Rhod Gilbert issues warning after discovering symptoms of common winter illness was stage four cancer
Rhod Gilbert has issued a warning to others after the everyday symptoms he was experiencing turned out to be stage four cancer.
In 2022, Gilbert, 56, was diagnosed with stage four head and neck cancer after suffering from persistent symptoms.
Head and neck cancer is relatively uncommon, with over 12,400 new cases diagnosed in the UK each year, according to the NHS.
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The term refers to cancers within different areas of the head and neck, including the mouth, voice box, nose, throat, salivary glands and sinuses.
Oesophageal (gullet) cancer, thyroid cancer, brain tumours and eye cancer are generally not classified as a head and neck cancers.
Gilbert first started experiencing symptoms similar to a common cold, including a sore throat, cough and difficulties swallowing.
At the time, tests to try and understand what was happening proved to be inconclusive, but it was when the comedian noticed a lump on his neck, that doctors conducted a biopsy and the cancer was diagnosed.
"Luckily that lump popped up," he told the Mirror.
"If that lump hadn't have popped up, I don't know what would've happened, I would dread to think."
Gilbert has now had the all-clear following treatment at the Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff.
He's since issued a warning to others to make sure they get checked if they have any persistent and unusual symptoms.
"I think that one of the problems we've got is some cancers don't have any symptoms. With some of them, the symptoms could well be something else and they're more likely to be something else," he said.
"If you've got a cough, that doesn't mean you've got cancer, it means you've got a cough or you've got Covid or whatever, it could be anything.
"The problem with coughs as well, you hear about this 100-day cough, but I think the general rule is if anything persists and doesn't go away, if it won't go away after a few weeks, then get it checked out.
"Don't panic and make sure you can do anything you can to get it checked out."
Gilbert explained his treatment had been 'wonderful' and he now has checks every six months.
"My treatment was wonderful, and I was given the all clear in May 2023. I am currently all clear and now having ENT camera checks every 6 months," he explained.
You can find out more about head and neck cancers - including the different types - here.
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.
Lucy Devine