In a heartfelt and emotional video shared on social media, television personality Calum Best has disclosed that his mother, Angie Best, has been diagnosed with cancer. The 44-year-old son of football legend George Best explained that his 'wonderful' mother was diagnosed with colon cancer several weeks ago, and the disease has since spread to her liver.
An Emotional Appeal for Support
Speaking directly to the camera in a video posted to his Instagram, Calum described the diagnosis as an 'emotional rollercoaster' he never expected to face. He revealed he had been struggling to find the right words before deciding that honesty was the only path forward regarding his mother's health.
'A few weeks ago, my beautiful, wonderful mum was diagnosed with cancer,' Calum stated. He went on to explain that despite Angie living a life 'rooted in health, fitness, and wellbeing,' the disease had struck regardless. 'Cancer doesn't discriminate. It doesn't care where you're from, how you live, or how healthy you try to be.'
The former Big Brother contestant and chairman of Dorking Wanderers women's team has now set up a GoFundMe page to help the family financially during this challenging time. He expressed that while it was incredibly hard to admit, he could not shoulder the financial burden of specialist care alone.
The Need for Specialist Treatment
Calum emphasised that to move forward, his mother requires access to specific medical professionals and treatments. 'To move forward, we need access to specialist care and professionals who can offer the right treatment,' he said in his appeal.
In a personal message shared by Calum, Angie Best herself stressed her readiness to 'fight' the disease. She noted she had been researching various elements of her treatment, but that consultations and research 'all takes dosh which I don't have.' She added a sobering statistic, writing: 'research suggests 1 in 2 of us will get some form of cancer. Yikes.'
As of the latest update, the fundraising effort has garnered significant support, with over £13,000 raised towards a £35,000 target – approximately 39% of the goal.
Understanding Colon Cancer Symptoms
According to NHS guidelines, being aware of the symptoms of colon cancer is crucial for early detection. The main signs to watch for include:
- Persistent changes in bowel habits, such as softer stool, diarrhoea, or constipation.
- Needing to go to the toilet more or less often than usual.
- Blood in your stool, which may appear red or black.
- Bleeding from your bottom.
- A feeling of needing to poo even after just going to the toilet.
- Tummy pain, a lump in your tummy, or bloating.
- Unexplained weight loss.
- Persistent tiredness or shortness of breath, which can indicate anaemia linked to bowel cancer.
Calum concluded his video message with a heartfelt thanks to supporters: 'From the bottom of my heart, thank you for reading, for caring, for sharing and for supporting us in any way you can.'
Angie Best married football icon George Best in 1976 after a whirlwind romance that began in Los Angeles. The couple welcomed their only son, Calum, in 1981, before separating the following year due to George's well-documented struggles with alcohol and incidents of domestic violence.
For those affected by cancer, support is available from Macmillan Cancer Support on 0808 808 00 00 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm).
