F1 icon Eddie Jordan reveals ‘aggressive’ cancer diagnosis

Eddie Jordan at the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco. Photo / Getty Images

By Tom Cary of the Telegraph

Eddie Jordan has revealed that he has been undergoing treatment for “aggressive” bladder and prostate cancer but added that he has now “pulled out of it, thankfully”.

The former Formula One team owner, speaking on his own Formula For Success podcast which he co-hosts with ex-driver David Coulthard, said he had endured some “very dark days” this year.

Jordan, 76, had alluded to a possible health scare in an October episode of the podcast but did not go into any detail. Urging people to get screened for cancer, he had said at the time that his own prognosis was “absolutely fantastic”.

With the season now over, Jordan has gone into more detail, drawing parallels with Sir Chris Hoy’s cancer diagnosis and once again urging men in particular to go and get checked.

Six-time Olympic champion Hoy revealed this autumn that he had been given a terminal prostate cancer diagnosis having displayed little to no outward symptoms.

Jordan made headlines earlier this year when it emerged that he had been advising star designer Adrian Newey on his exit from Red Bull. But it turns out the Irishman was simultaneously dealing with the fallout from his own cancer diagnosis.

‘Don’t waste time or put it off. Go and get tested’

“We’ve kind of alluded to it, David, over the shows, way back in March and April, I was diagnosed with bladder and prostate cancer, and then it spread into the spine and the pelvis, so it was quite aggressive,” he said.

“And we’ve all heard about our wonderful friend, Sir Chris Hoy, who’s an absolute megastar, and coming out and talking about illnesses such like what I’ve gotten, but he’s a far younger man.

“But this is a little message, and everybody listen to this: Don’t waste [time] or put it off. Go and get tested, because in life, you’ve got chances. And there is so much medical advice out there and so many things that you can do to extend your lifetime.

“Go and do it. Don’t be stupid. Don’t be shy. It’s not a shy thing. Look after your body, guys.

“We’ll move on, but yes, some very dark days in there – but we pulled out of it, thankfully.”

Speaking on his return to podcasting duties in mid-October about his health, Jordan head revealed that he had gone to see the doctor after taking part in the Cape Town Cycle Tour, formerly the Cape Argus Cycle Tour.

“At 76 I did the Argus [Cape Town Cycle Tour], and then you get a bit of a bang, and then you suddenly feel that you’re not 100%,” he explained at the time.

“You go to the doctor, and then you get this illness. But where there’s a will, there’s a way, and I urge everybody to be able to stand the fight, because it’s worth it.

“I’m coming out the other side, everyone else should come out the other side. The prognosis is absolutely fantastic. The medical awareness of what’s going on at the moment is quite simply mind-boggling – and so there should be every opportunity to avail of that medical help.”