Stanley Tucci opens up about past cancer diagnosis: ‘It makes you more afraid and less afraid at the same time’
Actor received diagnosis three years ago and says illness is unlikely to return
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Stanley Tucci has opened up about being treated for cancer three years ago.
The actor discussed the diagnosis for the first time in a new interview with the magazine Vera.
He explained that he was diagnosed three years ago with a tumour at the base of his tongue. The tumour, he said, was “too big to operate” on, so he underwent “high-dose radiation and chemo”.
Treatments were successful and the illness is unlikely to return, Tucci told the publication.
“The kids were great, but it was hard for them,” he said. “I had a feeding tube for six months. I could barely make it to the twins’ high school graduation.”
Tucci’s first wife, Kate Spath-Tucci, died of breast cancer in 2009 at the age of 47. Having to watch her go through treatment, he said, initially left him reluctant to go through it himself: “I’d vowed I’d never do anything like that,” he said, “because my first wife died of cancer, and having to watch her go through those treatments for years was horrible.”
Cancer, he added, “makes you more afraid and less afraid at the same time”.
“I feel much older than I did before I was sick,” he said. “But you still want to get ahead and get things done.”
Tucci was recently seen appearing alongside Colin Firth in Supernova, a romantic drama released in June in the UK and earlier this year in the US. He will also feature in Sara Colangelo’s Worth and Tanya Wexler’s Jolt.