Ian McKellen Has Been Battling Prostate Cancer

Sir Ian McKellen has been fighting prostate cancer for the past six or seven years, but you wouldn't know it from his upbeat demeanor, sense of humor, and overall geniality. He spoke to the UK's Daily Mirror and gave them the scoop while making jokes that they would bash him for being decrepit.

"I've had prostate cancer for six or seven years," he told the magazine. "When you have got it you monitor it and you have to be careful it doesn't spread. But if it is contained in the prostate it's no big deal."

He adds: "Many, many men die from it but it's one of the cancers that is totally treatable so I have 'waitful watching.' I am examined regularly and it's just contained, it's not spreading. I've not had any treatment."

He went on to state:

"I just got hearing aids, I am going to have a cataract removed from my eyes, I am having an implant in my mouth, I am dealing with the prostate...I am absolutely fine thank you very much! I am lucky, I don't have aches and pains. I do pilates regularly which is a series of stretching exercises and I recommend it to anyone of my age because the temptation is not to exercise when you get older. Well you should."

Ian McKellen will return as Gandalf in this month's The Hobbit. And is set to star in a UK TV show, Vicious Old Queens in April 2013.

Check out Ian McKellen on the 1993 cover of Out below: