David Bowie was famous for his womanising ways but his son Duncan Jones is much more of a traditional romantic.

Duncan, 41, has revealed that he married his girlfriend Rodene Ronquillo, 32, the day she was diagnosed with breast cancer last month.

"On November 4th, my beautiful fiancée @rodeneronquillo and I were frisking about in bed, as you do. I am a boob man and found ... a lump," Duncan, an award-winning film director, wrote on Twitter.

"It was a Sunday, so we had to wait to get an appointment to have the lump biopsied but by Wednesday, we had an answer. Cancer. Stage 2.

"We were a little overwhelmed by the news: cancer and presidential election day, so decided to make it a set, ran down to the courthouse and got married! So cancer, election, marriage. All on one day! Two days later, Ro was in surgery."

Rodene had the tumours removed surgically, and will start chemotherapy this week. In preparation, she and Duncan shaved their heads and posted a picture of their new looks on Twitter.

Duncan is hopeful Rodene's cancer was caught early enough for her to beat it, but says their story is a reminder that every woman, no matter how young she is, can be affected by the killer disease.

"I love my wife more than anyone. She's young as can be. Women are getting breast cancer younger and younger. Women? check yourselves! And men? Touch up your loved ones. You may save the life of the person you love."

Duncan is the son of David Bowie and his famous first wife Angie Barnett, a former model. He was named Zowie Bowie but changed his name at 18. He hasn't spoken to his mother since he was 13, but has a good relationship with his father.