Stanley Tucci reveals he had to eat through a feeding tube for six months due to oral cancer
The Devil Wears Prada star Stanley Tucci has opened up about his battle with oral cancer and the toll of his treatment that has lingered three years later.
The 60-year-old actor revealed on Lorraine on Thursday that he was forced to eat through a feeding tube for six months as he underwent radiation therapy on his throat — destroying his saliva and taste buds — and that three years later, he still "can't eat everything [he'd] like."
"'It was bad... it was much worse than I thought. The tumour was so large it was inoperable. The cancer had not metastasised," Tucci revealed on the program.
READ MORE: Stanley Tucci says he was still recovering from cancer treatment while filming Searching for Italy
Stanley Tucci's taste buds were 'destroyed' as a result of his cancer battle. Instagram
"I ate through a feeding tube for six months. Three years on, everything is fine, but I still can't eat everything I would like to eat," Tucci continued.
The Hunger Games star also said that when he contracted COVID-19 last year, he lost his sense of taste for five days.
"It was a bit of a panic," Tucci said.
READ MORE: Woman left feeling uneasy after tradie gives number and waits outside for an hour
Tucci said losing his sense of taste was 'devastating.' Getty
Tucci explained that his new memoir Taste: My Life Through Food explores his cancer battle through his love of food.
Due to the fact that the tumour on his tongue was too large to operate on, Tucci had to endure high-dose radiation and chemotherapy.
"[My] taste buds and saliva glands were destroyed as was the inside of my mouth, and it's taken really two years to get back to almost normal," Tucci said.
As a result, he lost 30 pounds (approx. 14 kilograms).
READ MORE: Adele opens up about upcoming album and finding happiness
Tucci's new memoir explores his cancer battle through how it influenced his food. Penguin
When asked about how it felt to go through losing his sense of taste, Tucci said, "It was devastating."
"Luckily, the cure rate was very high. So it's three years later now and everything is fine, but I was unable to eat solid food for six months," Tucci said.
Tucci, however, also acknowledged how happy he is to be alive because of his treatment.
"That said, it's a small price to pay for being alive and being able to accompany my family," the Easy A star noted.
