'I left it too late': Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels

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Jake Abraham has passed away aged 56.

The Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels star has died just months after sharing his regrets about not receiving a cancer diagnosis sooner.

The Liverpool native opened up about his condition in July and confessed he had ‘left it too late’ to go to the doctors after feeling unwell for a while.

The actor was diagnosed with prostate cancer, which later spread to the rest of his body and created tumours on his spine, hips and bladder.

As news of Jake’s passing broke online, friends and fans flooded X, formerly Twitter, with messages of condolence.

News: Jake Abraham (pictured) has passed away aged 56

Career: As well as his best known performance in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (pictured) he also appeared in Prisoners Wives, Holby City, The Bill and Red Dwarf

Actress Tina Malone, who described Jake as her theatre husband, said: ‘I am heartbroken my screen and theatre husband, my mate of 50 years has passed.

‘Talented, funny, kind, a true Liverpool legend RIP my darling.’

Meanwhile, radio personality Pete Price, said: ‘Another wonderful, kind, talented friend has passed away. Jake is going to be so missed. I always loved his performances.’

Another social media account, wrote: ‘Such sad news today. Jake Abraham, one of th city’s best-loved actors, has died aged 56.

One other, said: ‘Liverpool has lost a great talent and a great man in Jake Abraham. thoughts and prayers are with his family.’

A different person, said: ‘God bless you, Jake. Always a little diamond. Very sad news. Glad to have shared a few boss memories with you over the years. Goodnight, RIP mate.’

Jake, who most recently appeared on stage in the pantomime The Scouse Jack and the Beanstalk, said he finally went to his GP after a long period of illness.

He told Liverpool ECHO: ‘I was working but I wasn’t feeling well. I was pushing through those spells when you don’t feel yourself, you haven’t got the energy and there are aches and pains.

Reaction: As news of Jake’s passing broke online, friends and fans flooded X, formerly Twitter, with messages of condolence

‘The costume for the play was enormous, I knew I wasn’t well then but I’d not been well for so long.

‘What made me go to the doctor and get a PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test was that I passed blood in my urine.

‘I got a test and ended up in the Royal. He said ‘you’ve got cancer, I’m so, so sorry’. He said that I’d had it for years, maybe four years.’

Jake initially received radiotherapy treatment, however after a while they changed his treatment plan to palliative care.

The star said he was told at the time that he could have between months or years left to live.

His late diagnosis meant he was keen encourage others to get themselves checked out if they are feeling ill.

As well as his best known performance in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels he also appeared in Prisoners Wives, Holby City, The Bill and Red Dwarf.

WHAT IS PROSTATE CANCER?

How many people does it kill?

More than 11,800 men a year – or one every 45 minutes – are killed by the disease in Britain, compared with about 11,400 women dying of breast cancer.

It means prostate cancer is behind only lung and bowel in terms of how many people it kills in Britain.

In the US, the disease kills 26,000 men each year.

Despite this, it receives less than half the research funding of breast cancer and treatments for the disease are trailing at least a decade behind.

How many men are diagnosed annually?

Every year, upwards of 52,300 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in the UK – more than 140 every day.

How quickly does it develop?

Prostate cancer usually develops slowly, so there may be no signs someone has it for many years, according to the NHS.

If the cancer is at an early stage and not causing symptoms, a policy of ‘watchful waiting’ or ‘active surveillance’ may be adopted.

Some patients can be cured if the disease is treated in the early stages.

But if it is diagnosed at a later stage, when it has spread, then it becomes terminal and treatment revolves around relieving symptoms.

Thousands of men are put off seeking a diagnosis because of the known side effects from treatment, including erectile dysfunction.

Tests and treatment

Tests for prostate cancer are haphazard, with accurate tools only just beginning to emerge.

There is no national prostate screening programme as for years the tests have been too inaccurate.

Doctors struggle to distinguish between aggressive and less serious tumours, making it hard to decide on treatment.

Men over 50 are eligible for a ‘PSA’ blood test which gives doctors a rough idea of whether a patient is at risk.

But it is unreliable. Patients who get a positive result are usually given a biopsy which is also not fool-proof.

Scientists are unsure as to what causes prostate cancer, but age, obesity and a lack of exercise are known risks.

Anyone with any concerns can speak to Prostate Cancer UK’s specialist nurses on 0800 074 8383 or visit prostatecanceruk.org

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