Stanley Tucci opens up about ‘terrifying’ experience with cancer
Stanley Tucci portrays Bernard Orlick in the Citadel series available on Amazon Prime. (Getty)
The well-known Stanley Tucci, famous for his performances in The Devil Wears Prada and The Hunger Games, has shared his passion for food and revealed how his battle with cancer affected his ability to taste.
Although many people may recall Tucci primarily for his remarkable acting talent, in recent years, the 63-year-old has become widely recognized for his food-related content on social media. This shift in focus was further cemented by the release of his culinary memoir, *Taste*, in 2021.
In his book, Tucci shares his experience of being diagnosed with oral cancer in 2018, which left him in shock. He had been experiencing jaw pain, prompting him to seek medical attention, leading to the official diagnosis.
He expressed, “I was so shocked that I nearly passed out.”
Surgery to eliminate the cancer would permanently affect his sense of smell and taste. This is something no one would want to experience, but for Tucci, who has a deep passion for food, it was particularly heartbreaking.
"The only feasible choice I had was to undergo thirty-five days of intensive targeted radiation along with seven sessions of low-dose chemotherapy. Fortunately, since the tumor hadn't spread, the treatment offered nearly a 90% chance of a cure, with a very low likelihood of it coming back. Those statistics were hard to dispute. Ultimately, I decided to proceed with it because I felt I had no other option," Tucci shared.
Tucci, along with his fans and family, feel incredibly thankful for the positive results of his treatment. However, he expressed how challenging it has been to deal with cancer, especially since his first wife, Kate, lost her life after a tough four-year battle with the illness in 2009.
"I felt anxious about the idea of going back to that world," the star of The Devil Wears Prada expressed at that moment.
"[The sadness] is always present. However, if it remained as intense as it is in the early stages, you wouldn't be able to cope. You wouldn't be able to care for your children, keep a job, or do anything at all. So, whether we recognize it or not, we convince ourselves to move on. Additionally, the person who has passed away wouldn't want you to feel this way," Tucci recently mentioned in an interview with The Guardian.
He mentioned that although he was fortunate enough to enter remission following his cancer therapy, he still experiences difficulties with swallowing due to radiation treatment. Tucci feels that period of his life is somewhat unclear in his memory.
After the passing of his wife, Tucci discovered love once more with Felicity Blunt, the sister of actress Emily Blunt, and they tied the knot in 2012. In an interview with the Guardian, he shared how much support his late wife provided during his cancer treatment, noting that she even pushed him to go through with it at times: “I was reluctant to undergo the treatment because I was familiar with the realities of cancer treatments. I had witnessed it before. I preferred alternative options. However, Felicity strongly opposed that idea.”
"There are significant moments I can't recall. Felicity often mentions when I suddenly fell to the ground, but I have no memory of it. The only thing that stands out in my mind is how incredibly miserable and sick I felt, unable to even raise my head from the pillow. It was truly terrible. Then, after a long time, you gradually start to feel better," Tucci shared.
He believes that the cancer has made him feel much older, but he is still embracing life. He’s currently featured in the spy-action series Citadel and recently published a new food memoir on October 10, called What I Ate in One Year (and related thoughts).
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