Jeffrey Archer made emotional cancer plea days before his 'sudden' death

One of Britain’s most famous authors, Lord Jeffrey Archer, shared an impassioned update on his cancer battle just days before his death.

Just a week before, he appeared on BBC Breakfast to discuss his health, having been diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2013.

He made the comments while chatting to BBC host Jon Kay about his final book Adam And Eve, which will be released in October to coincide with the 50th anniversary of his career as a novelist.

Kay said: "You've spoken very honestly about your experience with prostate cancer, the effect on you mentally and physically of the treatment you had and on our programme, on BBC Breakfast, we've heard from a lot of people who have been through this too. Including Sir Chris Hoy."

Jeffrey Archer discussed his cancer battle last week

BBC

Archer, who is a former MP, called the Team GB icon a “great man”, before touching on his own experience with cancer.

"I've been very aware of how lucky I am. I say to anybody listening - go to your doctor and check your PSA [Prostate Specific Antigen],” he urged.

“There are too many stupid men who say, 'Oh no, I'm a macho guy, I don't do that sort of thing, I won't be checking my PSA'. Check your PSA."

Archer was diagnosed with prostate cancer after a routine blood test revealed he had a slightly high PSA level.

When asked how he is doing at the moment, he said he is “fine” and demonstrated his good health by swiftly getting up from his chair and sitting back down again.

Telling Kay he is 86, he joked that the movement is one of his “big exercises of the day”.

Archer pictured with Dame Joan Collins in 2023

Getty

Kay chuckled at the quip, prompting Archer to joked: "Don't laugh, Jon, it'll come to you!"

The author had a biopsy after his PSA, which confirmed that he had cancer. He went on to have a four-hour operation to remove the whole prostate and the cancer.

Writing in The Mail on Sunday about his recovery, Archer recalled having to wear “large nappies” and feeling like he had “become a baby again”.

Elsewhere in his interview with Kay, he was asked what retirement will look like now that he has written his final novel.

Archer joked: "I shall not be retiring, you clearly haven't been listening to a word that's said to you, Jon!”

When Kay pointed out that he was “semi-retiring”, especially from writing, the author admitted: "I suppose it is. I hadn't thought of it that way. You've caught me, Jon. I'll be pathetic."

Kay then suggested that Adam And Eve won’t be the last novel he writes, to which Archer replied: "No, sir. But you can interview me when I do."

Archer with Margaret Thatcher

PA

The Second World War epic love story is still scheduled for release this month, according to his publisher Harper Collins.

Archer is survived by his wife, Dame Mary Archer, and their two sons. He and Mary had celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary this year.

Harper Collins said Archer had met and signed books for hundreds of fans at a sold-out event with broadcaster Gyles Brandreth at the Leicester Square Theatre in central London on Sunday.

Writing on X, Brandreth said: “Just yesterday I did a show with Jeffrey Archer to celebrate his new novel – he said it was to be his last.

“He was in the most wonderful, ebullient form and had such a great reception from a packed house. He was funny, engaging and self-deprecating – a great storyteller to the last.”

Archer was due to be at the Cheltenham Festival on Saturday to discuss Adam And Eve.