Remembering George Alagiah: Bowel cancer and lessons in attitude of a BBC Broadcasting stalwart.
- Ben Stride
- Jul 25, 2023
- 4 min read
Dr Ben Stride
TL;DR: George Alagiah, a beloved BBC icon, passed away, leaving many feeling a sense of sadness. Reflecting on his life and legacy, we can learn valuable lessons from his journey. One lesson is to be proactive about our health, particularly regarding bowel cancer, which has seen a rise in younger populations. Regular check-ups and addressing any unusual symptoms can lead to early detection and better outcomes. Another lesson is adopting a positive attitude and practicing gratitude even in challenging times. This mindset can have a significant impact on our mental well-being and overall health. Taking the time to reflect on the lives of remarkable individuals can leave a lasting legacy and inspire positive change in our own lives.
Remembering George Alagiah
Yesterday, an icon in the BBC news room sadly passed away. His name was George Alagiah. A man I have seen on the tv screen most weeks for the last 20 years of my life. I never met him, but seeing the news that he had passed did fill me great sadness. Humans tend to reject change, and as time moves on, we notice when things are changing and tend to reject the idea of it. We have a tendency to want to hold onto the past and whether we mean to or not end up looking backwards rather than forwards. Ultimately, although people on the tv are not family, we see them so frequently that they become a constant in our lives, and often notice the disappearance of these people from our lives far more than even some of our distant relatives.
George Alagiah seemed like a good man and hearing the tributes come in about him seem to support that stance. He sounds like a man who was extremely competent in his field, and was a team player, helping out many of the younger reporters who were grieving his death. I’m a big believer in honouring people who do great things by analysing their contribution to society or any example they might set. Whether you have met them or not, it is important to learn lesson as and when you can. I think that generally speaking. This reflection helps us to grow, and seek wisdom from those that came before you.
Lessons in bowel cancer
As I understand it, George Alagiah was diagnosed with bowel cancer and was very open and honest about his diagnosis and prognosis. He Died at 67 years old, which is far earlier than he ever really should have. Bowel cancer is something I am well aware of, having had multiple family members diagnosed in the past. It is indeed one of the deadliest cancers to humans and as such has a robust screening program in order to try and spot it before it becomes advanced. Evidence suggests that bowel cancer is on the rise in younger populations - the reason for this is as yet only speculation. The lesson here is to be proactive. Blood tests can indicate anaemia so should be considered at regular intervals. We should be mindful that if there is any blood in the stool or strange changes in bowel habits, that we should review these changes with a general practitioner. As a GP, we are desperate to improve our pick up rates of bowel cancer, and new testing procedures are so readily available and highly effective, that the challenge is more about getting people through the door, than it is finding the diagnosis. To that end, I hope that anyone reading this will consider this for themselves and their loved ones. Challenge these symptoms and seek a medical appointment. It has never been easier to investigate. The earlier the better.
Lessons in attitude
Reports about George’s death over the last 2 days have been enlightening about his frame of mind. Although he had been diagnosed with bowel cancer, friends and relatives report that he was filled with gratitude for simply being here in the first place. He felt the gift of life was something to give thanks for. Sometimes this is a difficult approach to take when everything is going against you. Some may find it easier than others depending on your lot in life. However it’s interesting to reflect on this, as although we all have our dark days, dwelling on the negatives will only breed more negativity. It allows for external influences to have power over us, something that we could reject by instead looking internally and gaining control ourselves. Even at a time of a terrible diagnosis and woeful prognosis, George reportedly kept a positive mental attitude, gave thanks for his existence and remained present. I continue to challenge myself to give thanks for my lot and practice gratitude. This attitude can be infectious, make others want to be around you, and ultimately leads to increased feelings of calm. The more we practice gratitude and calm, the more our health will benefit from the naturally occurring mechanisms within the brain, decreased stress responses and issues with mood. No matter what happens in life, we can find ourselves wanting more, or comparing ourselves with others, or at least the external facade that others portray. Instead, don’t allow this behaviour to have power over your own mental health, attitudes and behaviours.
I am sure there are far more notable examples, however these are the two main aspects that I wanted to reflect on. Thinking deeply and truly reflecting, allows us to find examples that we can apply to our own life, and it also allows us to consider the fragility and temporal nature of life. In the past I bet we have all seen the report of someone passing away who has long been in the public domain having achieved great things, but I challenge you, instead of just reading it and moving on, reflect, even for a few moments, to honour that person by listening to their story, and seeing if there are any lessons that can be learnt from their example. This is how any great person’s death can leave a more lasting legacy.
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