Stanley Tucci Reveals He Underwent Treatment for Oral Cancer Three Years Ago, 'I Had a Feeding Tube for 6 Months'
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Actor Stanley Tucci revealed he was diagnosed with oral cancer three years ago.
The tumor was too big to operate on, and Tucci had to endure high-dose radiation and chemotherapy. He is confident the cancer will not return.
Tucci shared his memories of his late wife Kate's battle with breast cancer, and how it affected his outlook when he was diagnosed.
Actor Stanley Tucci has made the most of the last two years. The Oscar-nominated star became known as the “sexy bartender” after he posted a viral Instagram video of him shaking up a negroni in quarantine, he launched his new series Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy on CNN, and he’s preparing for the release of his new book Taste: My Life Through Food, out this October. But the 60-year-old recently revealed that just three years ago, not everything was looking up—the actor was diagnosed with oral cancer.
In an interview published in the September 2021 issue of Vera, Virgin Atlantic’s in-flight magazine, the award-winning actor shared that he was diagnosed with a tumor at the base of his tongue. “It was too big to operate, so they had to do high-dose radiation and chemo,” he told Vera.
While the actor didn't go into too much detail about his cancer battle, his diagnosis isn't altogether uncommon—especially in men. According to the American Cancer Society, about one in 60 men are diagnosed with oral cancer a year, as opposed to one in 140 women, meaning men are more than twice as likely to have the type of cancer.
Thankfully, there are a few ways to treat oral cancer. Typically, according to the Mayo Clinic, treatment for mouth cancer depends on its location and stage, the patient's overall health, and personal preferences. The patient may have just one type of treatment, or they may undergo a combination of cancer treatments, according to the Mayo Clinic. Popular treatment options include surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy
Tucci shared he was especially concerned about his diagnosis and treatment plan because he had lost his wife, Kate, to breast cancer in 2009. “I’d vowed I’d never do anything like that, because my first wife died of cancer, and to watch her go through those treatments for years was horrible,” he said.
The father of five revealed that he did go through intense chemo and radiation, which was especially difficult for his children. “The kids were great, but it was hard for them,” he told Vera. “I had a feeding tube for six months. I could barely make it to the twins’ high-school graduation.”
Today, Tucci feels confident that the cancer is unlikely to return and is looking forward to future projects. “[Cancer] makes you more afraid and less afraid at the same time. I feel much older than I did before I was sick. But you still want to get ahead and get things done,” he told Vera.
We're so happy Tucci's battle seems to be behind him, and we can't wait to see what the future has in store for the actor. Dare we request a Devil Wears Prada sequel, anyone?
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