‘I think about cancer 24/7, but there’s humor behind it’: Rhod Gilbert says he’ll use his diagnosis as standup material and is optimistic about the year ahead in his first interview since treatment
- The 54-year-old comedian revealed he had stage four cancer in July but did not specify where the disease lay
- In his first interview since receiving treatment, Rhod revealed he thinks about his cancer 24/7, but added that there was “humor in it.”
- He explained that despite the loss of his social life and job, he is determined to poke fun at serious subjects on his upcoming The Book Of John tour
Rhod Gilbert has said he will use his cancer diagnosis as standup material and on Monday is optimistic about the year ahead.
The 54-year-old comedian revealed he had stage four cancer in July but did not specify where the disease was located.
In his first interview since receiving treatment, the Welshman revealed he thinks about his cancer 24/7, but added there was “humor in it”.
Feeling better: Rhod Gilbert, 54, has said he will use his cancer diagnosis as standup material and on Monday is optimistic about the year ahead
Speaking to The Guardian, Rhod began: “It feels weird. I don’t know how much to talk about cancer. I haven’t really figured out what to say.
“I’m really conscious of mental health now and I check myself every day. I feel fine, weird. I am happy, optimistic and hopeful that everything will be fine next year.”
He explained that despite the loss of his social life and job, he is determined to poke fun at serious subjects on his upcoming The Book Of John tour.
On stage: In his first interview since treatment, the Welshman revealed he thinks about his cancer 24/7, but added there was “humor in it”.
“When I’m done with that, the next show will go in a similar direction. Cancer keeps me busy 24/7, but when I’m well enough to write, I write a few things down. And there’s humor in there, definitely.”
Rhod said he’s received letters and emails from “all over the world” from people speaking out about their own experiences of stroke, parents with Alzheimer’s or infertility since he took a more open approach.
The comedian added that he’s also looking forward to the postponed 2023 tour dates, which have been pushed back to the summer.
Finding out: Speaking to The Guardian, Rhod began: ‘It feels weird. I don’t know how much to talk about cancer. I haven’t really figured out what to say.
It comes after his wife Sian Harries revealed they had to rush to hospital following the comedian’s recent treatment for stage four cancer.
Sian took to Twitter on Wednesday to share that they visited an “absolutely rammed” emergency room at an unnamed hospital last week.
She didn’t reveal the reason for her visit, but responded with a series of love hearts to concerned fans who asked if she and Rhod were okay.
Candid: It comes after his wife Sian Harries revealed they had to rush to hospital following the comedian’s recent treatment for stage four cancer
Sian wrote: “A&E is absolutely full of people with hacking coughs, we were just the ones wearing masks. I just do not understand.’
Welsh comedian Rhod shared the news of his cancer diagnosis with fans back in July, just days after he paused his UK tour.
Rhod previously announced on Facebook that he was suffering from gallstones and would undergo surgery in January to resolve the health issue.
He announced that seven of his shows that were scheduled for January have now been postponed and will take place in the summer of 2023.
Couple: Sian, who has been married to Rhod since 2013, took to Twitter to update fans on their current situation after sharing his diagnosis with fans in July