Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood is now cancer free. A cancerous lesion in Wood’s lung was discovered in May 2017, but the legendary guitarist beat the disease relatively quickly and without the use of chemotherapy.

Wood spoke with the Daily Mail shortly after his diagnosis, speaking of a traumatic five-year operation to remove a part of a lung. “There was a week when everything hung in the balance and it could have been curtains – time to say goodbye. You never know what is going to happen,” Wood said. One of the reasons he chose not to undergo chemotherapy? Ronnie didn’t want to lose his hair. Since his cancer had not spread past his left lung, thankfully, chemo wasn’t required.

In a new interview with Metro, Ronnie revealed he was given the best news imaginable by his doctors. “I had three months of check-ups and it was all clear and they said go and enjoy life,” Wood relayed.

Despite his lung cancer scare, Wood has no regrets about the smoking, drinking and drug-fueled lifestyle he embraced for so many years. “[I don’t regret smoking] for over 50 years — it was a wonder I wasn’t riddled with cancer in both lungs. It’s a wonder they both didn’t explode.”

Wood also offered a message to anyone currently suffering from cancer. “Just be strong and remain positive,” Wood says. “I was prepared to remain positive to my dying breath. I’ve had a great life and I was all ready to go. Wow! I didn’t know I was going to be given the ticket to last this long. What a reprieve.”

Ronnie isn’t taking too much time to relax, as he’ll be heading out on tour with the Rolling Stones on May 22.

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