Mark Steel has shared the happy news that he is now cancer free as he revealed doctors ‘saved his life’ after his battle with throat cancer.
The comedian, 63, revealed he was diagnosed with the disease in October after discovering a lump on his neck while shaving.
While Mark assured fans at the time that it was a cancer “that can be overcome,” he shared the relieving news on Friday that he is now cancer-free.
In a post on The treatment worked, the cancer bottled it up and ran away, the wimp.”
He jokingly added, “One thing I’ve learned through all of this is that I don’t recommend chemotherapy or radiotherapy as recreational drugs. I don’t see them taking off in the clubs.
Comedian Mark Steel has shared the happy news that he is cancer free after battling throat cancer after finding a lump while shaving last October
The comedian, 63, revealed he was diagnosed with the disease in October after discovering a lump on his neck while shaving, but assured it was a cancer ‘that can be taken out’ (pictured at Hammersmith Apollo in 2014)
‘UCLH is an amazing place full of amazing souls. They saved my life, but I think this mention on Twitter makes us equal. I also discovered that my son and daughter are wonderful and that I know many brilliant people who are incredibly kind, funny and rude.
“And… many of you sent me messages that were so appreciated and I would marry all of you if there was no law against it. Now I will keep quiet about it, after the book ‘my cancer journey’, the tour and the musical. And from now on I will be careful not to get cancer again.’
Sharing their support, friends and family rushed to send their love to the star.
Comedian and friend Janey Godley wrote: ‘I’m so happy for you,’ and Dara Ó Briain wrote: ‘Congratulations Mark! I am glad to hear that’. David Baddiel also said: ‘What a cuck. Great news.’
Last October he revealed he had noticed his neck ‘looked a lot bigger than normal’ while shaving in June, but after googling the symptoms he assumed it was an infection.
However, his neck became enlarged, prompting him to consult a doctor who booked him a scan at the hospital.
Mark recalled that during his appointment, “everything changed” after the radiologist said he needed a biopsy.
He wrote: ““Biopsy?” I thought, “But this is how cancer starts. It always starts with a biopsy, before adding, “a biopsy makes everything grotesque and cancerous seem real.”
Mark took to Twitter as he shared the great news
He jokingly added, “One thing I’ve learned through all of this is that I don’t recommend chemotherapy or radiotherapy as recreational drugs. I can’t see them taking off in the clubs’
Sharing their support, friends and family rushed to send their love to the star
A doctor then gave him the prognosis by telephone that his ‘chances’ were ‘not good’.
Mark then explained that he had received an email informing him that his biopsy had been lost and that he needed to come back again ‘to see what stage of cancer you have’.
He wrote, “Wait a minute,” I said, “nobody said it’s definitely cancer. Are you saying it’s definitely cancer?’ She paused. ‘Yes. Didn’t anyone tell you?’
The comedy writer said he did not blame the NHS, but said: ‘The majority of staff are paid horribly and treated with contempt. Their minister stopped and continued. I’m a celebrity, so don’t take your frustrations out on them. Still, it’s fair to politely ask how they lost the biopsy and forgot to tell me I had damn cancer.”
In his typically comic way, he wrote about the awkwardness of having to tell his son, daughter, agent, friends and partner.
He said: ‘I was in the exciting, somewhat hesitant phase of a new relationship that seemed extremely promising. So one night I had to say, “Maybe I have cancer.”
Mark was eventually diagnosed with cancer in two places, but he explained that the “primary cancer” in his throat is “very treatable.”
He said he noticed his neck looked ‘much bigger than normal’ while shaving in June, but after googling the symptoms he assumed it was an infection (pictured in 2010)
Mark recalled that during his appointment ‘everything changed’ after the radiologist said he needed a biopsy (pictured in 2015)
He says he was sitting in the waiting room with his son Elliot, 26, who is also a stand-up comedian, and told him: ‘I just want one win. I feel like a football team that’s already nine games into the season and hasn’t gotten a single win yet. Every meeting, every scan, it keeps getting a little worse.”
He then revealed that when his doctor told him the cancer had not spread to his lungs, Elliot shouted, “There’s your first win of the season!”
Mark added: ‘Most cancers are now considered curable. Even those that cannot be cured are treatable, and patients live for many years. My generation was raised to believe that cancer is as final as decapitation, but that is no longer true. If it is cancer, there will be a plan to tackle the cancer.’
He then praised the NHS, from scientists, to doctors, to cleaners and to campaigners, for ensuring he could survive a disease that would once have been fatal.
Mark said his treatment would begin soon and he was estimated to be able to return to action in six months.
He remained bravely optimistic, concluding, “I have cancer, but it’s a cancer we can get rid of. I feel like there is a leopard in my house, locked in a room.
‘I have contacted the leopard authorities and they assure me that they are used to dealing with leopards in this way, and that they have a plan to remove the leopard, even if it will take a while, and off and then I can hear him growling. And that’s all very reassuring.
Mark was eventually diagnosed with cancer in two places, but explained that the ‘primary cancer’ in his throat is ‘very treatable’ (pictured in 2018)
Mark said his treatment would begin soon and he is estimated to be able to return to performing in six months (pictured on The Chase in 2022)
“Still, several times a day I think to myself, ‘Wait a minute, there’s a damn leopard in my house.’
In addition to performing stand-up, Mark has written several radio and television programs, as well as a number of books.
He has also appeared regularly on Have I Got News For You, Room 101, Mock the Week, The Graham Norton Show and Question Time.
He was due to perform in Norwich on Tuesday as part of his tour which was due to last until Peterborough in April 2024, but all his shows have now been postponed.
In addition to performing stand-up, Mark has written several radio and television programs, as well as a number of books. He has also appeared regularly on Have I Got News For You, Room 101, Mock the Week, The Graham Norton Show and Question Time (pictured in 2018)