Monty Python star Eric Idle has revealed he decided to keep his pancreas diagnosis a secret until he knew he would survive.
The 79-year-old comedian and writer revealed earlier this month that he was diagnosed with a rare early diagnosis three years ago and has been successfully treated for the disease.
In a new interview with The Guardian, Eric admitted he “just moved on” when he was told of his diagnosis and decided to speak out when he was recently given the all-clear to give others hope.
Survivor: Monty Python star Eric Idle has revealed he decided to keep his pancreas diagnosis a secret until he knew he would survive
Eric was diagnosed early after a pal he was staying with in the United States urged him to undergo a battery of tests to help his friend – a doctor – study preventive medicine.
He was told about the diagnosis by his friend, who explained to him that due to the rare early diagnosis, there was a good chance that the cancer could be surgically removed.
Eric told The Guardian that he wasn’t feeling emotional when he heard the news, explaining:
“I didn’t cry until I knew I was going to live. I just kept going. I’m British! You try not to show emotion in the face of danger.”
The comedian told his wife Tania, 41, and children Carey, 49, and Lily, 32, but chose not to tell friends until he got the all-clear to save them worry.
Heartbreaking: Eric recalled not crying when he received his diagnosis and had surgery just 10 days after telling his wife Tania (pictured in 2018)
He admitted he had no time to be shocked as he underwent surgery in hospital within 10 days of his diagnosis. After five hours on the operating table, his cancer was removed completely intact.
He kept the news a secret for three years, underwent semi-annual tests, and only recently learned he had the all-clear.
“I lived on tests for six to six months. I didn’t know how much longer I had. I recently went to see my doctor and that’s when I got the real shock. I asked him how much longer I had and he said, “10 years,” he explained.
He also said, “Had you been two weeks later, you wouldn’t have been able to see the surgery; you would have gone straight to chemo,” which is uncomfortable and not of much use at this stage.
Awareness: Eric has now teamed up with Stand up to Cancer to help raise awareness of cancer research and recently appeared on the US version of The Masked Singer as part of the campaign
Eric has now teamed up with Stand up to Cancer to raise awareness of cancer research and recently appeared on the US version of The Masked Singer as part of the campaign.
“That’s why I spoke out about it,” he said of his decision to disclose his diagnosis. “I wanted to say, ‘Look, I was very lucky and survived. And you can too.” I’ve heard from so many people how much it meant to them. And that chokes me. That brings me to tears.”
He cites his old friend George Harrison as a “great example” of dying with dignity. The Beatles star died of lung cancer in 2001 at the age of 58, with Eric on his deathbed.
He used to say to me, “Well, you can have all the money you want, you can be the most famous person in the world, but you still have to die.” … ‘It was just fabulous to see someone die calmly and without panic, regret or bitterness.’
Symbol: “I didn’t cry until I knew I was going to live. I just kept going. I’m British! They try not to show any emotion in the face of danger,” explained Eric (pictured with John Cleese in 1975’s Monty Python And The Holy Grail).
Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest forms of the disease, and about 95 percent of people who contract it die from it.
Joan Crawford, Patrick Swayze and Luciano Pavarotti all died of pancreatic cancer.
It is the sixth leading cause of cancer deaths in the UK – around 10,000 people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer each year in the UK, alongside around 55,000 in the US.
It is caused by the abnormal and uncontrolled growth of cells in the pancreas – a large gland in the digestive system.
Pancreatic cancer typically has no symptoms in the early stages when it is more manageable.
Sufferers tend to develop the tell-tale signs — jaundice and abdominal pain — around stage 3 or 4, when they’re likely to have spread to other organs.
WHAT IS PANCREA CANCER?
Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest forms of the disease, and about 95 percent of people who contract it die from it.
Joan Crawford, Patrick Swayze and Luciano Pavarotti all died of pancreatic cancer.
It is the sixth leading cause of cancer deaths in the UK – around 10,000 people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer each year in the UK, alongside around 55,000 in the US.
WHAT IS THE REASON?
It is caused by the abnormal and uncontrolled growth of cells in the pancreas – a large gland in the digestive system.
WHO IS AT THE HIGHEST RISK?
Most cases (90 percent) occur in people over the age of 55.
About half of all new cases occur in people aged 75 and over.
One in 10 cases is attributed to genetics.
Other possible causes include age, smoking, and other health conditions, including diabetes.
WHY IS IT SO DEADLY?
There is no screening procedure for pancreatic cancer.
Pancreatic cancer typically has no symptoms in the early stages when it is more manageable.
Sufferers tend to develop the tell-tale signs — jaundice and abdominal pain — around stage 3 or 4, when they’re likely to have spread to other organs.
WHAT ARE THE TREATMENT OPTIONS?
The only effective treatment is removal of the pancreas.
This proves largely ineffective for those whose cancer has spread to other organs.
In these cases, palliative care is recommended to relieve their pain at the end of their lives.