AceShowbiz - Billy Connolly, the celebrated Scottish comedian known lovingly as the Big Yin, has spent over 50 years making the world laugh. However, his journey took a dramatic turn in 2013 when he was diagnosed with both Parkinson's disease and prostate cancer on the same day. In a series of candid interviews, Connolly, now 81, has opened up about his struggle and how he manages to find humor even in the face of such daunting challenges.

Reflecting on his "funny week" of diagnoses, Connolly humorously recalled, "On the Monday, I had hearing aids. On the Tuesday I got pills for heart burn, which I have to take all the time. And on the Wednesday, I got news that I had prostate cancer and Parkinson's." Upon receiving the diagnosis of cancer, Connolly shared, "The doctors told me on the phone, 'Look we have had the results and it is cancer.' I said, 'Oh, nobody has ever said that to be me before.' " His unwavering humor and his wife's supportive hug helped him navigate the intense emotions that followed.

Connolly's prostate cancer was successfully treated, but Parkinson's remains a daily battle. He has taken his condition in stride, joking that his frequent appearances on Michael Parkinson's chat show might have played a role, "I just thought 'I have got Parkinson's. I wish he (Michael) had kept it to himself!' It was easy (making fun of it)." His approach is simple, "You just confront it and make decisions based on it. You just have to think ‘Don't think you are being badly treated or you have the bad pick of the straws. You are one of millions. Just behave yourself and relax."

The progression of his disease has not been easy. Connolly admits that his balance has significantly deteriorated, leading to "serious falls." He described the feeling of being "out of step" with the world, "Being unwell is strange. Everybody else is OK and you've got this thing that's wrong." His sense of humor remains intact, however. During an interview with The Guardian, he joked that his tremors have unexpectedly helped his art by creating "wriggly lines" that add a unique touch to his drawings.

Despite the challenges, Connolly has found peace with the concept of death. He remarked, "You then realise it (death) is not the big thing everyone has made it out to be. It is nothing. It is just a sudden nothing." This calm acceptance allows him to focus on living each day to the fullest, even as he confronts the creeping advances of Parkinson's disease.

Through it all, Billy Connolly continues to be a beacon of resilience and humor, teaching the world that even in the face of adversity, laughter remains the best medicine.