Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood says he’s been given the “all clear” after his recent cancer scare.
He underwent keyhole surgery in May last year to have a lesion on his lung removed and had to be checked every three months.
Now he’s told The Metro he’s doing fine – just as the band are about to embark on their No Filter UK and European tour.
Wood says: “I had three months of check-ups and it was all clear and they said go and enjoy life.
"If your body is riddled with cancer, it’s a losing cause. Luckily, all mine was contained within the left lung and I was fortunate enough to get shot of it. There was none in the rest of my body so I didn’t require chemo.”
Asked if he has any regrets about his excesses of the past, Wood replies: “No, not even smoking for England for over 50 years. It was a wonder I wasn’t riddled with cancer in both lungs. It’s a wonder they both didn’t explode.”
Wood says his only vice now is “getting up in the morning” and adds: “I was prepared to remain positive to my dying breath. I’ve had a great life and I was all ready to go. Wow! I didn’t know I was going to be given the ticket to last this long. What a reprieve.”
As for the Stones upcoming tour dates, Wood says: “There’s something magic that happens when all four of us come together. It’s like a momentum none of us can explain. It’s like an unstoppable force… I think the band is playing the best it’s ever played.”
Find a list of the band’s tour dates along with ticket details on our dedicated Rolling Stones No Filter page.
