Rhod Gilbert issues heartbreaking admission after stage 4 cancer diagnosis

Comedian Rhod Gilbert has shared an emotional admission following his diagnosis of stage four head and neck cancer in 2022 as he took time away from his career

Rhod Gilbert has shared a devastating admission about his cancer diagnosis.

The comedian, 56, was diagnosed with cancer in 2022 and took a break from his TV career to rest. He had been diagnosed with stage four head and neck cancer after finding a lump in his neck and underwent treatment including chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Rhod is now in recovery.

He has since reflected on his cancer diagnosis, as he said: “When you hear those words 'you've got cancer' and they're giving you percentages about your survival, it's like, oh my God, it's a lot to take in. I really am much more aware these days with how lucky I am and how much I want to get out there and live life.”

Rhod made his TV comeback in early 2023 after receiving the all-clear and brought his positive attitude back to the stage with a new tour called Rhod Gilbert and The Giant Grapefruit. He previously revealed that he used comedy as a way to cope during his cancer journey, admitting that the disease is "a lot less scary if your oncologist is laughing with you."

The comedian underwent treatment at Cardiff's Velindre Cancer Centre, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and two surgeries, the second of which removed gallstones and forced him to postpone seven tour dates in January. Earlier this year, Rhod appeared on The One Show where he revealed that he's "still all clear".

When asked how he was doing, Rhod said: "Still all clear," before laughing. "Still under the care of the Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff, still having checks every few weeks but, at the moment, all clear. I mean, I feel wonderful. I have a few issues that I may or may not have for the rest of my life. Who knows, who cares! I'm here, I'm good and every night, I'm sort of on-stage pinching myself that I’m doing this, performing now two years after being diagnosed."

Rhod said the name of his 2024 tour - Rhod Gilbert and The Giant Grapefruit - was partly a nod to James and the Giant Peach and partly a nod 'to the giant tumour that was in his neck'. He said it was partly about how 'when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade.'

He said: "But this is what to do when life starts throwing grapefruits at you which is worse in my opinion. But, it's a happy show, it's an uplifting show. People come out uplifted, full of beans. It's probably the happiest show I've ever done, weirdly. It's a stand-up comedy show, I have tried to make it as funny as anything I have ever possibly done. But I am getting, I guess, a lot of cancer patients are coming along. Hands go up and they start coming out of the woodwork, and people start shouting they're different... we play cancer bingo some nights."

The Macmillan Support Line offers confidential support to people living with cancer and their loved ones. If you need to talk, call us on 0808 808 0000.

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