Rhod Gilbert has shared an update on his health following his cancer diagnosis earlier this year.
The comedian said he is "hopeful" about the future, in a recent interview he opened up about his stage four cancer diagnosis, telling the BBC that he realised something was wrong when lumps were 'popping up in places they shouldn't'.
Rhod, 54, had to cancel a number of his live shows in spring this year. Speaking to BBC Radio Wales on Friday, December 9, he said: "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."
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His symptoms became even worse during a trip to Cuba in May, where he led a trek to raise funds for the Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff, the same centre he is now receiving treatment at, Wales Online reports. He said: "I noticed lumps started popping up in places they shouldn't be. It turns out I've got stage four cancer."
Rhod, who has now undergone chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery for his cancer, said he also caught covid during the trek, he said: "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."
The Welsh comedian said he is unsure whether his treatment has worked, but is feeling "happy, positive and optimistic". He told the BBC: "I'm feeling good and feel like I'm recovering day-by-day."
Rhod said that if it has been successful, he will only need check-ups. He added: "If it hasn't worked as well as I've hoped, then maybe I'll have to go back for more treatment."
He added that there are days he feels "well enough to do a bit of writing" and hinted that he would like to write a show around his cancer battle. The 54-year-old said: "The things people say when they find out you've got cancer... people panic. There's a lot of humour in it. Hopefully, I'm going to jot it all down and one day bring it to the stage."
Rhod said he "can't imagine there's a better place in the world to be treated" than the Velindre Cancer Centre, which he has been a patron of for nearly 10 years. He added: "The care I'm having is beyond words."
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