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Rhod Gilbert returns to stage following cancer treatment
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Comedian Rhod Gilbert is back cracking jokes in the spotlight after taking time away to undergo treatment for cancer.
Gilbert, 54, announced last year he was receiving treatment at the Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff after being diagnosed with stage four head and neck cancer.
The comedian joked at the time that he would hopefully 'come out the other end with a new stand-up show and a 40-minute rant about orange squash', but admitted that he would be 'disappearing for a while' as he focused on his recovery.
Gilbert returned to television earlier this year when he took part in Channel 4's National Comedy Awards in a segment for Stand Up To Cancer, but it wasn't until this month that he returned to the stage for his own stand-up gig.
In his first show in a year, Gilbert performed at Swansea Arena on Friday (19 May) as he wraps up the last seven gigs in his rescheduled Book of John tour dates, which were originally set to go ahead last summer.
Gilbert posted a video of himself signing the 'Wall of Fame' at Swansea Arena ahead of his performance, which he jokingly admitted 'could be sh*t'.
However, he kept his fingers crossed that it would be a 'nice one', and told his followers how it felt to be going back on stage.
"It is wonderful being back doing stand up again for the first time in a year," he said. "I'm feeling good. Hopefully it will be a good one tonight... Lovely to be here, lovely to be back in Swansea, lovely to be alive and lovely to be back on tour."
Gilbert shared another update after a show in Cornwall, writing: "Thank you @hall_for_cornwall - what a fabulous venue! Thanks for having me - and thank you to the incredible audience for waiting for me. It’s good to be back!"
The comedian said in February that he was 'coming back' to his former self after undergoing treatment, which began after he noticed a lump in his neck while on a fundraising trek in Cuba.
"I had a sore throat and I couldn't speak and I couldn't breathe and I was postponing and cancelling tour shows and I had terrible spasms in my face and a lot of tightness in the muscles," he said.
"It turns out after a biopsy of this lump in my neck that I have something called head and neck cancer. Cancer of the head sounded pretty serious.
"So before I knew it, I was having surgery. I was in daily sessions of radiotherapy and chemotherapy."
Gilbert has also praised the NHS for its support during his treatment.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact Macmillan’s Cancer Support Line on 0808 808 00 00, 8am–8pm seven days a week.
