Overview
- In a new interview with Bunte published Wednesday, the SPD leader and vice chancellor recalls his doctor warning that a delay of a few weeks could have cost his life or his voice.
- He says the tumor was surgically removed in 2014 and he is now considered cured.
- Klingbeil attributes the cancer to years of heavy smoking, saying he once consumed up to 40 cigarettes a day and has been smoke‑free since the operation.
- He first disclosed the illness publicly in April on Zeit’s Alles gesagt podcast, where he said he detected the cancer himself.
- He describes a lifestyle shift that includes three hours of scheduled weekly exercise and frequent cycling, which he links to greater composure and gratitude.