Coping with an Emotional Cancer Journey
- After a years-long metastatic lung cancer battle, reality TV star Jonnie Irwin passed away. His family, friends, and an army of supporters are deeply impacted by his emotional passing. Amid the grief, many are choosing to reflect on the positive memories he leaves behind.
- Irwin would privately go into hospice when he would experience occasional pains and symptoms related to his diagnosis. Hospice focuses solely on comforting the patient for the duration of their lives rather than a cure for the illness.
- Not to be confused with hospice care, which does not aim to cure, palliative care is a type of care that’s meant to address the symptoms and side effects that your cancer or its treatment brings. These symptoms may include psychological experiences like stress and fear, physical experiences like pain and discomfort, and financial assistance.
- Lung cancer is the second most common form of cancer and the leading cause of cancer deaths in both men and women in the U.S. It often doesn’t cause symptoms until it has already spread outside the lungs, making it harder to catch in its early stages.
- Treating lung cancer depends on the cancer’s location and how advanced it is. Treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, or a combination of any of these treatments.
“Escape to the Country” star Jonnie Irwin captured the hearts of millions of people over the years, tuning into his house-hunting reality show. However, he grew into a more beloved star in recent years as he brought fans along on his journey through metastatic lung cancer. The choices he made and the things he got to experience are all inspiring. In the wake of his emotional passing, words of encouragement for his wife and children continue to rain down on his loved ones.
Irwin always put his family first, and that guided how he went about his cancer journey. His three young sons were most notably top of mind.
Read MoreView this post on Instagram
“It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of Jonnie’s passing. A true soul, he fought bravely against cancer with unwavering strength and courage. Jonnie touched the lives of so many with his kindness, warmth, and infectious spirit,” his Instagram page said.
While it’s unclear who penned the touching tribute in Irwin’s honor, the accompanying photo shows Jonnie and his wife on a motorcycle.
“As we remember the beautiful moments shared with Jonnie, let us celebrate a life well-lived and a legacy that will forever be etched in our hearts. Jonnie may be gone from out of sight, but his love, laughter, and memories will live on,” the post continued.
Irwin was diagnosed with lung cancer in August 2020, and months later, that November, he learned the cancer had metastasized (spread) to his brain. He admitted he did not want to tell his three young toddler-aged sons at the time.
“I had to go home and tell my wife, who was looking after our babies, that she was on her own pretty much. That was devastating,” Irwin previously told Hello Magazine.
“It would be horrible news that they’d have to get their heads around. And it would confuse the hell out of Rex (the eldest). He’s got a shocking enough day coming. Let’s bury our heads in the sand for as long as possible,” Irwin said.
Rather than letting the weight of his cancer diagnosis weigh him down, Irwin chose to have a positive outlook on life.
“I don’t know how long I have left, but I try to stay positive, and my attitude is that I’m living with cancer, not dying from it,” Irwin said.
“I want to make plans. I want to make memories and capture these moments with my family because the reality is, my boys are going to grow up not knowing their dad, and that breaks my heart,” Irwin continued.
Helping Families Through Grief and Cancer
How His Diagnosis Impacted His Ability to Work
Irwin’s roles in “Escape to the Country” and “A Place in the Sun” were paused and ended after the television network learned of his diagnosis. Irwin claimed he “wanted to work,” but his employer at the network felt differently.
“When I said, ‘I can get you doctor notes and assurances from my oncologist that I am fit to work,’ I was told, verbatim, ‘Oh, you really don’t want to go down that route, do you?’,” Irwin said.
Irwin told news outlet The Sun he was paid for the rest of the season, but his contract wasn’t renewed.
Irwin’s employer, Channel 4 and Freeform Productions in the U.K. said previously in a statement, “Jonnie has been a hugely important part of the ‘A Place in the Sun’ family for over 18 years, and all of us were deeply saddened by his diagnosis,” as reported by multiple news outlets including the Irish Post.
Focused on His Family
As Irwin redirected his attention to his family, he focused on his health and making positive memories with his children. Throughout last year, Irwin shared many adorable photos and videos of playing with his children and wife, including walks to school, snow sledding, and spending time in a pumpkin patch.
Everything was not always rosy, however, as Irwin would still experience pains and symptoms related to his diagnosis. Last summer, Irwin revealed he would go into hospice care periodically when he’s not feeling well. He added going into hospice to receive comfort care helped mask his diagnosis from his children.
Hospice focuses solely on comforting the patient rather than a cure for the illness. Families facing the challenging and emotional decision surrounding hospice care are encouraged to talk to their care team early enough before pursuing hospice care to take advantage of all its comforts.
During palliative care, the patient is provided specialized medical care to manage symptoms associated with their medical condition. This form of care may also offer treatment “intended to cure” the illness as opposed to hospice care, which does not.
WATCH: Palliative care improves your overall treatment by focusing on comfort.
An Early Birthday Present
Irwin’s birthday was in November. However, because of his diagnosis, he was uncertain he would make it that far last year. As a result of his concerns, he and his family celebrated his birthday in early 2023. Luckily for his family, Irwin was still doing well last November, making his 50th birthday in Spain with his family more memorable.
“I had an early birthday party at the start of the year because I didn’t think I’d make it. It was like being in my own wake: lots of fun and dancing. But here I am. I view it as a complete triumph,” Irwin previously told Hello Magazine during an interview.
Irwin’s Lung Cancer
Irwin’s first symptom occurred during a filming trip when his vision became blurry while driving. After he returned home and went to his doctor, he was told he had metastatic lung cancer that had spread to his brain.
RELATED: In diagnosing lung cancer, the symptoms often come late.
We should note that we do not know the exact type of lung cancer Irwin had. However, there are two main types of lung cancer, which doctors group together based on how they act and how they’re treated:
- Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type and makes up about 85% of cases.
- Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is less common, but it tends to grow faster than NSCLC and is treated very differently.
“Lung cancer kills more patients than prostate, colon, breast, and pancreas combined. And the reason is it’s completely asymptomatic. It causes no issues until it has spread somewhere,” thoracic surgeon Dr. Joseph Friedberg tells SurvivorNet.
A chest X-ray that shows something unusual can be the beginning of a lung cancer diagnosis once doctors further examine the anomaly.
WATCH: Diagnosing lung cancer.
Irwin underwent chemotherapy and other cancer treatments to help prolong his life. Still, despite the odds, he focused on the positive. He made many positive memories for his family, notably with his wife, Jessica, and their three boys.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.