Billy Conolly: I blew a raspberry when I learnt I had cancer AND Parkinson's on the same day

Billy Connolly handled the bad news about his health by falling back on an age-old comedy gesture.

16:53 29 April 2014

Comedian and actor Billy Connolly refused to be pessimistic about his future despite a double dose of bad news about his health coming just hours apart. 

 

He revealed that he handled getting the news of having a cancer and Parkinson’s on the same day by blowing a raspberry. 

 

“It was a funny week. On the Monday I got hearing aids. On the Tuesday I got pills for heartburn, which I have to take all the time. And on the Wednesday I got news that I had prostate cancer and Parkinson’s disease,” Connolly said.

 

“I remember I went through to the bedroom to answer the phone, and Pamela was behind me – I thought she was going to catch me. And she sort of held me, and I went, ‘Oh, Jesus…’ 

 

“But when we went into the living room I went, phrrhrht,” he said, blowing a raspberry. “I think they’re very closely related, deep despair and laughing. And I wasn’t in any pain.” 

 

The comedian underwent surgery to remove his prostrate and did not had to go through chemotherapy or radiotherapy. 

 

As for his Parkinson’s, it is an incurable degenerative disorder. To fight it, Connolly exert conscious effort to improve his memory. “I’ve put myself on a strict regime of crossword books. They remind me of everything. 

 

“I have to train my memory. I’ve got a notebook with all the words I tend to forget. It’s the same ones cropping up again and again.”