Roman Reigns' Leukemia Diagnosis and Treatment
Roman Reigns, a WWE Superstar, stunned the world in October 2018 when he revealed that he had been living with leukemia for 11 years and that he had to undergo treatment again. He announced this during a broadcast of "Raw," expressing his fear and insecurity about sharing this secret with the world. He described the moment when he learned of his elevated white blood cell count, which led to the diagnosis of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), a treatable but incurable form of blood cancer. Reigns then took a hiatus from WWE to undergo treatment and returned to Raw on February 25, 2019, announcing that he was in remission and ready to return to the ring.
Dispelling Myths and Raising Awareness
Reigns is keen on dispelling myths around leukemia and raising awareness about the disease. He emphasized the importance of understanding the different phases of leukemia and the advancements in treatment to save lives. Reigns wants people to know that leukemia is not what is depicted in movies and that there are advancements and treatments to help people. He also highlighted the significance of sharing the positive aspects of battling leukemia and emphasized the importance of understanding that each person's journey with the disease is different.
Impact and Inspirational Role
As the face of WWE, Roman Reigns has become a figure for other patients to look up to, being arguably the best known CML patient in the world. He draws inspiration from children and uses his platform to shed light on their stories, creating opportunities to share victory stories with the world. Reigns aims to plant flags of victory stories on top of the giant mountain that WWE has to share them with the world.
Treatment and Side Effects
Reigns revealed that he takes an oral chemotherapy, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, which targets the leukemia cells, keeping them at an almost undetectable level. He emphasized that while the treatment has side effects such as muscle cramps, pain, and fatigue, it is important to understand that each person's journey with the disease is different. Reigns also shared that the treatment has caused arthritis and some dietary adjustments, including limitations on protein intake and alcohol consumption, and a reduced ability to stay in the sun.
Return to WWE and Future Plans
Following his announcement of being in remission, Roman Reigns was welcomed back with thunderous applause and chants of "Welcome back!" during the broadcast of "Raw" in Atlanta. He expressed his gratitude to the fans and has not announced when he will be back for in-ring competition, but it is expected that he could participate in WrestleMania 35 in April.
Roman Reigns' battle with leukemia has not only impacted the wrestling world but has also brought attention to the importance of dispelling myths, raising awareness, and inspiring others in their own battles with the disease.
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