James May has shared that his friend and fellow Grand Tour presenter Jeremy Clarkson has overcome a significant challenge in his battle with prostate cancer. Clarkson publicly disclosed his diagnosis of "aggressive" prostate cancer in June, stating it was detected in May of the previous year and caught early.
May, speaking recently, indicated that he spoke with Clarkson a couple of weeks prior and believes his friend is "over the hurdle." Clarkson secretly underwent high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) to target the tumor before announcing his diagnosis. He revealed his health crisis during the fifth season of his television show, Clarkson's Farm, explaining that the treatment required him to miss a substantial amount of filming.
Clarkson's health journey also included a prior scare with heart problems. He admitted to a renewed appreciation for life following these incidents. The cancer operation occurred during his farm's harvest. He described the cancer as aggressive and acknowledged the potential for it to have spread, which would have been more serious.
Following his experience, Clarkson has become an advocate for men to undergo prostate cancer screenings. He emphasized that the process is not uncomfortable or undignified and urged others to get checked, recounting that his own routine check-up revealed unusually high prostate-specific antigen levels, leading to further tests and a biopsy.
Clarkson's treatment involved HIFU, a procedure that targets the tumor without harming surrounding tissue and aims to avoid side effects like erectile dysfunction and incontinence. He has highlighted the importance of his early diagnosis in facilitating successful treatment. Despite the health challenges, Clarkson also confirmed that filming for the sixth season of Clarkson's Farm is underway, indicating a return to his television work.