Tommie Gorman: “I’ve beaten the rap in many respects. It’s amazing to still be alive”

"It's the thing we all run away from, the fact that none of us gets out of here alive."

This week on Ireland Unfiltered, Dion was joined by Irish journalist and broadcaster, Tommie Gorman. The pair discussed the loss of Martin McGuinness, the collapse of power in Britain, and how Tommie found freedom in living with cancer. Cancer is something that has affected many people in Ireland and Tommie himself was diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumours in 1994. He explains: "I was diagnosed in 1994... I got myself to Sweden and I was able to use journalism to sort of help me on that journey. I was able to make a programme about it which I found very interesting to explain how you access healthcare and you know, you didn't feel you were going for surgery, you felt you were going to do a job. "I've been lucky as a black cat since. My disease is called neuroendocrine tumours. So they're hormone-producing tumours." Despite the intensity and severity of his treatment, Tommie's diagnosis left him with a new lease of life. His illness became a driving force for gratitude and a positive outlook.

"I find it, probably, the most liberating force or factor. Because, it's the thing we all run away from, the fact that none of us gets out of here alive, the fact that we're all going to die. And I've beaten the rap in many respects. It's amazing to be still alive."

Tommie explains that life after his diagnosis is bonus time to him. He says: "I've been like value-added, an occasional presence in many ways deliberately because there was a right good chance that I wouldn't be around forever. "But to have got to this stage, this is bonus time, absolute bonus time and if I walked out the door here in Fumbally Lane and a bus ran over me, I'd shake hands and say 'good innings'. I'd be delighted, you know, that I was given so long." You can check out the full episode below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPRKX-yXzJg Ireland Unfiltered, brought to you in partnership with Carlsberg Unfiltered, will be available everywhere you get your podcasts and on YouTube every Tuesday.