ABC Radio Sydney presenter James Valentine diagnosed with esophageal cancer

An ABC radio presenter has revealed he will be taking time off the air as he battles esophageal cancer.

James Valentine shared the devastating news on Thursday after undergoing treatment since early January.

Despite the diagnosis, Valentine, 63, assured his listeners he was “going to be fine”.

“I’ve found that it’s best to reveal the ending first. The end of the story is I’m going to be fine,” the presenter told the ABC of his experience.

“The beginning is I have cancer.”

Valentine presents Afternoons on ABC Radio Sydney and began his media career in the mid-1980s, hosting the cartoons for ABCTV on The Afternoon Show.

The radio host is also a talented musician and regularly plays at music festivals throughout Australia.

The father of two said he first realised something was wrong at a party in December.

“I’m starving, and I snuffle down massaman beef like a dog woofing up pal,” he said.

“A few minutes later, I’m choking and retching. My wife Joanna watches this and says ‘that's not good.’”

The host said he received a mild dose of chemotherapy and radiation once he found out he had a four centimetre tumour where his oesophagus meets his stomach.

“I got tired from the radiation, the chemo made me feel like my whole body had been sliced through with liquid aluminium foil but I could go to work, do the radio, and I even did a gig to two,” he said.

“Cancer is confronting and of course I’m equal parts hopeful and terrified. I hope I’ll be OK, but I also know that I won’t be the same.”

ABC Sydney said in an Instagram post: “The afternoons presenter will be away for some time as he has surgery to remove his oesophagus. We’ll miss him and wish him all the best for his recovery.”

Valentine hosted his last show for about three months on Thursday.