Rhod Gilbert receives first clear scan after cancer treatment

Rhod Gilbert has received a clear scan for the first time since he was diagnosed with stage four cancer.

The Welsh comedian announced his diagnosis in July last year and confirmed he was receiving treatment at Cardiff’s Velindre Cancer Centre. He underwent surgery for metastatic cancer of the head and neck, followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Gilbert has now received his first clear scan, describing the discovery that his cancer had not spread as being “the best day of my life”.

“I was back on the road earlier this year when 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,” Gilbert told the Radio Times (via the BBC).

This was followed by the news of his first clear scan. “The best thing was that the tumour had gone, and it was once again an ordinary blood vessel,” he added.

The comedian has documented his cancer journey with a documentary team, who began filming his experience days before his initial treatment.

“I was lying in bed on the Friday, with my treatment due to start the following Monday,” Gilbert said. “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 because I’d cancelled all my TV work and tours and wanted to have something other than ‘cancer’ in my diary.”

Gilbert took to the stage for the first time since his diagnosis in May this year, performing rescheduled dates from his Book Of John tour at Swansea Arena.

“It is wonderful being back doing stand-up again for the first time in a year,” the comedian said in backstage footage. “Lovely to be here, lovely to be back in Swansea, lovely to be alive and lovely to be back on tour.”

Recently, Gilbert announced UK dates across 2024 and 2025, as part of his new live tour titled Rhod Gilbert & The Giant Grapefruit. Find a full list of tour dates and tickets here.

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