Latest news with #cancerjourney
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ryan Seacrest Breaks Down in Tears Over Dad's Prostate Cancer Struggle: ‘No One Tells You How to Handle This'
Ryan Seacrest's father, Gary Seacrest, is navigating a difficult prostate cancer journey, the host shared in an emotional broadcast of On Air with Ryan Seacrest. The American Idol host was prompted to reveal his family's private struggle while discussing colleague Dennis Clark's 'victory story' of remission from cancer. Ryan, 50, had shared in a 2021 Instagram post that his father, who turns 81 on July 27, had been 'battling cancer for several years'— but at the time, they thought it was 'no longer detectable.' However, as he said in a July 21 broadcast of On Air with Ryan Seacrest, "It got worse and it spread.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by On Air with Ryan Seacrest (@onairwithryan) 'When this happens to somebody or someone really close to you that you love, this is a hard thing to see, because the treatments that are commonly recommended can be barbaric to the system. They can cause so much damage to your body in other ways," Ryan shared. The host also noted that Gary contracted pneumonia while undergoing chemotherapy. When Ryan was hosting American Idol's live shows last season, his sister Meredith called him with dire news: She said, ' 'Dad is in the ICU, and how fast can you get here?' ' Explaining that he's 'never really spoken about this,' Ryan said he somehow finished the episode even though 'I didn't even remember what I was saying.' Once the show wrapped, he flew to Atlanta to see his father: 'The night that I got there, the conversation they were having with [my father] about an emergency surgery was a life or death conversation, and I've never seen my strong, very smart father with the look on his face that he had — and the concern, and looking at me to help guide what decisions should be made in this moment.' Gary opted to not have surgery, Ryan said, explaining he visited his father daily in the hospital and ended up broadcasting his radio shows from his hotel room in Atlanta. 'When you see a parent suffering and when you see them going through this and you don't understand it yourself, you're just listening to all the different doctors and trying to make sense of what they're trying to suggest and do," he shared. "I didn't want to miss trying to understand who these people were that were taking care of my father.' He continued: 'He could not get up to sit. He could not eat. He could not drink water. He could not go to the bathroom. Weeks go by in ICU and finally he began to get some strength back.' Ryan noted that he wanted to help his mother, Connie, who is in remission from cancer. 'I needed her to take a break,' he said. 'When you're a kid, no one tells you how to handle this with your parents.' 'He slowly gained strength,' said Ryan, who went on to praise the 'angels' — the nurses — who looked after his father. 'The nurses are the people that nurture and care and have emotion about their patients. The nurses are the ones that are really looking after them day and night for hours, and I loved the team of nurses,' Ryan added, continuing to share that he sent them something to thank them afterward. His father was released this month and is home in Atlanta with full-time care, Ryan shared. He also revealed that he has flown back and forth from Los Angeles every weekend to visit his father, who struggled to get up out of his chair for nearly five months. 'His birthday is in a few days, and I asked him, 'What would you like for your birthday?' ' to which Ryan recalled his father replying, ' 'I just want to get out of this chair. I just want to leave this house.' ' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ryan Seacrest (@ryanseacrest) His voice audibly broke — and Ryan took a moment to steady his emotions. He shared that the night before, 'I got the most powerful, good, happy picture from my dad and my mother, who was with him. They went to a beach to sit outside. They just went to look at the water. They can't do much, but I saw him smile. I saw my mom smile." 'I'm embarrassed,' Ryan admitted as his emotions overtook him. 'I watched them over the weekend send photos of smiling and happiness, and being together. They've been married for over 55 years. They've got each other and the pneumonia is gone, but his cancer is not.' He shared he was 'so excited and happy' for his colleague, Clark, 'When he had beaten it.' 'Cancer affects every one of us in some way, and it. And it sucks. And the treatments suck … treatments are tough. But I know he's going to get through this," Ryan continued. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
After 20 Years with Tongue Cancer and Losing Most of His Tongue, This Dad, 41, Is Determined to Speak Again (Exclusive)
Ryan Shinkle first noticed something was off at 25 years oldNEED TO KNOW Ryan Shinkle first noticed something was off with his tongue more than 20 years ago, at just 25 years old At the time, a small white patch had appeared on the left side of his tongue. A biopsy later confirmed it was precancerous leukoplakia Years later, Shinkle was diagnosed with tongue cancer. Now, 41, he's opening up on TikTok about his journeyRyan Shinkle's entire life revolves around speech. He built a successful career in sales and rose into leadership roles, currently serving as the head of sales for The Baldwin Group, a publicly traded insurance brokerage firm — where clear, confident communication is everything. So when doctors recently told the father of two that he might lose his ability to speak, the news was devastating. The Tampa, Fla., native first noticed something was off more than 20 years ago, at just 25. A small white patch had appeared on the left side of his tongue. A biopsy later confirmed it was precancerous leukoplakia. After relocating to Houston for work, Ryan — encouraged by his mother — began regular checkups at MD Anderson Cancer Center, one of the country's leading cancer institutions. As life moved forward, Ryan met his now-wife, Ashley, and in 2014, they learned they were expecting their first child. But that year also brought heartbreaking news. 'I'd been monitoring the leukoplakia closely, and that time, a biopsy came back positive for cancer cells,' Ryan, now 41, tells PEOPLE exclusively over Zoom. He underwent his first partial glossectomy, a surgery to remove part of his tongue. For a time, things were stable. But in 2019, shortly after their second child was born, the cancer returned. Ryan endured a second partial glossectomy, hopeful it would be the final chapter in his cancer journey. Then, in January 2025, Ryan began feeling a familiar pain in his tongue. Ashley encouraged him to return to MD Anderson Cancer Center, where he had remained a patient even after moving back to Florida. Soon after, he was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma. According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of this cancer include persistent sores, pain, difficulty swallowing or chewing and changes in speech. Tobacco is the single largest risk factor for tongue cancer. The tumor was classified as T-1 and located on the left side of his tongue. Surgery followed by radiation was the standard treatment plan. 'The team suggested I was a good candidate for an immunotherapy treatment that had shown success in shrinking other types of tumors and was in trial status for squamous cell carcinoma,' Ryan explains. The trial involved a six-week course of two immunotherapy drugs administered via IV. At first, the tumor appeared stable, maybe even slightly smaller. But during the second half of the trial, Ryan noticed rapid growth. "I noticed the tumor explode… it doubled in size,' he says. 'I alerted the team, but surgery was already scheduled, so there wasn't much to do in the two weeks until then." By the time he and Ashley returned to Houston for pre-op scans, the tumor's growth had accelerated significantly. His surgeon warned that Ryan might now require a total glossectomy, the complete removal of his tongue. The procedure could mean he might never speak again and could need a feeding tube for the rest of his life. "I had a meltdown. In six weeks, we went from a small tumor in an ideal position to the likely loss of my entire tongue," the dad of two, ages 10 and 6, says. "The concept of not being able to talk to my children shook me to my core." "His whole personality is built around how he talks,' Ashley continues. 'He's funny, witty and quick... your typical sales guy. So the thought of maybe not speaking again or being on a feeding tube was shocking." Leading up to surgery, Ashley, knowing how much Ryan loved public speaking and MC'ing at company events, also suggested something unexpected: Why not document the journey? Inspired by his wife, Ryan decided to create his own TikTok account, @dadgotyourtongue, and post his first video: "Preparing to have my tongue cut out and reconstructed with my forearm as if that's totally normal for a 41-year-old who's never touched tobacco," he wrote, filming himself walking into the hospital. Shortly after that post, Ryan underwent a complex 12-hour operation in Houston, where approximately two-thirds of his tongue was removed and reconstructed using a flap from his thigh. The procedure also included a complete neck dissection. The first half of the surgery involved removing the tumor and ensuring clear margins; the second half, performed by the plastic surgery team, focused on rebuilding what had been lost. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. At first, recovery appeared to be going well. Nurses monitored the blood flow to the new flap every hour using a Doppler machine, which functions much like an ultrasound. But about 36 hours after the operation, something went wrong. The flap had failed due to a blood clot. Ryan was rushed into emergency surgery, where doctors reconstructed his tongue again, this time using tissue from his left forearm. The original thigh flap was salvaged and used as a skin graft. "It was like a scene from ER," he says. "I was lying in bed, staring up at the ceiling as the lights went by, trying not to panic. I couldn't talk, but I managed to write 'I love you' to my wife on a whiteboard." But Ryan's recovery wasn't without complications. Just seven days after surgery — and shortly after passing a swallow test and being discharged — he developed kidney stones and had to be readmitted to the hospital. Once stabilized, he turned his focus back to healing. As he regained strength, he began the slow, often frustrating process of relearning how to eat. Each small step forward felt like a victory. From mashed potatoes and pudding to scrambled eggs and soft pasta, every bite was progress. He also began simple tongue exercises to help retrain the muscles that remained functional. "I still have the base of the tongue and kind of the side,' Ryan adds. 'So this just has to compensate for everything over here that doesn't do anything. After surgery, obviously, there's tremendous swelling and as the swelling went down, my speech got better." Then came a breakthrough — the first word Ryan was able to speak. It was a few days after surgery. Although the tracheostomy was still in place, doctors had fitted him with a small 'vocal cap,' which redirected airflow to help him attempt speech. In that moment, Ryan turned to Ashley and said her name. "After a few days of preparing herself to never hear me talk again, I was able to say 'Ashley,' and she broke down in tears," he says. "I then said, 'I love you. Thank you for taking care of me.' Days later, I told her, 'I'm going to win, I'm going to get my speech back.' " But as Ryan continued to make progress, another challenge emerged: radiation. The treatment brought a new wave of difficulties — extreme fatigue, painful sores in his mouth, and a return to nutrient-packed smoothies just to maintain weight. Even as Ryan's physical voice faced new tests, his digital voice continued to grow stronger. He kept posting regularly on TikTok — sharing recovery tips, answering questions, and speaking candidly about both setbacks and victories. Through social media, he not only processed his own experience but helped others navigate theirs. 'It's been helpful for me to know other people are fighting the same battle. It's less lonely, and I'm hopeful I've provided some measure of the same sort of comfort.' That sense of connection — both online and at home — has shaped how Ryan sees the road ahead. As he looks to the future, he's thinking not just about recovery, but how to turn this experience into something greater. He's begun work on a book focused on overcoming adversity and achieving goals, and he hopes to build a platform that empowers others to improve their health or transform their lives in meaningful ways. Fortunately, Ryan's latest scans show no signs of cancer. It hadn't spread, and now he'll simply return for checkups every five years — a milestone that brings deep relief and renewed focus. "I'm more resilient than I ever thought I was," Ryan says. "In a way, more mentally tough and more mentally weak than I knew, and in finding peace with that. I've learned that I can survive anything and that surviving is worth it." Read the original article on People Solve the daily Crossword
News.com.au
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Jessie J shares huge cancer update as she prepares to go under the knife
Jessie J has taken to social media to share a huge update in her heartbreaking cancer journey. In June she revealed her diagnosis and underwent surgery to remove her breast. In her latest post, the singer said that her results had revealed that she has 'no cancer spread' before thanking fans for their support. In the caption of a video recorded shortly before her operation, she wrote: 'AND. I AM OK. Results = I have NO cancer spread. Happy tears are real', followed by several crying emojis. 'Thank YOU for the prayers, the love, the well wishes, the joy and all the positive energy.' She continued: 'This video is from the night before my surgery. We called it baby boy. You are my biggest ray of light and with you in my life, the darkness will never win.' 'Lots of healing to go and one more surgery to make these cousins look more like sisters, but for now it's gratitude time and I am changing my name to The LopJess monster.' Jessie first underwent surgery on June 23, and she shared numerous photos and videos from the hospital on social media at the time. After the surgery, the Grammy nominee posted an Instagram story appearing to suggest her cancer was 'all gone.' However, she later clarified that this is 'NOT a fact' and that she was still waiting on her results. 'I pray it will be true soon but the journey of cancer isn't that simple unfortunately,' she said. Her latest remarks come after Jessie became visibly emotional when she told fans during her last performance that she intends to 'beat' cancer. 'Today, this show is my last show before I go to beat breast cancer!' she told the sellout crowd of 75,000 fans at Wembley Stadium. 'So it's so special to me you have no idea. I feel so special to be from the UK, to be an honest person and say how you feel.' 'This is my last show before go treatment and all the things It's the most special thing and I'm so grateful for this life, for you guys, for my career, to my, my son. My partner, my parents'. She added: 'My family, my band, my crew. We are so lucky, we have so much to live for, so much joy, so much, so many things to do'. The singer has been open about her health issues in the past, including a 2020 diagnosis of Ménière's disease, an inner-ear condition that can lead to severe dizziness and hearing loss. The following year, she revealed to her fans that she'd suffered a miscarriage, and last year she publicly shared that she'd been diagnosed with both obsessive–compulsive disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Grazia USA
03-07-2025
- Health
- Grazia USA
Kate Middleton Speaks Candidly About "Really Difficult" Post Cancer Recovery
Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, speaks during a visit to the RHS's Wellbeing Garden at Colchester Hospital on July 2, 2025 in Colchester, England. (Photo by Stefan Rousseau –) Kate Middleton sparked concern last month when she unexpectedly withdrew from her Royal Ascot appearance due to health concerns. The Duchess has now returned to her public duties two weeks later, with candid insight into her cancer recovery. On Wednesday, Middleton paid a visit to Colchester Hospital's Wellbeing Garden, spending time speaking to staff and patients, and planting flowers. The royal opted for earth-toned business casual for the day, pairing a Blazé Milano blazer with stripes and a tan and white Ralph Lauren button-down over chocolate brown trousers. Her Veja sneakers kept the look grounded for the day's outdoor activities. Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales arrives for a visit to the RHS's Wellbeing Garden at Colchester Hospital on July 2, 2025 in Colchester, England. (Photo by Stefan Rousseau –) More notably, while there, Middleton openly spoke to patients about her own cancer journey. 'You put on a sort of brave face, stoicism through treatment,' she described. 'Treatment's done, then it's like, 'I can crack on, get back to normal,' but actually, the phase afterwards is really, really difficult.' She highlighted the ups and downs that come after treatment, and how remission is not the end of the journey. 'You're not necessarily under the clinical team any longer, but you're not able to function normally at home as you perhaps once used to.' She continued, 'And actually, someone to help talk you through that, show you and guide you through that sort of phase that comes after treatment, I think is really valuable.' Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, planting a rose during a visit to the RHS's Wellbeing Garden at Colchester Hospital on July 2, 2025, in Colchester, England. (Photo by Stefan Rousseau –) The hospital's garden is designed as a private space, allowing staff, patients, and visitors to relax in a serene setting away from the clinical environment. During her visit, Princess Kate planted several 'Catherine's Rose' plants, which were launched in her honour by the Royal Horticultural Society. They were added to the garden and will also be distributed to 500 other similar restorative green spaces for those in need. A fitting cause, as Middleton herself has insight into the restorative power of outdoor spaces. 'During my recovery, I spent a lot of time in the outdoors,' she noted. 'That's where I felt at peace.' topics: Kate Middleton, Princess Kate, Catherine Princess of Wales, royals, royal family, Royal News, Royal Fashion, celebrity, celebrity news, celebrity fashion, Trending
Malay Mail
02-07-2025
- Health
- Malay Mail
Cancer Diaries: Please don't take my EPF for insurance, learn from other countries instead
JULY 2 — There are things that irk me about Malaysia sometimes but I'm grateful our public healthcare exists. If it hadn't, faced with charges like RM4,000 for a biopsy and nearly RM3,000 for a PET scan, the alternate choice of flying somewhere with snow and dying from exposure on a wintery mountainside would seem far more appealing. Remembering the anguish I felt seeing just how much scans and cancer drugs cost when I started my cancer journey, I do not wish it on anyone else. Public healthcare and the generosity of friends and supporters is literally saving my life so why wouldn't I want that same healthcare available for everyone? Instead some guy in a suit is telling me no, we need to make everyone buy insurance and go to private hospitals instead. I support the notion of a national health insurance scheme but only if it's used for public healthcare. Let's call a cangkul a cangkul: the idea of extracting funds from people's EPF accounts to pay for private insurance benefits not the average Malaysian but private insurers and hospitals. Just look at their financial reporting for the last few years. They make enough money already; we don't need to give them the keys to our retirement funds. My recent dealings with the EPF was a preview of how things will be if this proposal goes through — making health withdrawals will be likely near-impossible because the funds will be frozen to pay your insurance. There are so many things that aren't taken into account with this new idea. It would only work if insurance premiums stayed low and only rose to keep pace with inflation, when in reality the older you get the more costly your premiums become. Insurance companies also usually have an age cutoff not to mention exclusions for pre-existing conditions. Will the rules for medical withdrawals instead follow insurance guidelines — with only specific procedures allowed, generic medications permitted and EPF getting to decide patients' treatment plans? We could learn instead from countries with national health insurance schemes such as China, Japan and South Korea or from Singapore's dedication to preventative healthcare. Singapore starts early by taking a more serious approach to physical education in schools while also encouraging as well as facilitating healthy lifestyle choices among its populace. Meanwhile in Malaysia, we keep hearing of school canteen operators selling slop at expensive prices to our children who are now shorter than ever thanks to an increase in stunting. Why must we constantly shame Malaysians for 'personal choices' when we never make the healthier choice the easier one? I would love for diamonds to be taxed but apparently precious gems and metals will not be included in the SST expansion but dried mushrooms, a very common ingredient in Chinese cookIng, is. Make it make sense. Public healthcare, not private insurance, has been a lifeline for many Malaysians — but proposed changes risk shifting the burden onto individuals and their retirement savings. — Picture by Raymond Manuel I could live with a tweak of tax brackets if it meant that I won't see my oncology nurse be close to tears because there are too many patients and not enough staff to handle them all. Money should never be what decides who lives or who dies. I want more doctors, more nurses, more health interventions for lower income earners and more health resources spread around the country so cancer patients in Pahang and the East Coast don't have to travel all the way to the Klang Valley to be seen. Do not tell me that is not possible or practical when more has been spent on far less important endeavours such as our version of National Service. Perhaps bean counters see the cost of public healthcare as just an expense and not an investment. What do I see? I see women far older than me, frail-looking and tiny, resolutely showing up to their appointments. I watched a bow-legged man walk hand-in-hand with his wife as she hobbled along with a cane along a hospital corridor. On Threads I read the stories of a woman with Stage 4 cancer resolutely trying to live for her children despite the money running out for her drugs, who comes in for treatment on the same days that I do. (You can donate to her here) At the hospital I see people who want to live or at the very least, are doing their best not to die. They deserve better than a system that considers withholding treatment for lack of payment a cost-savings. * This is the personal opinion of the columnist.
