The 73-year-old TalkTV host, who has stage four kidney cancer that has spread to his spine, brain, and lungs, said bluntly: “I’ll be exceptionally lucky to make it to Christmas.” In an emotional moment on his show, he admitted to wearing makeup on air to mask the toll the illness has taken on him, and acknowledged that things had become “very, very difficult.”

“I look alright, but it’s all makeup,” he confessed, adding that his strength was fading fast. Despite his humor and resilience, James said he is nearing the end of his broadcasting journey — and possibly his life. “I’m hoping to go on for a few more weeks or months,” he told viewers, “but as soon as I can’t do the show anymore, I won’t.”

James first battled kidney cancer in 2000 and had one kidney removed. After years of remission, he heartbreakingly revealed in 2020 that the cancer had returned and was now incurable. After exhausting all treatments, James made the decision to stop further interventions and focus on spending quality time with loved ones.