First the good news, then the words of gratitude: Thomas Gottschalk (76) took to Instagram to thank everyone who responded to his health update. "I am totally overwhelmed. My update reached an incredible number of people within a very short time", the legendary entertainer wrote on Sunday evening alongside a photo showing him laughing with outstretched arms in the middle of nature.
According to his own statement, the personal messages mean more to the host than the reach. He read all the messages, comments and good wishes, Gottschalk wrote, thanking the senders "from the bottom of my heart". "It means so much to me that you thought of me in recent months and are now accompanying me with so much warmth, compassion and confidence." He was also pleased about the growth in his follower numbers: "And by the way, we now have more than 200,000 here! Who would have thought? I certainly didn't."
"Currently cancer-free"
On Sunday morning, the former "Wetten, dass..?" host gave a "small personal update" after his illness-related withdrawal of several months: "After two operations, 33 radiation treatments and three weeks of rehab, I am currently cancer-free. That is the most important news for now." But because being cancer-free could "of course change at any time", he is "full of hope participating in a trial at the University of Greifswald, where I am being vaccinated against this damn sarcoma that I had, at regular intervals", Gottschalk said. Eight of the twelve vaccinations are already behind him, as he reveals. "In the coming months I will continue to recover and take it a bit easier. But of course I will be back here with you", he promised.
Cancer diagnosis made public in November
Thomas Gottschalk made his cancer diagnosis public at the end of November 2025. A few days after the announcement, he said goodbye to television on December 6 with a final episode of "Denn sie wissen nicht, was passiert" (RTL).
