Welsh comedian Rhod Gilbert recently recovered from stage four neck and head cancer and is currently back out on tour, but has revealed he still suffers from a long-term condition
Welsh comedian Rhod Gilbert has opened up about the ongoing health issues he’s facing after his battle with cancer. Diagnosed with stage four head and neck cancer in 2022, Gilbert experienced symptoms including a sore throat, persistent cough, swallowing difficulties, and choking.
Following treatments at Cardiff’s Velindre Cancer Centre, the 56-year-old was given the all-clear last year and now undergoes regular ENT camera checks every six months.
In an exclusive update on his post-cancer health, Rhod revealed that while he’s doing much better, he still encounters problems in his neck, throat, and mouth, as well as altered taste sensations. “I’ve tried to cut down on booze, I gave up smoking, but years ago I gave up smoking anyway,” he said, reflecting on the lifestyle changes he’s made since his diagnosis.
He also expressed a newfound zest for life, saying: “I guess I’m a bit more conscious now than what I was, but equally, cancer leaves you in this weird place where you want to grab life by the short and curlies.”
Rhod feels “very lucky” to have most of his taste back, although he admits some things still taste “weird”. He also faced challenges with eating, having been fed through a machine for eight months due to swallowing difficulties.
He continued: “With head and neck cancer, quite often, everything tastes disgusting with head and neck, even water, even a cup of tea, everything is disgusting.
“Not now, but I’m still left with some problems, so tea still tastes a bit odd, lots of things taste weird still. My taste is almost, sort of 80 per cent back to normal, my swallowing is pretty good, but at the time, you can’t swallow and everything tastes disgusting.
“Food is horrible, I mean you’re being fed by a machine straight into your stomach, with head and neck cancer quite often, because you can’t swallow as it’s too painful.”
Despite some problems still present, Rhod said he is surprised by how good he feels while back on stage for his Rhod Gilbert and The Giant Grapefruit tour. He continued: “I feel great, my energy levels are good and I’m just really happy to be up there. I can’t believe really quite how well I feel, I’ve got problems in my neck, throat area and my mouth area, but other than that, I feel great.”
Macmillan notes that losing your sense of taste can be a side effect of radiotherapy, stating: “You may lose your sense of taste or find everything tastes the same. The taste is usually quite metallic or salty. Your sense of taste should recover, but it may take many months for this to happen.”
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
