November 26th 2024.
It is with a heavy heart that Rhod Gilbert, the beloved comedian, has recently shared some personal news. In the midst of his own battle with cancer, he has tragically lost two important people in his life. Despite receiving the all-clear from his own cancer journey, it seems that tragedy has continued to follow him.
In 2022, Rhod announced that he was being treated for stage 4 cancer after discovering a lump while on a charity trek. However, he has since shared the wonderful news that he is now cancer-free. But unfortunately, this did not prevent him from facing more heartbreak. During one of his stand-up gigs, he received the devastating news that his friend had passed away from terminal cancer, and last week, he attended the funeral of another close friend's father who also lost his battle with cancer.
Reflecting on these losses, Rhod shared with The Mirror, "This week I've been to a funeral for my friend's dad, who died of cancer. In the interval while on stage in Halifax, I found out that a friend of mine had also died of cancer." It was a surreal moment for him, receiving such heartbreaking news while in the midst of performing. "I knew he had gone into end of life care, so it wasn't a huge surprise, but it just happened in that moment where I just so happened to have come off stage during the interval, looked at my phone and read a text saying, 'He's gone,'" Rhod shared.
Cancer has unfortunately become a prevalent part of Rhod's life, and he recognizes the importance of talking about it and normalizing the conversation. "It's just everywhere, which is why I think it's important to talk about it and get it out there and try and find humor in it and try and normalize it," he explained. Despite the heaviness of the topic, Rhod has found a way to incorporate it into his comedy and use laughter as a way to cope and help others do the same.
After undergoing chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery, Rhod returned to the stage earlier this year, touring his show "Rhod Gilbert & The Giant Grapefruit." During an appearance on The One Show, he shared a promising health update, stating that he was still cancer-free and receiving regular check-ups at the Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff.
Reflecting on his journey, Rhod acknowledged how scary it is to hear the words "You have cancer" and how lucky he feels to still be here. But despite the challenges he may face in the future, he remains grateful and appreciative of the fact that he is able to continue doing what he loves. "Every night I'm on stage pinching myself that I'm on stage and performing two years after being diagnosed," he shared with a sense of gratitude and amazement.
Despite discussing such a serious topic in his show, Rhod assures that it is still a happy and uplifting experience. Some nights, they even play "cancer bingo," which may sound dark, but it allows people to share and raise awareness while also finding moments to laugh and take back some power from the disease. Rhod hopes to spread this laughter and positivity to others, as he believes it has been a crucial part of his own healing journey.
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