Ahead of his solo release, a famous 2nd Gen male idol recalled his battle with a rare cancer
Nam Woo-hyun of 2nd gen boy group INFINITE is currently gearing up for the release of his solo regular album on November 28, after 7 years of debut.
However, Nam Woo-hyun recently shared the news of him being diagnosed with a rare cancer and undergoing surgery.
In particular, Nam Woo-hyun planned to release the B-side track “Kiss me if you love me” from this album as a single for his solo activities. However, during the process of preparing for the new song, he was diagnosed with GIST (gastrointestinal stromal tumor), a rare cancer, leading to a delay in his comeback by about 6 months.
According to Asan Medical Center in Seoul, GIST is a rare cancer that occurs in the muscles of the gastrointestinal tract from the esophagus to the anus, unlike common cancers that form on the mucous membrane. It is a rare disease occurring at a rate of 1-2 cases per 100,000 people.
Two years ago, Nam Woo-hyun found a small tumor during a health checkup, and upon hearing from medical professionals that this tumor could grow up to 15 cm if left untreated, he decided to undergo surgery.
According to Nam Woo-hyun, the surgery lasted about 10 hours. After surgery, he often felt as if he couldn’t breathe, and eating was difficult. However, thanks to the support of parents, company, and members, the male idol managed to overcome adversities.
Meanwhile, Nam Woo-hyun made a comeback as a member of INFINITE at the end of July. In August, he performed on the concert stage.
This means that the male idol has been enduring and participating in activities for about three months since the surgery due to cancer.
Regarding the reason for not revealing his illness to fans, Nam Woo-hyun explained, “Actually, I was reluctant to tell fans or the public about this painful story. I feel sad when I hear about others being in pain. So, even when I was promoting the INFINITE’s album in July, I kept it to myself.”
According to the male idol, the release of INFINITE’s album and the concert were almost delayed because of him, as other members were worried about Woo-hyun’s health. However, despite the doctor saying it would be nice for the male idol to take a break, he thought it would be better to endure the pain on stage.
“People around me gave me a lot of courage, so I was able to stand up again. Recovery is relatively fast, and I am exercising regularly. I had a follow-up examination recently, and the wounds healed well”, Woo-hyun also said.
Finally, Nam Woo-hyun expressed, “Now, fans are like ‘family’ to me. Hasn’t it been 13 years since I debuted with INFINITE? When I see fans who come to fan meetings, there are those who were students and have become office workers, and there are also fans who have become mothers of families. Seeing this makes me feel like we’ve grown together. It’s not just once or twice that I get emotional.”
Meanwhile, Nam Woo-hyun’s solo album “WHITREE”, which contains a total of 11 songs, will be released on various music sites at 6 p.m (KST) on November 28.
Nam Woo-hyun participated in the lyrics and composition of five songs, including the title track.
