Stan Walker has confirmed he had cancer and his stomach removed, but says that was just the beginning of a health battle that almost killed him.
"People will say, 'I knew it. He has cancer'. But I don't have cancer any more. This weight loss, I wish it was from cancer and it was that simple. I lost 20kg from a gallbladder issue. Who would have known?" the Kiwi singer told Stuff.
"Our family has an aggressive CDH1 hereditary mutation, which means about an 80 per cent chance of getting stomach cancer," he said.
"The complications have been worse than the actual surgery," Walker said.
"After the surgery, I had a collapsed lung, then, when I went in for a routine stretch [of the connection between the small intestine and oesophagus] I coughed, woke up and there was a leak, which meant if I ate or drank anything, I could have died."
But the optimistic artist says he feels good now and is back performing.
"People think you have to stop and be sad, but I am fine homie. I've never been better - obviously there are little things - but I feel so good. I wouldn't be performing on a stage if I wasn't. Mind you, most of those times I was on Tramadol! If anything though, it's time to go harder - be careful - but go hard."
A new documentary 'Stan' airs on television tonight, following the singer through his treatment.
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