Sir Ian McKellen Reveals He Has Cancer

As Sir Ian McKellen continues his world tour to promote Friday's release of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, the actor revealed to the Daily Mirror that he has prostrate cancer. The 73-year-old acting legend said "I’ve had prostate cancer for six or seven years. When you have got it you monitor it and you have to be careful it doesn’t spread. But if it is contained in the prostate it’s no big deal. Many, many men die from it but it’s one of the cancers that is totally treatable so I have ‘waitful watching’. I am examined regularly and it’s just contained, it’s not spreading. I’ve not had any treatment. ...How do you know if it is spreading? You keep being tested."

The actor commented on his overall health saying "I just got hearing aids, I am going to have a cataract removed from my eyes, I am having an implant in my mouth, I am dealing with the prostate…I am absolutely fine thank you very much! I am lucky, I don’t have aches and pains. I do pilates regularly which is a series of stretching exercises and I recommend it to anyone of my age because the temptation is not to exercise when you get older. Well you should. ...It is really, really wonderful that in your old age you are protected by specialists who understand your problems and sort them out for you. Well, isn’t that what we all need?"

So to sum it up, the legend is doing fine (a relief) and doing what everyone should do - getting regular check-ups to and being aware when things don't quite seem right with their own bodies and acting accordingly. Good advice that sounds very Gandalf in its wisdom and common sense. Thanks to John W. for the link.