On Monday, June 1, “Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X” runner-up Ken McNickle took to Instagram to share his recent cancer diagnosis with fans.
“I deliberated for a while about whether to share or not but I ultimately decided to because I’m hoping this chapter in my story can help others,” McNickle, 43, wrote in the caption of the vulnerable post, adding, “I’ve made some mistakes in the process and should have taken care of myself better and sooner.”
The post included a carousel of photos of the former castaway sitting at his doctor’s office with white patches attached to his chest. The snapshots were accompanied by text that read:
“That moment when you hear the words: ‘It’s cancer.’ And everything becomes muted. The doctor sounding like the teacher from ‘Charlie Brown.’ You realize nothing is registering other than that one word. And then the flood of questions. ‘Why now? What did I do to deserve this? Why didn’t I come in sooner? After everything else, now this?’ And then the feeling of defeat and you hear the words: ‘F*** it’ start to creep it. The beginning of the process of giving up. And then I think about my daughter. My lady and the life we want and how there’s another option…to fight. Because there’s always a choice. And I’m choosing optimism, health, happiness and the knowing that the spirit has me. And most importantly, I’m choosing love.”
While Ken – a model and life coach based in Colorado – has yet to reveal the details of his diagnosis, he called on fans to take their health seriously moving forward, writing: “If you have a health concern, don’t sit on it. Get yourself checked. There’s no valid reason not to. Not one.”
‘Survivor’ Stars Voice Their Support & Sympathy Following Ken’s Diagnosis
CBSIn the comments section of his recent post, Ken’s “Survivor” co-stars voiced their sympathy and support following his diagnosis.
Adam Klein, who competed alongside McNickle on “Millennials vs. Gen X” in 2016, was amongst the first to fly to the comments, writing: “I’m deeply sorry Ken that you have to go through this”
Klein, who lost his own mother to cancer shortly after filming Season 33, added, “You are a strong, resilient person and cancer [messed] with the wrong guy. You got this. Sending healing energy.”
“Thinking about you right now. Your strength will power you through this!!!” wrote three-time “Survivor” player Kelley Wentworth, while Season 49 runner-up Sophi Balerdi added, “So sorry to hear this Ken. You are a fighter and you will get through this!”
While Ken has not returned to “Survivor” since his original season, news of his cancer diagnosis comes just days after the former castaway’s return to reality TV – on the cast of Reiman Bledsoe’s new documentary series “Surviving Reality” – was announced.
Ken Says He’s Determined to Fight His Diagnosis for His Daughter
CBSRegardless of his new circumstances, Ken assured fans that he will continue to battle his recent diagnosis, if only for the benefit of his daughter.
The reality star met his daughter, now 16, for the first time when she was four-and-a-half years old, having not known she even existed in those early years of her life.
“It’s a really strange thing, having missed that first four and a half years,” he told Parade in a 2016 interview. “But everyone who meets us.. Even in the beginning, before I had a chance to really impact her or influence her in any way. Everyone we met was like, ‘This is you. I remember you when you were a kid, and this is a little girl version of you.’ Everyone calls her my mini-me.”
Despite missing out on her early years, Ken added that his “whole world revolves around her now.”
“She’s my daughter, my best friend, my soul mate, everything all rolled into one,” he added. “For a guy who never thought he would have kids or go down that route, it’s the most amazing thing that’s ever happened.”
We will continue to update fans on Ken McNickle’s cancer diagnosis as new details become available. In the meantime, we wish the former castaway all the best as he embarks on his healing journey.
