The Shock of a Cancer Diagnosis
- Voice actor Billy Kametz, 35, says he is stepping away from the industry after finding out he has advanced stage cancer.
- Kametz first started experiencing pain in his shoulder and noted difficulties while eating, and luckily received a diagnosis soon after he went to the emergency room for a CT scan.
- Patients with earlier stage disease (ie. stage one) have improved overall survival as compared to patients with later stage disease.
“I have been diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer,” the animé star announced on his Instagram page, expressing that he thought it would be “weird” to simply just do an average post about the serious subject. Instead, the revered genre idol wanted to verbalize his feelings while giving his fans a sense as to where his head is at during this difficult time.
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Kametzwhose biggest roles include “Josuke” from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, “Naofumi” from The Rising of the Shield Hero, and “Rui” from Demon Slayerfirst started experiencing pain in his shoulder and noted difficulties while eating, and luckily received a diagnosis soon after he went to the emergency room for a CT scan.
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“It moved to my liver, my lungs, and my spine,” he informed of where the cancer has spread. So far, Kametz is doing well with treatment, “feeling fine,” and insists his “appetite is up” as well.
Despite everything Kametz is going through, his top request is quite endearing. Due to his having to pull out of shows, he simply has one request of fans in regards to whomever will be replacing him, “If you could just support the crap out of them and be their biggest cheerleader, that would make me really really happy.”
For the time being, Kametz just wants to be at home focusing on his treatments.
Learning About Colon Cancer
Stage four colon cancer, despite it’s bad rap, can be cured in certain cases, according to SurvivorNet adviser and colorectal surgeon Dr. Heather Yeo.
“Overall patient outcome is dependent on the stage of disease,” Dr. Yeo expains. “Patients with earlier stage disease (ie. stage one) have improved overall survival as compared to patients with later stage disease (ie. stage four). The most important thing to remember regarding hearing statistics such as this is that each patient is different, and there is a potential for cure in every stage of disease.”
Why Me? Dealing With the Inevitable Questions That Come After a Cancer Diagnosis
With the development of new therapies for metastatic colorectal cancer, there have been improvements in survival. Many of these treatment options involve a multidisciplinary approach, and should be tailored to the individual patient depending on the location and the extent of metastatic disease.
Understanding Your Options With Stage Four Colon Cancer
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
