‘Take is seriously, but don’t freak out’.

On June 23 2017, radio and TV personality Jono Coleman set off from his Studio TEN gig at Sydney’s Network 10 studios for a routine visit to his GP to hear the results of a blood test. 

Coleman was told his PSA reading (Prostate-Specific Antigen) should have come in at one or less: his was at seven. 

Within hours, Coleman was at St Vincent’s Hospital with Professor Phillip Stricker, a world-leading prostate cancer specialist. 

Coleman told The Australian Women’s Weekly, ‘So there I am, it’s Friday afternoon and I’m supposed to be out to lunch. Instead of having a few drinks, I have Phillip Stricker with his finger up my bottom.’

‘He’s a great guy to treat,’ said Professor Stricker. ‘Some people melt down out of fear when they’re diagnosed, and some people use humour to get over it.’

Unsurprisingly, Coleman quickly used his humour as a coping mechanism. 

After a biopsy revealed the cancer had spread to the lymph nodes, Coleman completed 18 weeks of chemotherapy and seven weeks of radiotherapy. 

‘We decided to do chemotherapy, and hit it with everything,’ said Coleman. 

With chemotherapy sessions on Fridays and just the weekend to recover, Coleman remarkably kept up his busy work schedule, returning to the Channel 10 studio each weekday morning, as well as his hosting gig on Talking Lifestyle.

Speaking with Coleman this morning on 2GB, Steve Price asked ‘You’re a very bright upbeat person, someone who loves a laugh. What did it feel like when someone said the dreaded ‘C’ word to you?’

‘It was just like being in a movie,’ said Coleman. ‘I was there on my own with Phillip Stricker, Margot my wife was off working in advertising. Your life flashes before your eyes. They’re going to say “Okay stop filming.” Suddenly I had a cold chill through my body, but I snapped out of it. “Right what do we do? What do I need to do?”

‘I decided I wanted to continue as normal, that’s my defence mechanism, as a positive and happy person. And also using humour.’

‘I’ve appeared on TV with you, not knowing that you had cancer,’ said Price. 

‘I know, and I’m the worst person for keeping secrets,’ said Coleman, who told his wife and family and only a few people of his diagnosis, including Channel 10 executives, and his radio and TV co-hosts. ‘And then I realised I had a radio show to do that night. So Friday afternoon I have a finger in my prosterior, which a lot of people in show business are used to,’ he joked. 

‘Eighteen weeks of chemo must’ve been tough, seven weeks of radiotherapy, 25 weeks of treatment. Are you clear of it?’ asked Price.

‘I don’t know if I’ll ever be clear of it. I’ll be continuing to check myself and keep taking the hormone injections. It’s virtually gone. people my age have to be vigilant and have a maintenance program. It’s up to us guys to think about our body.

‘I’ve been saying for years that my body is a temple, unfortuantely it’s like the Acropolis, a ruined temple, it’s crumbling. But I feel fantastic.

‘I’ll keep battling and I’ll keep taking the piss out of myself, because that’s the only way to do it.’