Actor Kim Jeong-tae revealed his current condition after battling liver cancer, confessing that the fight is still not over. Still, he said he was relieved that his current condition is not bad.
On the 29th, in the TV CHOSUN program "Dad and I," Kim Jeong-tae visited a hospital and underwent a thorough examination.
That day he recalled, "My liver was weak so I had surgery," noting that he had suffered cirrhosis three times in the past and that he stopped his activities after being diagnosed with liver cancer in October 2018. It was also the reason he left the drama.
Kim Jeong-tae recalled, "During filming I felt something was wrong and had a blood test, and my liver values rose to 900," saying, "I had a foreboding feeling all over my body." He revealed the tense situation at the time, saying, "A surgery that was scheduled for three hours took eight hours, and it was such a major operation that my family collapsed onto the hospital floor."
His wife also added, "Because the tumor's location was not good, about 30% of the liver was removed," and said, "He stopped all activities and devoted himself to recovery."
But there was a separate reason he could not be declared fully cured after the surgery. Kim Jeong-tae explained, "Because I am a carrier of hepatitis B due to maternal inheritance, there is no concept of a complete cure," and said, "Unlike ordinary cancers, liver cancer has a high chance of recurring even if the tumor is removed." He is now in a condition that requires lifelong management and is continuing regular follow-up examinations.
The attending physician also said, "Liver cancer is a condition that can recur at any time," and noted, "Currently the tumor's recurrence is being suppressed with embolization treatment, but if it cannot be controlled, additional resection or even a liver transplant must be considered." He emphasized, "Preventing liver cancer is realistically difficult, and examinations every four months are the key to early detection." In response, Kim Jeong-tae expressed anxiety, saying, "There are cases where abnormalities are almost nonexistent and by the time they are discovered it is terminal."
For that reason he said he is putting effort into recent lifestyle changes even more. "I exercise consistently and reduced carbohydrates, and my body has gotten much better," he said, showing determination to manage his health.
Above all, Kim Jeong-tae grew emotional recalling that his mother died from the same disease. He said, "My mother died at 63 from the same disease," and added, "There are now drugs that can at least suppress it, but if such treatments had existed then she would have lived healthier." He went on to add, "Although it is maternally inherited, it does not affect i-dle," conveying relief about his family.
He endured a major surgery that removed 30% of his liver, but the management and battle that are not over continue. Kim Jeong-tae's confession showed the reality that leads to "coexistence" rather than "complete cure," leaving a deep impression.
[Photo] Screenshot from the "Dad and I" broadcast
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