Rhod Gilbert announces first clear cancer scan.

The welsh comedian announced back in July that he was receiving treatment for stage 4 metastatic cancer of the head and neck.

The Carmarthen born comedian has been receiving treatment ay the Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff
Author: Claire BoadPublished 23rd Oct 2023

Welsh comic legend Rhod Gilbert has had his first clear cancer scan after months of treatment.

Gilbert, aged 55 announced his cancer diagnosis in July and was being treated at the Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff. He had raised money for the cancer centre for 10 years before his diagnosis.

He had surgery for metastatic cancer of the head and neck and sessions of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

He told Radio Times the day he discovered his cancer hadn't spread was "the best day of my life".

"I was back on the road earlier this year, I got a call to say my latest scan had shown the cancer was in the areas they knew about, but it wasn't in my lungs or my brain," he said.

After that first round of good news, the comedian then had his first all-clear scan, saying "The best thing was that the tumour had gone, and it was once again an ordinary blood vessel."

Gilbert also came up with the idea for a documentary team to film his experience. days before his first round of treatment.

"I was lying in bed on the Friday, with my treatment due to start the following Monday," he told the Radio Times.

"I rang the team I knew - there was no broadcaster on board, it was all on spec - and I asked, 'How would you fancy joining me on this journey?'

"It was partly for me. I'd cancelled all my TV work and tours, and I wanted to have something other than 'cancer' in my diary.

"I knew I wouldn't be well enough to go on stage or TV, but I thought I might be well enough to lie in bed and talk to a documentary team about how ill I was.

"I thought, 'It will give me something to do'."

Gilbert discovered "a tumour popped up on my neck" on the day of a fundraising walk for the Velindre Cancer Centre. He described his battle with cancer, mentioning a particular low point where he "wasn't well enough even to read or watch television" for months after treatment.

He has been a regular guest on shows such as Would I Lie To You?, QI and Mock The Week over the years, and also hosted Never Mind The Buzzcocks from 2014 to 2015