Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleLord Tom Watson, the former Labour deputy leader, has announced he is taking a leave of absence from the House of Lords following the recurrence of his prostate cancer. He was initially diagnosed with non-aggressive prostate cancer in March 2023 and later received the all-clear, but was informed earlier this year that the disease had returned. While initial tests suggest the cancer has now “gone”, Lord Watson is scheduled to undergo further checks later this summer for confirmation. He described the recurrence as a “wake-up call” to prioritise his health, having also struggled with regaining weight after ceasing exercise following his initial diagnosis. His announcement comes as the government recently advised against a population-wide prostate cancer screening programme, instead recommending testing for a smaller group of high-risk men. In fullFormer Labour deputy leader Tom Watson announces cancer has returnedThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
Labour peer to take leave of absence after ‘wake-up call’
Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleLord Tom Watson, the former Labour deputy leader, has announced he is taking a leave of absence from the House of Lords following the recurrence of his prostate cancer. He was initially diagnosed with non-aggressive prostate cancer in March 2023 and later received the all-clear, but was informed earlier this year that the disease had returned. While initial tests suggest the cancer has now “gone”, Lord Watson is scheduled to undergo further checks later this summer for confirmation. He described the recurrence as a “wake-up call” to prioritise his health, having also struggled with regaining weight after ceasing exercise following his initial diagnosis. His announcement comes as the government recently advised against a population-wide prostate cancer screening programme, instead recommending testing for a smaller group of high-risk men. In fullFormer Labour deputy leader Tom Watson announces cancer has returnedThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
Lord Tom Watson, former Labour deputy leader, leaves the House of Lords after prostate cancer recurrence, months after receiving an all-clear in 2023. The UK government has simultaneously ruled out population-wide prostate screening, favouring targeted testing for high-risk men only.
