George Carman admits three year cancer battle

A long-running battle with against prostate cancer was the reason distinguished barrister George Carman QC chose to retire, he revealed today.

A long-running battle with against prostate cancer was the reason distinguished barrister George Carman QC chose to retire, he revealed today.

The 70-year-old, a feared libel lawyer, announced his decision to end his career earlier this week, saying he needed to receive treatment for a "little local difficulty".

The QC did not expand on that description at the time of his announcement, prompting speculation the decision was connected to his smoking.

But today on BBC 1's Breakfast with Frost, he said: "On reflection, I feel it important to say, to dispel rumour, and for other reasons, that in fact I have suffered from prostate cancer for over three years.

"I mention that now publicly for these reasons. First I don't want speculation and rumour to continue, and so people know exactly what my little problem is.

"But much more importantly, I want to send out a message to people who do suffer from cancer, to tell them that you can work, you can help the doctors enormously by having a positive attitude, and anybody who has the misfortune to get the disease it is not at the end of the road.

"I would also like to mention the fact that having looked somewhat at the Government figures for cancer research in this country, we are way behind the major European countries and the United States, and I think it is time that problem was addressed by all the political parties."

Mr Carman said that during his fight against the disease he had combined work and treatment in the same day: "I actually had medical treatment sometimes before I went to court. Half past eight in the hospital, 9.45 at the Royal Courts of Justice."