Slade's Noddy Holder opens up being given just six months to live after cancer diagnosis

29 December 2023, 13:35 | Updated: 29 December 2023, 13:54

The Slade frontman has had treatment to battle oesophagus cancer.

Noddy Holder has opened up about his 2018 battle with cancer and his doctor's prediction that he only had a maximum of six months to live.

The 77-year-old was diagnosed with throat cancer and underwent a series of harrowing treatments after being told his life expectancy was in the balance.

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Appearing on Kate Thornton’s White Wine Question Time, Noddy has opened up about his thoughts when given the news, and the mindset that got him through.

"I'm a sort of happy-go-lucky sort and I thought, if it's six months, it's six months," Noddy said.

"I've had a great life and I've had a lot of fun in my life."

The Slade frontman was sent to the Christie Hospital in Manchester and underwent a new treatment to target oesophagus cancer.

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"I tried it out, and that was five years ago, and I'm still here, so it's worked so far," the singer said.

The admission comes just two months after his wife broke the news that Holder had been secretly battling cancer for the past five years.

Suzan, 57, wrote a touching article for Great British Life in October 2023 and spoke of the groundbreaking trial of chemotherapy that helped him survive.

She wrote: "Five years ago we were given the devastating news that he had oesophageal cancer and only had six months to live.

"I’m sorry if that comes as a bit of a shock; it came as a total bombshell to us too. We coped with it the only way we could, by hunkering down, sticking together and doing everything we could to survive it.

"We told only immediate close family and friends and I will never apologise to those we did not confide in, only to those who were forced to suffer pain and anguish alongside us as we attempted to navigate our way through this new and horrifying world."

She went on to explain that The Christie Hospital's treatment worked wonders for her husband.

Suzan wrote: "There were no guarantees, no one knew if it would have any effect, let alone work miracles, but he responded well. As anyone who has received a cancer diagnosis will know, the experts never like to use the word "cure", but here we are five years later and he’s feeling good and looking great."

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Noddy has been in good spirits and even performed on stage this summer after being invited by Cheshire musician Tom Seals.

Slade had a successful career with six UK Number One singles, including 'Merry Xmas Everybody', 'Mama Weer All Crazee Now' and 'Cum on Feel the Noise'.

The band was formed in Wolverhampton in 1966 with Dave Hill, Don Powell and Jim Lea joining Noddy. Holder and Lea left the band in 1992, while Hill and Powell continued as Slade with different singers and musicians.