Television presenter Will Reeve, the son of Superman actor Christopher Reeve, has revealed that earlier this year he received a diagnosis of testicular cancer, which spread to lymph nodes in his abdomen.
Will shared that he initially discovered a lump in April this year but dismissed it. It was his wife of three months at the time, event planner Amanda Dubin Reeve, who urged him to seek medical advice.
Reeve's family legacy of turning adversity into hope
Speaking about his decision to go public, Will said: "I was raised to share one's struggles if, in doing so, that might help others. Watching my parents up close take the adversity they faced in their lives and repurpose it into something hopeful left a major impact on my life and how I try to live it."
Will was just two years old when his father was ejected from a horse and left paralysed from the neck down, which confined him to a wheelchair and a ventilator for the remainder of his days. Rather than dwelling on his circumstances, Christopher became a champion for spinal-cord-injury awareness and research. Together, he and Will's mother set up The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation.
Aggressive cancer and six-hour surgery
While speaking to People magazine, Will admitted he was "stunned" to discover his condition. Medical tests showed that 95% of the testicular cancer detected was embryonal carcinoma, an aggressive variant of the disease.
He had to undergo a six-hour operation on June 10 to remove dozens of lymph nodes from his abdomen. Will said: "I hadn't had surgery since I got my tonsils out at five. So I was more nervous about the unknown of the surgery rather than the overwhelming realisation that I would be losing an essential part of my body forever."
Fortunately, he received the all-clear on September 8. He is now opening up about his ordeal in hopes it will inspire others who may find themselves in the same situation.
