EastEnders star Jamie Borthwick admits he suffers from ‘terrible anxiety’ around illness after battling emetophobia – a fear of growing up: ‘I’m a massive hypochondriac’

EastEnders star Jamie Borthwick has opened up about his family’s health problems and admitted he suffers from ‘terrible health anxiety’.

The actor, who has played Jay Brown in the soap since 2006, will run the London Marathon this weekend after his father and uncle were diagnosed with the disease.

Jamie, 29, said his father Simon, 57, and his uncle Charlie had been diagnosed with prostate cancer, and he also has a cousin undergoing treatment.

Suffering from emetophobia, the fear of growing up, Jamie said his fear of illness became increasingly worse.

“I have terrible health fears, I’m a huge hypochondriac,” said Jamie, from Barking, east London The mirror.

EastEnders star Jamie Borthwick opened up about his family’s health problems to The Mirror on Monday and admitted he is suffering from ‘terrible health anxiety’ (pictured in 2022)

“Every day I wake up and think, ‘What’s wrong with me today?'”

Jamie added: ‘The therapy sessions really helped me, but I don’t think these things will ever completely leave you.’

Jamie’s family has recovered from prostate cancer, he says, admitting he broke down in tears when his mother told him about his father’s diagnosis.

But his father’s illness was caught early and after a successful operation, Simon is completely safe.

To raise money and awareness, Jamie will be running the London Marathon on Sunday – running as character Jake alongside Emma Barton, who plays Honey Mitchell.

Jake has been training for the run in memory of his late wife Lola (Danielle Harold), who died last year from a brain tumor in an award-winning plot in the soap.

In March, he said on Instagram: ’17 months after my sister ran the London Marathon for @prostatecanceruk, I’m now doing the same for our beloved father and uncle!

‘Prostate cancer affects 1 in 8 men and the more awareness we create and encourage all our men to get checked much earlier, hopefully we can reduce that number! The link is in the Bio for all donations and we really appreciate anything anyone can give!

Writing on Instagram a year after his sister ran the marathon, he said in March: “17 months after my sister ran the London Marathon for @prostatecanceruk, I’m now doing the same for our beloved father and uncle!”

The upcoming storyline follows both characters through their training process and through the marathon itself as they continue to navigate their grief

“And to all those who have sent messages of support and made donations, I really appreciate it and am sending all the in the world .”

Jamie’s character Jay is preparing to run the marathon and training with Honey, who is married to Lola’s grandfather and Jay’s former foster father Billy Mitchell.

The storyline follows both characters through their training process and through the marathon itself as they continue to navigate their grief.

Lola passed away in 2023 after a battle with brain cancer, with Jay turning to drugs to cope, leaving behind her daughter Lexi who she shared with her cousin Ben Mitchell.

As well as Jamie, Emma will also be taking part in the race in real life – both on behalf of separate charities close to their hearts.

Emma will be acting on behalf of BBC Children in Need and both will perform parts of the event in character, filming scenes live from the route on the day that will be featured on the show.

Jamie’s character Jay prepares to run the marathon and trains with Honey, who is married to Lola’s grandfather and Jay’s former foster father Billy Mitchell (pictured in March)

Jamie previously said of the run: ‘I’m so honored to be taking part in the London Marathon.

‘EastEnders is a London show, and as far as I know we’ve never seen it on screen before, so I’m really excited to be a part of it, even though I swore I’d never see it after the last show would run more. time!

‘I’m going to take part in Prostate Cancer UK because both my father and uncle have had the disease.

‘Thankfully they are now both cancer free and we are all so grateful for the great work Prostate Cancer UK does to support people through their illness.’

WHAT IS PROSTATE CANCER?

How many people does it kill?

More than 11,800 men in Britain – or one every 45 minutes – die from the disease every year, compared to around 11,400 women who die from breast cancer.

It means prostate cancer is behind only the lungs and bowels in the number of people it kills in Britain.

In the US, the disease kills 26,000 men every year.

Despite this, it receives less than half of breast cancer research funding and treatments for the disease are at least a decade behind schedule.

How many men are diagnosed annually?

More than 52,300 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in the UK every year – more than 140 every day.

How quickly does it develop?

Prostate cancer usually develops slowly, so there may be no signs that someone has it for years NHS.

If the cancer is in its early stages and is not causing symptoms, a policy of ‘watchful waiting’ or ‘active surveillance’ may be implemented.

Some patients can be cured if the disease is treated at an early stage.

But if the diagnosis is made at a later stage, when the disease has spread, the disease becomes terminal and treatment revolves around relieving the symptoms.

Thousands of men are deterred from seeking a diagnosis because of the treatment’s known side effects, including erectile dysfunction.

Testing and treatment

Tests for prostate cancer are haphazard, and accurate tools are only just beginning to appear.

There is no national prostate screening program because the tests have been too inaccurate for years.

Doctors have difficulty distinguishing between aggressive and less serious tumors, making it difficult to decide on treatment.

Men over 50 are eligible for a ‘PSA’ blood test, which gives doctors a rough idea of ​​a patient’s risk.

But it is unreliable. Patients who receive a positive result usually receive a biopsy, which is also not foolproof.

Scientists aren’t sure what causes prostate cancer, but age, obesity and lack of exercise are known risks.

Anyone with concerns can speak to the specialist nurses at Prostate Cancer UK on 0800 074 8383 or visit prostatecancer.org

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