyone who wrote.

Diagnosis

"They were from people saying things like 'I had this cancer 10-20 years ago', or 'my father had it'. Lots were letters of support it was very heart warming."

After the operation medics told Mr Owen that he would need regular check-ups, every six months, but that the early signs looked good.

"They told me it was localised and does not appear to have galloped anywhere else so with a bit of luck I should be alright.

Symptoms May be mild or absent during the initial stages Blood in urine Lump in abdomen Dull unremitting pain in the side Persistent fever or weight loss

"But I have to keep an eye on it."

He said that although the diagnosis had come as a shock to him, the effects for his family were much worse.

"I felt as if I was in a cocoon after I was told. You always imagine you would be very frightened. I found it shocking, but I got on with it.

"But I have four children and seeing them deal with it was difficult."

Mr Owen is now patron of Kidney Cancer UK and uses his status as a TV personality to help alert people to the symptoms of the disease.

"I am their patron. I make a few speeches and try to cheer people up."

Because of his job, Mr Owen regularly meets with politicians and advisors and uses the opportunity to press home his fears about waiting list times and concerns about whether cancer patients are getting their treatment early. enough.

"I have been lucky and I want to tell people that it is not all doom and gloom. Whenever I get the chance I will campaign.

"It is an area that people do not know enough about, but just because you have not heard about kidney cancer it does not mean it is not a problem.

"It affects 6,000 people a year, but if it is caught early it can be treated."