Jake Quickenden has spoken openly about his health anxiety and fear of being diagnosed with cancer after losing his father and brother to the disease within a few years.
In an interview with Web, the 34-year-old singer admitted that with every “lump and bump” he finds on his body, he feels like the disease has “got him”.
Jake’s father Paul, who separated from Jake’s mother Lisa before his diagnosis, died of bone cancer 13 years ago.
Two years later, his youngest brother Oliver injured his knee playing football and tests revealed he had a different type of bone cancer called osteosarcoma.
EXCLUSIVE: Jake Quickenden has spoken openly about his health scares and fears of being diagnosed with cancer after losing his father and brother to the disease
Sadly, Oliver then passed away at the age of 19, just a few years after the tragic death of his father Paul.
In an exclusive interview with Web, Jake detailed his ongoing struggle with anxiety and grief.
He said: “I’ve always suffered from anxiety but never really knew what it was. When I lost my father over 10 years ago and my little brother almost 10 years ago, it all started to make sense of why I felt this way.
“I started worrying about things and thinking too much. I worried about my own health like I lost two people to cancer and my mother has skin cancer then every kind of lumps and bumps I think that got me. I’m pretty open about health anxiety.’
Tragically, Jake’s father Paul, who separated from Jake’s mother Lisa before his diagnosis, died of bone cancer 13 years ago
Jake announced that he recently overcame his fear and underwent a full body check, and now he wants everyone to check more.
He said: “I had a full body check not long ago but I’m still having trouble signing in to the doctors. I guess I’d rather not know, but it’s important to do it and put your mind at ease. Fitness is also a big part of my life to be fit for my kids for as long as possible.”
The I’m A Celebrity star recently had his testicles checked live on Loose Men to raise awareness about cancer.
ITV viewers took to social media to praise Jake for raising awareness and being “brave” enough to do it live on TV.
Brave: The I’m A Celebrity star recently had his testicles checked live on Loose Men to raise awareness about cancer
Jake, who works as a grief messenger, went on to explain how grief still affects him on a daily basis: “I don’t think you ever learn to live with it, you just have to accept that it happened and move on and live your life in to the full, because you never know what’s coming around the corner.
The Dancing On Ice winner shares son Leo with wife Sophie. She is also mother to son Freddie from a previous relationship.
He continued: “For me I wasn’t really happy until I had Leo, then everything fell into place for me, I have this little man who is counting on me now and I want to be a good role model and my stepson. I’m still struggling with grief, it hits me in various places because I don’t think you’ll ever get over it.
Heartbreaking: His brother Oliver was diagnosed with osteosarcoma – the most common form of bone cancer – in 2010 when he was just 16 and died two years later
Jake is currently enjoying a holiday in Dubai with his family and admitted that even when he appears happy on social media, he still has his bad days.
He explained: “Yesterday we went for a walk and Soph asked if I was okay and I just replied, ‘No I’m not, I’m feeling anxious today and I don’t know why.’
“I think it’s because someone gave me a shit on Instagram and it makes you question yourself, but the worst thing you can do is question yourself.
Family: Jake is currently enjoying a holiday in Dubai with his family and admitted that even when he appears happy on social media, he still has his bad days (pictured with wife Sophie, their son Leo and Jake’s stepson Freddie)
Jake has previously blasted vicious trolls who claimed his baby son Leo needed ‘botox’ and was ‘ugly’.
Speaking about how he deals with negative comments online, Jake said: “I think now I’ve tried to ignore her more, a year ago the feisty Jake in me would have wanted to disagree but at the end of the day it is that you want. You have made up your mind, you will not change it.
“I feel sorry for those people when they sit at home and fool people they’ve never met.”
Speaking about grief, Jake continued, “For me, I wasn’t really happy until I had Leo, then everything fell into place for me, I have this little man who is counting on me now and I want to be a good role model and my stepson.’