The comedian Milton Jones has announced that he is cancelling a planned tour of the UK after being diagnosed with prostate cancer, which will require surgery.
The 60-year-old shared the news in a statement on social media where he said that the cancer is “treatable” and he is due for an operation in the coming weeks. However, his recovery period has forced him to cancel a handful of shows across the country.
“I’m so sorry about this, but I need to announce the cancellation of several dates from my ongoing Ha!Milton Tour,” wrote Jones.
“The affected shows are in Leeds, Coventry, Basingstoke, Sterts, Launceston, Durham, Hexham, Ilkley, Wakefield, Lichfield, TUnbridge Wellsm, Portsmouth, and Lyme Regis which were all due to take place this summer.”
He continued: “This difficult decision comes following a recent diagnosis of treatable prostate cancer. I’ll be undergoing surgery soon and will need time afterwards to fully recover.”
Jones added: “In addition, the summer dates in Colchester, Bridlington, Stroud, and London will be rescheduled to the Autumn. All dates currently scheduled for the Autumn leg of the tour remain unaffected. Ticket holders for the cancelled shows will be contacted directly by the venue box office.”
“Thanks for your support and respecting my privacy during this time. This decision has not been taken lightly. Trust me, abnormal service will resume as soon as possible and I’m looking forward to being back out on the road again soon – though probably not on a bike!”
Fans of the funnyman have sent their best wishes to Jones following the news. “Understandable Milton, get well soon and we look forward to laughing at you again when you are better… take care,” said one fan.
A second person wrote: “Good luck with your treatment Milton, from experience also make time afterwards to recover from the effects of the treatment.”
A third added: “So sorry to hear your health news. Much more important to take the time needed for your treatment (and some recovery time afterwards). Take care.”
Jones, best known for his deadpan and often surreal one-liners, began his career in 1996 performing regularly at The Comedy Store in London and Manchester.
He started to rise in prominence in the comedy world after becoming a regular guest on Mock the Week and Live At The Apollo. In 2009 he released a semi-autobiographical novel Where Do Comedians Go When They Die?: Journeys of a Stand-Up.
Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer among men in the UK, affecting approximately one in eight men during their lifetime.
While the condition is more likely to affect men over the age of 50, it can be diagnosed at a younger age.
Some diagnosed with prostate cancer will not require any treatment at all, the NHS states.
A person’s treatment may depend on whether their prostate cancer is localised in the prostate gland or has spread to other parts of the body.
The NHS explains that a patient with cancer should be cared for by a team of specialists, called a multi-disciplinary team.
This team of medical professionals may include oncologists, radiographers and specialist nurses, among others.
The NHS adds that treatment for prostate cancer is undertaken to either cure the disease, or control symptoms so that they do not shorten a patient’s life expectancy.
Some older men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer may be advised to carry out “watchful waiting”, which is when they keep a close eye to see whether or not they develop any progressive cancer symptoms.
