With college football heating up in Week 5, ESPN’s Laura Rutledge got delivered a much-needed dose of good news away from the gridiron. She expressed relief after seeing a heartfelt update from Good Morning America personality Will Reeve, son of the late Superman actor Christopher Reeve, following his battle with testicular cancer.
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“So glad you’re ok @willreeve. Sharing this will most certainly help others. Amazed by @amandadubin’s strength as well,” wrote Rutledge on her Instagram Story, sharing a Good Morning America interview with Will Reeve.
Now cancer-free following a September 8 checkup, Will Reeve is opening up about his cancer journey for the first time, drawing inspiration from the strength and resilience his parents demonstrated throughout their lives.
“I have felt so loved and supported and rooted for by family, friends, and strangers alike for my entire life,” says Reeve in his conversation with People.
Back in April, Reeve first noticed a tender lump on one of his testicles while showering. He initially “assumed it was nothing or would go away.” However, his wife of three months, Amanda Dubin Reeve, urged him to undergo proper diagnostic testing, asking, “It’s probably nothing, but what if it’s something?”
Taking his wife’s advice seriously, Reeve underwent an orchiectomy in early May, a standard surgical procedure for testicular cancer that involved removing the cancerous testicle.
Having last undergone surgery when he was just five years old, the experience was particularly difficult for him. However, his wife, Amanda, stood like a rock by his side throughout the ordeal.
The couple initially hoped the lump would be “a momentary blip in an otherwise great time in my life.” However, further test results revealed that 95 per cent of the cancer was embryonal carcinoma, an aggressive form of testicular cancer, turning their lives upside down.
Things were not easy for the couple, but Reeve found unwavering support in his wife. On June 10, he underwent a six-hour surgery to remove dozens of lymph nodes from his abdomen. Three of them tested positive for cancer, prompting him to undergo two rounds of chemotherapy.
“Every doctor I saw along the way was using what I call the good C-word—‘cure,’” says Reeve, who took two and a half weeks off from GMA to recover.
Balancing his work at Good Morning America with cancer treatment, Reeve would leave the studios, where he frequently contributes, and head straight to the hospital for chemotherapy. He also underwent cold-capping to preserve his hair, describing the helmet as one that “looked like the underside of a manta ray,” he says with a laugh.
Anti-nausea medication helped him avoid feeling ill during treatment. “I never really felt sick at all,” he says, although the lingering side effects, including 24-hour headaches and bone pain, sometimes felt like “a bit of ailment whack-a-mole.”
On July 31, he completed his second round of chemotherapy, taking a few days off after each session to recover. Reeve revealed that throughout this difficult time, everyone from his colleagues at the studio to his family had been incredibly supportive.
“My colleagues at ABC are like family to me and have been with me every step of the way,” he says. “I’m fortunate that I caught this early. Yes, I had to jump through some flaming hoops to get to the other side, but it could have been much worse had I ignored it or delayed going to the doctor.”
Reflecting on his battle, Reeve emphasized the importance of taking care of our health, something we often take for granted, admitting that the experience had taught him a profound lesson about what truly matters in life
“It’s easy to get caught up in the madness of modern life and forget what’s most important,” Reeve concluded.