Johnnie Walker terminally ill

I listened to the podcast yesterday. I am a huge fan of JW - a brilliant dj with a passion for music, and he has a really lovely personality. I thought he’d been sounding unwell for some months, and now we know more about his ill health. I think he said he’s been housebound since the new year, which gives an idea of how ill he is. Very sad.

I like JW so was sad to hear this recent news. I guess it depends on how far his illness has already progressed but I know someone with IPF who has had it for more than ten years. It didn’t really impact her much, even when she caught Covid, until the recent twelve months or so. She’s now on meds to try and stall it for longer although the side effects are difficult. Hopefully JW will have many more years ahead of him in spite of this nasty diagnosis.

Johnny Walker has been a favourite of mine on the radio. Like John Peel, he is and always will be a radio legend. I remember the shock when he first announced that he was taking time off to receive treatment for cancer. I do hope he has all the support and love that he needs.

For those of us in our teens in the 60s

Johnny Walker
11pm on Radio Caroline
Percy Sledge
When a man loves a woman
Johnny was The Man then. And his mum ran his fan club. Happy memories

I apologise Siope I did not mean to diminish the severity of IPF but I do know that my friend and next door neighbour was diagnosed more than 6 years ago as DH was still alive then and he died 6 1/2 years ago also of an incurable illness - consequently “terminal”.
I think ascribing expected life expectancy is a dangerous practice- averages will include those who live longer and those who sadly have a shorter lifespan after diagnosis which is why when patients ask a Dr “How long have I got?” there is no absolute answer.

I have always loved Johnny Walker on the radio, from his early show on radio one onwards. That's very sad news

Thank you charley68. As a person closely affected by IPF, I was a little dismayed at an earlier poster’s apparent dismissiveness of the seriousness, day-to-day misery, and generally lousy prognosis of the disease.

Ms Walker has also written about the grinding drudgery and remorseless, often unsupported, stress of being a carer:

www.greatbritishlife.co.uk/magazines/dorset/24373316.tiggy-walker-caring-husband-dj-johnnie-walker/

Just can't imagine radio without Johnny, I have listened to him it seems all my life, the radio goes on before the kettle here, I hope he stays with us as long as possible.

A friend of mine died with pulmonary fibrosis it is an awful disease. My thoughts are with anyone who has this

I was sad to hear their interview on Jeremy Vine. I loved his lunchtime show on Radio One in the mid seventies. Do you remember his quiz, Pop the Question? It had a catchy jingle.
I hope that Johnny and Tiggy have good support for the difficult days to come.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a terrible disease/illness. It is a terminal illness, they average length of life from diagnosis to death is between 2 - 5 years. The lung tissue gradually becomes stiffer and thicker, meaning that there is great difficulty in oxygen passing through to the blood from the lungs. Oxygen is a necessity, but eventually even that is not enough. The slightest exertion causes extreme breathlessness, and that can be just standing up, taking one or two steps, or just sitting on the toilet. It is a terrible thing, and trying to keep calm and keep the panic at bay is a full time job..

I worked with a respiratory team for many years, and looked after many people with IPF.
There are some different types of pulmonary fibrosis, and some more treatable than others, but IPF is the worst type.

My brother in law was diagnosed with it at 60 yrs, and died 2 years later. There is no treatment, some drugs will help for a short time, and lung transplant is the optimal, but that wait can be terrible and futile. Palliative care with a skilled team is necessary.

Very sad, loved his shows.

Sad news.

Pulmonary Fibrosis is what my neighbour whose funeral I was at last week had.
She’d had it for considerably longer than the five years mentioned in the report about Johnnie Walker.
Let’s face it, many illnesses are terminal - not just cancer., and many people live with them, under treatment , for many years.

He’s been poorly for a very long time, and she had cancer too. It’s terribly sad. I heard her being interviewed on Radio two on Vine Show the other day, she was very open and honest and seems lovely

He and Tiggy are very sanguine about it but he's not expecting to last much longer

Oh no 😢