The “Survivor” fan favorite is facing her toughest challenge yet.
Ken McNickle, who made it to the finals in the 33rd season of the reality show, shared his cancer diagnosis this week in an Instagram post and, in the following video, revealed three symptoms he ignored.
“I thought for a while about whether to share or not, but in the end I decided to because I hope this chapter of my story can help others,” said McNickle, citing the original post, which featured pictures of him at a doctor’s appointment, apparently thinking about the medical scars attached to his chest.
“I made some mistakes in the process and I should have taken better care of myself sooner,” McNickle admitted, encouraging others to step up with treatment.
“If something worries you about life, don’t dwell on it,” she said. “Check yourself. There’s no good reason not to. None.”
In the following video, McNickle points out three signs and warning signs he ignored, introducing a clip on “trigger warning.”
“If you don’t like the worst medical details, get out now,” he warned.
“I waited almost a year until my skin opened up to get this checked,” he said, pointing to his heart. “If I had gone in sooner, it would have been an easier process — not a three-inch hole in my chest.”
McNikle added that despite seeing blood on his stool every morning, he delayed seeking treatment for about three months, at which point it was “confirmed” that “his insides were hurting.”
Although the type of cancer McNikle is fighting remains unclear, blood in the stool is a sign of colon cancer.
An ER doctor previously called this symptom “one condition where you should go to the emergency room today.”
McNikle, a former model and father-of-one, also admitted that he put off seeking medical attention until his hip growth reached an alarming rate.
“I waited until that lump in my testicles had grown to the size of the other two before I went for a test,” he added.
And, while McKickle hasn’t revealed a specific cancer diagnosis, the aforementioned lump could indicate testicular cancer, which is shockingly high in men between the ages of 20 and 40.
Reflecting on his decisions, McNickle complained, “I’ve been the king’s fool.”
He admitted that a childhood steeped in toxic masculinity and a lifetime of pressure to conform contributed to his troubled adult life.
“I heard the words, ‘Stop crying, don’t be a child.’ And yes, I think that had something to do with it.”
McNickle noted that his experience is not unique, calling it an “epidemic” of men’s lives.
“We need to talk more about why men are 50% less likely to go to the doctor for physical ailments and 60% less likely to get help for mental and emotional problems,” he captioned the video.
Fans quickly filled the comments section with words of support and gratitude.
“Thank you for sharing all of this, it’s so important for us to speak up and help men who are struggling and not getting the help they need,” said another.
“You are not the only one who has put off the doctor for a long time, I hope your story can help others understand this,” said the second.
“Your honesty and vulnerability is truly brave. That’s being a true man. Sending you hugs and hope for a healing journey,” added a third.
McNickle’s season of Survivor aired in 2016 and had the theme “Millennials vs. Gen X.” he made it to the final three before losing to Adam Klein in an anonymous vote.
McNickle’s designation as the cancer patient of the millennium follows a disturbing trend. Research suggests that 1 billion Americans are at a 17-year high risk of developing cancer compared to older generations.
Indeed, millennials are twice as likely to get colorectal cancer compared to their Boomer counterparts.
Meanwhile, rates of appendix cancer have quadrupled among millennials, defined as the generation born between 1981 and 1996.
