Monty Python star Eric Idle has revealed the mantra he swears by after surviving his pancreatic cancer ordeal. The comedy icon received his diagnosis in 2019, though fortunately it was detected early through routine blood tests, and scans conducted by his doctor.
The 82-year-old subsequently had a successful five-hour procedure to remove the tumour, with part of the operation using robotic technology.
Medical results revealed the tumour was unattached with no lymph node involvement, and following the surgery, doctors confirmed no remaining traces of cancer could be found.
Subsequent examinations have continued to show that he remains free of the disease.
Looking back on his cancer journey six years later, Eric shared an emotional statement about "every day" being "a gift".
Speaking to The Metro newspaper, he said: "Every day is like a gift. That's the way I think you should live. It's not so bad being a jester, is it?".
During his recent interview, he also described how comedy serves as an effective method for managing such fear.
"It is a way of dealing with fear and it is also a way of helping people get through fear," he explained. "Because if you say something that releases that tension, they laugh and you diminish tyrants."
Eric has previously revealed that he actually "laughed" upon receiving his diagnosis, having previously written off a character, in Death: The Musical, with the same disease 12 years prior.
With pancreatic cancer unfortunately having one of the highest death rates among major cancers, a medical professional told the entertainer it would serve as an effective means to kill off his character.
In an interview with the Sunday Times, he revealed: "Before I had pancreatic cancer, I went to my doctor and said, 'I've got to get rid of a character - what's the quickest way?'. [He said] 'Pancreatic cancer, you may only have three weeks or three months'."
He continued: "And then, 12 years later, we're looking at a screen and I said, 'What's that?' And he said 'Pancreatic cancer.' And I laughed, because I thought it was very funny."
Now in good health, Eric is preparing for his farewell solo UK tour, Always Look on the Bright Side of Life, Live!, this autumn.
To ensure his humour remains relatable, he's been testing new material on his daughter and goddaughter to make sure it resonates.
His tour comes after he informed social media followers that he has to keep working due to financial reasons.
On the platform X, previously known as Twitter, he posted: "I don't know why people always assume we're loaded. Python is a disaster."
He further stated that he "never dreamed" that "income streams would tail off so disastrously," adding: "I don't mind not being wealthy. I prefer being funny."
Pancreatic cancer is a cancer that's found anywhere in the pancreas, an organ in the top part of your tummy. It helps you digest your food and makes hormones, such as insulin.
How serious pancreatic cancer is depends on where it is in the pancreas, how big it is, if it has spread and your general health.
Symptoms of pancreatic cancer can include:
Other symptoms can affect your digestion, such as: