Share this @internewscast.com
Monty Python star Eric Idle has shared an intriguing story where he sought a doctor’s advice for a quick illness to “get rid of a character,” only to later be diagnosed with that very condition himself. The 82-year-old actor recounted this unusual twist in a recent interview, linked to a project he embarked on nearly two decades ago.
In his long and successful comedy career, Eric appeared in various acclaimed films, including Monty Python’s Holy Grail, Life of Brian, and The Meaning of Life with fellow comedians John Cleese, Graham Chapman, Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam, and Terry Jones. Remarkably, about 18 years ago, Eric was involved in Death: The Musical, a production featuring a main character afflicted by a critical ailment, which turned out to be the same diagnosis he received in 2019.
Eric recounted to the Sunday Times: “Before I had pancreatic cancer, I approached my doctor and asked, ‘I’ve got to eliminate a character – what’s the fastest method?’ He replied: ‘Pancreatic cancer, possibly giving only three weeks or three months.'”
He continued: “A dozen years later, as we looked at a screen, I asked, ‘What’s that?’ and (the doctor) responded, ‘Pancreatic cancer’. I laughed because the irony of it all struck me as very funny.”
According to Cancer Research UK, close to 30 out of every 100 (almost 30%) survive their cancer for one year or longer after diagnosis, with about 10 out of every 100 (almost 10%) surviving for five years or more.
Luckily, Eric’s cancer was caught early, allowing him to undergo surgery just ten days afterward. He affirmed he was “still here” albeit “just about,” before conveying his gratitude, acknowledging he’d been given a “reprieve” and that life is “truly wonderful”.
Last year, Eric revealed that he was still working for financial purposes, noting on X that he “never dreamed” that “income streams would tail off so disastrously”.
Taking to X (previously Twitter), he said:”I don’t mind not being wealthy. I prefer being funny.”
The NHS says pancreatic cancer refers to cancer that’s located anywhere in the organ, which is situated in the top portion of your stomach and aids in digestion and creates homones, including insulin.
Symptoms of pancreatic cancer include jaundice (when the skin or the whites of your eyes turn yellow), appetite loss, weight loss, fatigue, and high temperatures, as well as various issues relating to your digestion.
They can include nausea, diarrhoea, constipation, other changes to your stool, stomach and back pain, and indigestion symptoms, including feeling bloated.
The NHS advises requesting an urgent appointment with your doctor or call NHS 111 if you experience jaundice, have been sick for more than two days, have had diarrhoea for more than seven days, or have other symptoms you’re concerned about.
For more information about pancreatic cancer, visit the website here.
