Rhod Gilbert has shared an update on his health after undergoing treatment for stage four cancer, saying that he is "recovering slowly" and is "optimistic" about the future.
The comedian, 54, announced earlier this year that he had been diagnosed with cancer. He recently confirmed that he has undergone treatment in recent months.
Rhod spoke about his experience on BBC Radio Wales earlier this week, telling presenter Eleri Sion, 51, that he is feeling "positive" moving forward and is recovering "day-by-day".
"I'm hopefully recovering slowly day-by-day," he said on her radio show yesterday (December 9). He further commented in the interview: "I'm feeling positive, happy and optimistic."
Rhod added: "I'm feeling good and feel like I'm recovering day-by-day." He expressed hope that 2023 will be a "better year" and that he can return to work and "having fun".
The comedian explained that he has undergone surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy since his diagnosis in May – which came after he had been feeling "poorly for a few months".
The comedian – who is a patron of the Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff – said he has "hopefully" finished such treatment, though won't get any results back just yet.
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".
Rhod – who hosts his own show, Growing Pains, on Comedy Central – also discussed finding humour in difficult moments and teased about a potential future tour.
He commented: "We do have to find the humour when it doesn't seem there's much about. [...] I've got a feeling when I get through all this there'll be a show in it."
The comedy star also spoke about what his health was like prior to being diagnosed, saying he'd been "struggling" in April – including with sore throats and a tightness in his neck.
Rhod noted that he later noticed lumps "popping up in places they shouldn't be" whilst on a fundraising trip in Cuba for the Velindre Cancer Centre the following month.
The comedian said that he later discovered he had stage 4 cancer, as he said: "I came home with cancer and Covid from a Velindre fundraising trek. The irony of that!"
Rhod – who has been receiving treatment at the same cancer centre he has raised funds for – teased on the radio show that he had travelled abroad as a patron of the charity but came home a patient.
He said: "Do you know what, I'm sitting there and there are pictures of me on the walls as a patron, it is very weird."
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