Eva Mendes has branded her mum "incredible" for retaining her sense of humour during her battle with cancer

During an appearance on the 'Today' show, Eva said: "She lost my brother just a few years ago to cancer ... This woman is incredible. She's still funny as hell."

Eva went on to explain she has been taking her mum to her follow-up appointments and she's still cracking jokes. The movie star added: "If I take her to the doctor's office, which I take her often, and they ask her, like: 'Oh, you know, have you had this removed or do you have this?'

"She goes: 'Listen, it's easier if I tell you what I still have. Everything's gone'."

Earlier this year, the 'Last Night' star shared her mother's cancer battle with her followers on Instagram but explained her mum didn't want the details of her health crisis to be made public.

Eva wrote: "This Barbie is my Hero. I wish this Barbie wasn't so private then I'd be able to share everything she has survived - but the only thing she'll let me share is that she is a cancer survivor. Like that's not enough, I know. I see my strength in her eyes."

Eva's brother Carlos died in 2016 at the age of 53 after a battle with throat cancer - just two weeks before she welcomed her second daughter with partner Ryan Gosling.