Fiona Phillips' husband's devastating cancer confession amid Alzheimer's battle
Fiona Phillips was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2023 and now her husband has made a heartbreaking confession as they deal with the condition. Martin Frizzell, 65, has admitted he wishes the former GMTV star, 64, had "cancer instead".
Martin, who has been married to Fiona for 28 years opened up in the couple's joint memoir titled Remember When: My Life with Alzheimer's. The release comes after Fiona has continued to be open about her condition following her diagnosis two years ago.
And now, in an excerpt from the book, Martin's devastating confession was laid bare. "It's a shocking thing to say, but at least then she might have had a chance of a cure, and certainly would have had a treatment pathway and an array of support and care packages," he said when speaking of his wish she had been diagnosed with cancer instead.
The excerpt, which was shared in the Mail, continued: "But that's not there for Alzheimer's. Just like there are no funny or inspiring TikTok videos or fashion shoots with smiling, healthy, in-remission survivors."
Martin added that it felt as though the pair had been "left to cope alone" post diagnosis. He admits that since the diagnosis, he has took on tasks which he had once taken for granted. The pair have also hired a trained carer to help provide the best attention for the former TV star. Martin also stepped down from his ITV position in February to take care of Fiona.
Martin explained how on bad days Fiona experiences moments of confusion which sees her demanding to see her parents who have sadly passed away. And Fiona also shared how she much she was struggling to accept the diagnosis in the beginning.
In her own words, she said the challenges she faces are like "trying to chase a £5 note that's fallen out of your purse on a gusty day". She candidly said that it felt as though every time she had caught it, it blew out of reach once more.
Speaking of why the couple decided to write the book, Fiona added: "Gradually, Martin and I thought maybe I should start telling more people. Martin felt that if more people knew what was happening to me then they wouldn't judge me if I did ever start behaving unusually – not that I thought I did. It was hardly like I was going down the street half-clothed, yelling at people."
According to the NHS, Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia in the UK. Dementia is the name for a group of symptoms associated with an ongoing decline of brain functioning and it can affect memory, thinking skills and other mental abilities.
Fiona had initially thought she was having menopause symptoms when she first started experiencing "brain fog and anxiety".
Sadly, the star already had first hand experience of Alzheimer's having cared for her parents after both of them were also diagnosed with the condition.
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