Rod Stewart 'absolutely shattered' when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer

Rod Stewart has spoken of the moment he got his devastating prostate cancer diagnosis.

Earlier this year the rock icon revealed he had been battling prostate cancer for the last three years.

He was diagnosed during a routine check-up in 2016, but he fought the disease and has been in remission since July.

The 74-year-old received the bad news with his wife Penny Lancaster by his side and he thanked her for her love and support during the difficult time.

Speaking on Loose Women on Monday, Rod said: ‘We were absolutely shattered, but I had this marvelous specimen of a woman by my side to get me through it.’

He continued to make music and tour while receiving treatment and credited his work ethic will helping him overcome it.

‘I worked for two years knowing it was there. You can’t dwell on it. Be confident and let God take care of the rest,’ Rod said.

He also used the interview to urge men to swallow their pride and get themselves checked.

‘My dad never went to the dentist and he died with no teeth,’ he revealed.

‘Please guys, finger up the bum no harm done.’

Rod is currently on tour and promoting his new album which reworks his classic hits with help from the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

He told host Andrea McLean that he never gets tired of singing his most loved tracks to audiences over and over again – apart from one.

The star confessed: ‘Maybe Do You Think I’m Sexy?. The audience don’t [get tired of it]. What the audience want is what I want.’

Rod also thanked ‘black culture’ for inspiring him in his career.

The Maggie May singer has eight children and has been married to Penny, who was also on Monday’s Loose Women, since 2007.

She has previously discussed what life would be like with her husband, who is 26 years older than her.

‘Rod’s in his 70s, early 70s, and we have a huge family base at home,’ she said.

‘My life is based on the family, Rod, the children, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

‘I do on occasions think, when I’m Rod’s age, I won’t have my husband and the children will be grown up and gone, and I kind of feel that I need to prepare.’

Loose Women airs weekdays from 12.30 on ITV.

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