Friends star James Michael Tyler has shared the news that he is battling stage four prostate cancer.
The 59-year-old, who appeared as the lovable coffee shop work Gunther in all 10 seasons of the comedy, revealed his diagnosis during an appearance on NBC's Today show.
Tyler said that the cancer has now spread to his bones, leaving him paralysed, although he is on a course of chemotherapy treatment.
"I've been dealing with that diagnosis for almost the past three years," he said. "It's stage 4. Late stage cancer. So eventually, you know, it's gonna probably get me."
The actor went on to admit that he had decided not to be physically present for the recent Friends reunion, instead appearing by Zoom, due to his condition.
"It was bittersweet, honestly. I was very happy to be included," he added. "It was my decision not to be a part of that physically and make an appearance on Zoom, basically, because I didn't wanna bring a downer on it, you know?
"I didn't want to be like, 'Oh, and by the way, Gunther has cancer'."
According to the latest statistics, around 250,000 men in the US are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year, while the stage-four survival rate stands at 30%.
Neil Wilkes
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