Rhod Gilbert shares update on cancer treatment – and his fundraising goal
Rhod Gilbert has shared an update on his treatment for cancer, revealing his fundraising goal in the process.
The comedian, who has appeared on Never Mind the Buzzcocks and Taskmaster, revealed in July last year that he was undergoing treatment for stage four cancer, and has provided an update on his condition.
Speaking in the Stand Up to Cancer segment at last night’s (February 17) National Comedy Awards, Rhod detailed his road to recovery with Velindre, a cancer centre in his native Wales with whom he serves as an ambassadorial role.
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“[Velindre] has been a big part of my life for the last 10 years, so imagine my surprise when I was diagnosed with cancer. It pissed me off no end, because I thought I’d have lifelong immunity,” he quipped.
“I had to have chemotherapy sessions in a room with pictures of myself on the way in, grinning down at myself [...] My care has been faultless. My facial hair is coming back, my voice is back to normal. My weight and saliva glands are starting to come back,” he continued.
“My physical recovery goal is to lead the next fundraising trip to Morocco, to the highest point in North Africa in the Atlas Mountains. That's my goal. I’m a little way off that at the moment, but I am feeling optimistic and weirdly I'm feeling really happy and really positive – some would say there’s a first time for everything.”
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Rhod’s previous update came in December, as he revealed he first noticed lumps on his neck during a fundraiser in Cuba: “I had a terribly sore throat, tightness through my neck. I was having to cancel shows because I couldn’t breathe. I was having all sorts of problems and we couldn't get to the bottom of it.
“I also caught COVID on that walk as well,” he added. “I came home with cancer and COVID from a Velindre fundraising trek… the irony of that! I went as a Velindre patron and came home as a patient.”
If you would like more information or support about living with cancer or treatment, please click here for guidance from MacMillan Cancer Support, or click here to learn more from Stand Up to Cancer and Velindre.
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