702 radio host, Xolani Gwala, has been off air for several weeks shortly after being bumped up to the breakfast slot and now we know why.
During an in-studio interview with fellow presenter Stephen Grootes this morning, Gwala made the announcement that he has advanced stage colon cancer.
“It is going to be a very long fight, partly because it was advanced, a difficult fight but a fight I am ready for,” he said.
He has already undergone an operation to remove a tumour in his colon, but revealed that there is more treatment to come, including chemotherapy and a possible surgery at a later stage depending on how everything goes. This is because the disease has spread to his liver.
The diagnosis apparently took Gwala by surprise which explains his sudden departure from the show.
"It was so sudden... In April I was running the London marathon and before that, I was doing a couple of marathons around here. There was absolutely nothing wrong and then suddenly you go to the doctors because you have a fever, and they do one or two tests and they say 'listen, you have cancer'. Not just cancer, advanced cancer," he said.
He went on to add "after this, I have learned, we've got to raise awareness. There's cancer all over... and it happens to everyone... I don't smoke, I don't drink, I live well... The thing about cancer is that it can happen to anyone. But, do we have state facilities to deal with it?"
Well wishes and prayers have been streaming in from media publications and ZAlebs alike ever since the announcement:
Is anybody ready to talk about this genetically modified food we are consuming? #xolanigwala
— ntsikimazwai.com (@ntsikimazwai) September 29, 2017
Hearing about #XolaniGwala’s colon cancer this morning broke my heart. I draw hope, strength from how my mother fought AND beat it in 1989!
— DJ Fresh (Big Dawg) (@DJFreshSA) September 29, 2017
Hayi guys, Xolani Gwala just like that nje, sekude kunechemotherapy ngaphakathi ?💔 May he fight and win this battle, in Jesus’ name 🙏🏾
— Miss Lelo (@MsLeloB) September 29, 2017
Sending Xolani Gwala love, strength and courage in this trying time. Our hearts and prayers are with you @gwalax
— Rami Chuene 1st Lady (@ramichuene) September 29, 2017
Really heartbreaking reading about Xolani Gwala's medical condition, life is so fucken unfair man! Jeez💔
— ThiweOfficial (@Thiwe) September 29, 2017
You can listen to the interview below:
It's honestly quite shocking that no young (millennial) local celebrities have anything to say about this matter...
Main image credit: channel24.com