British artist Tracey Emin has confirmed that she is free of cancer after undergoing extensive surgery.
The 57-year-old announced last year that she had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of bladder cancer, admitting at the time that her short-term ambition was to live past Christmas 2020.
In an interview with Newsnight this week, Emin shared the news that her three-month scan for signs of cancer had come back "all clear" in what was a "big, big milestone" in her recovery.
As part of her treatment, Emin underwent a full hysterectomy and had her bladder, urethra, lymph nodes, part of her intestine and half of her vagina all removed.
"I'm not painting [at the moment] because I'm using my willpower to stay alive," she told the programme. "I never realised how much I wanted to live until I thought I was going to die."
Emin's works are to be displayed alongside the paintings of Edvard Munch in a new exhibition at London's Royal Academy of Arts from May 18.
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