Slade star Noddy Holder, 78, has given a major update about his fight with cancer - and it’s good news.
The talented vocalist revealed in October last year that he’d been diagnosed with oesophageal cancer, but chose to keep his illness quiet as he battled with it in private. This morning, he broke his silence while speaking on BBC Breakfast, and gave some welcome news about his progress.
Noddy still looked like a glam rocker on the show, giving hints of his musical career with gold loafers and a brightly patterned hoodie. “I’m okay. I’m on a level playing field, I’m doing alright,” he shared when asked how he was. Host Naga Munchetty responded: “Good, well the reason I ask is five years ago - very different story…” and made sure to greet Noddy’s wife, Suzan Price, who was sat next to him on the sofa.
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(Image: BBC))Noddy shared: “Five years ago I was diagnosed with oesophagus cancer and given six months to live. And luckily for me, I went to The Christie [hospital] in Manchester and they gave me this heavy bout of chemo, which is very targeted.”
He added: “They hadn’t tried it on - it had had some success - but they hadn’t tried it on anyone over 60 at the time. They asked me if I’d give it a try, and I was 72 at that point. And luckily for me, I’m still here! Five years later. So now they are giving it to older people.”
Noddy previously gave more details about the newer form of chemotherapy he’d been on while speaking to Radio 2. “It was touch and go. I lost all my hair,” he revealed.
"My weight was down to about eight stone. So every cloud. I’ve just had a scan last week and everything’s on an even keel at the moment, so I hope it carries on that way. I’m fit, fit, fit… but I’m fit for nothing.”
Suzan has also spoken out about Noddy’s experiences, after he chose to break his silence in order to raise awareness of the disease. She wrote about his diagnosis for Great British Life , and described: "We coped with it the only way we could, by hunkering down, sticking together and doing everything we could to survive it."
Noddy himself gave more information during his first TV appearance after he revealed his diagnosis. Speaking to Alexis Conran on Jeremy Vine on 5 last October, he spoke about the moment he was given his life expectancy, and the decision to give chemo a try. Noddy said: "I went to the Christie hospital in Manchester, and I said 'Is it six months? Is that the end of the line?'"
After a brief moment of indecision - one that frightened Suzan "to death" - he agreed to go ahead with the trial. Noddy explained he didn't want to be ill for his last six months, but after the doctors told him more about it, he wanted to "give it a go"
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