Labor MP Wes Streeting admits he has ‘survivor’s guilt’

Wes Streeting opened up about the “survivor’s guilt” he feels over his battle with kidney cancer while discussing his experience on the anniversary of the death of Dame Deborah James.

Speaking about Lorraine, the Labor MP opened up about undergoing treatment during the pandemic and watching incredible people, including Margaret McDonagh, die from the disease.

The 40-year-old politician, who was declared cancer-free in 2021, admitted to stories about the disease ‘hit differently now’.

Reflecting on the loss of Dame Deborah, known as Bowel Babe, who died at the age of 40 in June 2022, five years after being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, Wes said he struggles to deal with the feelings that arise.

“In particular stories like Deborah’s, where she had an unhappy ending,” he said.

“I think I have, to some degree, a degree of survivor’s guilt because you’re like, ‘Well, why was I okay and she wasn’t?

“And a dear friend of mine, Margaret McDonagh, the first woman to be General Secretary of the Labor Party, died of brain cancer the other day and it hit me very hard because she is a friend and one of my political heroes.

‘And you think, why are there 3,500 people like Margaret every year who are diagnosed with this brain cancer and there is no hope of a cure? It is a death sentence.

Wes emphasized that he “really felt lucky with his diagnosis.”

The Ilford North MP was admitted to hospital in March 2021 with pain from a kidney stone, before a scan revealed a malignant tumor in the same kidney.

Two months later, the then 38-year-old was admitted to a hospital in London for a one-day biopsy, followed by three days of cancer treatment.

He was alone at all times due to the harsh restrictions of the pandemic.

“I might have been 38 years old. It might have been really weird and unusual, but I knew I wasn’t going to die,” he told Lorraine Kelly today.

Reflecting on the loss of Dame Deborah (pictured), known as Bowel Babe, who died at the age of 40 in June 2022, five years after being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, Wes said he is struggling to cope with the feelings that arise.

The Ilford North MP was admitted to hospital in March 2021 with pain from a kidney stone, before a scan revealed a malignancy in the same child. Pictured Lorraine today

“I had one of the best kidney cancer surgeons in the world through the NHS, the only thing I didn’t have to worry about was the bill.”

Wes added that he had “amazing nurses looking after him.”

“The pandemic made it difficult because I remember going to the… hospital where the surgery was performed. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so alone in my life…

‘Leaving Joe, my partner and my father…

‘But what do I have to complain about? I’m here, I’m healthy, I don’t have cancer and I came back running even faster and working even harder because I have this zest for life.’

The MP has a new book about his life and upbringing, called One Boy, Two Bills and a Fry Up, due out.

The Ilford North MP was admitted to hospital in March 2021 with pain from a kidney stone, before a scan revealed a malignant tumor in the same kidney.

Two months later, the then 38-year-old was admitted to a hospital in London for a one-day biopsy, followed by three days of cancer treatment.

Margaret McDonagh (pictured), who was the first General Secretary of the Labor Party, has died aged 61.

In it, he talks about his childhood and his working-class past.

Last week, the Shadow Health Secretary was among the many mourning the loss of Margaret McDonagh, who was the first General Secretary of the Labor Party, died at the age of 61.

“For the rest of my life I will be blessed to have known Margaret McDonagh,” he tweeted.

‘The first female General Secretary of the Labor Party and the best of the best. Totally integral to Labor’s 1997 victory and what it delivered. Sending lots of love to Siobhain and everyone who knew and loves this icon.’

Her death comes earlier this year, her sister Siobhain McDonagh, a Labor MP for Mitcham and Morden, gave a speech in the House of Commons in which she accused the NHS of ‘abandoning’ her sister while she was being treated for brain cancer. .

She fought back tears as she criticized the lack of progress in brain cancer treatment since 2005 on the NHS, explaining that her sister was undergoing treatment that involved a monthly four-day trip to Dusseldorf, Germany.

She said Baroness McDonagh had the tumor removed during surgery at the Royal National Neurological Hospital just before Christmas, but only after the NHS canceled the operation three times before.

Baroness McDonagh was described as an “unstoppable force of nature” and a “tireless champion of women” as a tribute was paid to her today.

Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer hailed her “absolutely essential” role as electoral coordinator in the party’s 1997 general election victory.