‘I have been virtually worthless’: Rush Limbaugh says latest wave of cancer treatment is ‘kicking my ass’

Radio host has previously been reluctant to talk about his condition on air

Conservative broadcaster Rush Limbaugh has said that the treatment he is receiving for his advanced lung cancer is taking a physical toll.

Mr Limbaugh revealed that he had been diagnosed with cancer, in February this year, just one day before president Donald Trump, who he publicly supports, presented him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

The 69-year-old, who has hosted radio programme The Rush Limbaugh Show, on various different stations since 1984, told his listeners on Thursday that may need to take a break.

“I hope that that doesn’t happen. And I’m not, at the same time, making any excuses. But I do feel the need to keep you informed,” Mr Limbaugh said.

He confirmed that he had previously decided against discussing his condition on air, because he had “vowed not to be a cancer patient on the radio.”

Mr Limbaugh added that he was also concerned that if he went into details about his condition, “the media would start researching everything I said.”

Speaking about his condition, the radio host said he has been struggling over the last week with the severity of the treatment.

“There have been many cycles but this is the third wave and this current wave, I have to tell you, is kicking my ass,” he said.

“For the last seven days, I have been virtually worthless, virtually useless.

“I haven’t left the house. I haven’t done much of anything, except just try to rest and relax. All of this was told to me, it was gonna be a factor.”

Mr Limbaugh added: “It’s the price that you pay if you make the decision to go ahead and do treatment to try to prolong your life.”

The radio host caused outrage earlier in the year when he claimed that America was not ready to see, then Democratic presidential nomination candidate, Pete Buttigieg, kiss his husband.

“How’s this gonna look, a 37-year-old gay guy kissing his husband on stage next to Mr Man, Donald Trump? What’s gonna happen there?” he said about Mr Buttigieg.

“America’s still not ready to elect a gay guy kissing his husband on the debate stage.”

Mr Buttigieg responded to Mr Limbaugh, and said “I am saddened for what the Republican Party has become if they embrace that kind of homophobic rhetoric.”