Rhod Gilbert reveals he is still facing long-term effects after cancer battle as he shares health update

Rhod Gilbert has revealed he is still facing some health problems following his cancer ordeal. 

The comedian, 56, was diagnosed with Stage 4 head and neck cancer in 2022 and documented his illness in a Channel 4 documentary before receiving the all clear in October last year. 

However the TV star has now admitted he still suffers from health symptoms as he admitted he taste still isn't back to normal. 

Speaking to The Mirror Rhod explained: 'With head and neck cancer, quite often, everything tastes disgusting, even water, even a cup of tea, everything is disgusting.'

While the star explained that most things are back to tasting normal and he can swallow well again post treatment, he said tea still tastes odd to him. 

'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.'

Since his cancer diagnosis Rhod has cut down on booze and continues not to smoke after kicking the habit years ago. 

Reflecting on his life post illness, he added: '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.'

Last month Rhod revealed the tragic news that two people close to him died of cancer just months after he received the all-clear.

Just months after he received the good news, Rhod found out during the interval of a stand-up gig he was doing that his friend had passed away from terminal cancer.

He also said that the week prior he attended the funeral for the dad of another friend of his, who had also died from cancer. 

The star told 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 [also] found out that a friend of mine had died of cancer. 

'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 received his first clear scan in October last year after undergoing treatment for stage four cancer.

He was diagnosed in July 2022, and was treated at the Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff, where he had been a fundraising patron for a decade before the diagnosis.

He underwent surgery for metastatic cancer of the head and neck, followed by sessions of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. 

Speaking in April about his condition, he said: 'Still all clear. Still in the care of the wonderful Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff. I get checked every few weeks but still all clear.

'I feel wonderful. I've got lots of issues that I may or may not have for the rest of my life, who knows. Who cares!

'I'm here, I'm good and every night, I'm on stage pinching myself that I'm doing this. That I'm on stage performing just now two years after being diagnosed.' 

The funnyman is performing throughout the UK in 2024 and 2025 on his Rhod Gilbert & The Giant Grapefruit tour and he says his illness influenced some of the content of his show.

Rhod explained: 'Grapefruit, partly a nod to the tumour that was in my neck, and partly the thing of when life gives you lemons you make lemonade.

'Well this is what to do when life starts throwing grapefruits at you which is even worse in my opinion but it's a happy show, it's an uplifting show.'