Ex-PM Topolánek: pancreatic cancer has spread to his lungs

Former Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek has revealed that the pancreatic cancer he was diagnosed with in October 2025 has now metastasised to his lungs. The politician made the announcement on Wednesday in an interview with a Studio N presenter.

"In the spring, I thought everything was fine. But now I have metastases in my lungs. I'm waiting for a place in a research programme and going through chemotherapy. If nothing is done, I don't have long left, but with treatment I might hold on for another year," Topolánek admitted.

A foundation for early diagnosis

Since news of his diagnosis broke late last year, the former prime minister, who led the Czech government from 2006 to 2009, has spoken openly about his illness and become involved in raising awareness about the prevention and early detection of pancreatic cancer. He founded the charitable foundation Štěstí nestačí ("Luck Alone Isn't Enough").

According to Topolánek, only around 10% of pancreatic cancer patients survive, and even then only under fortunate circumstances. The problem, he believes, is that the Czech healthcare system lacks a proper mechanism for monitoring at-risk groups — and the window during which a tumour is detectable but still operable is extremely narrow.

The need for early diagnosis

"The system needs to be set up so that diagnosis and detection happen in time and treatment is actually possible — so that people don't die in nine cases out of ten," the politician stressed.

Topolánek noted that he is being treated at the Central Military Hospital in Prague, where, he said, doctors have been monitoring his health for 25 years and previously caught first an inflammation and then the tumour itself in time.

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz