Former TVB Actor Ricky Chan Faces Stage 4 Cancer Diagnosis Years After He Was Caught in a Scandal

Ricky Chan (陳振華), a Hong Kong actor of Indian descent, recently made headlines after revealing his battle with stage 4 nasopharyngeal cancer, a type of throat cancer that affects areas behind the nose and above the back of the throat. Ricky who’s a former TVB actor has starred in a number of Hong Kong dramas and movies and recently played Raj Sir in the TVB drama Barrack O’Karma.

Absence Explained on Social Media

In his Douyin (China’s tiktok), Ricky Chan explained his absence from the screen, saying, “It’s been a while since I’ve seen everyone. Why haven’t I appeared on the screen? Because I’ve ‘won a prize’—I’ve been diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer, stage 4, no less.” He clarified that his intention in sharing the diagnosis was not to cause worry but to garner support as he fights the disease. The 41-year-old actor said, “Cancer isn’t scary as long as you stay positive and actively seek treatment. Keeping a calm and stable mindset is crucial. During this period, I’ve maintained a peaceful attitude because I need to drive out the cancer cells, drive out the disease.”

Documenting His Cancer Journey

Ricky Chan has also been documenting his journey on social media in a series he titled My Cancer Diary, with hashtags like “tomorrow will be better” reflecting his determination to stay optimistic. In his latest post, he mentioned that he’s undergoing chemotherapy in two days, but says what worries him most is the hair loss. Although his doctor assured him that he wouldn’t lose much hair, Ricky still found humor as he joked that he wouldn’t look as handsome if he did.

Scandal and Disappearance in 2020

Ricky Chan, who had been out of the public eye since 2020, has had a tumultuous few years. In 2020, his wife, Alison Lee, accused him of cheating, having a bad work attitude, and physically abusing their six-year-old daughter, Prima Chan. Following these allegations, Ricky disappeared from the public eye, leading many to speculate about his whereabouts. It was later reported that Ricky had taken up work as a cleaner in a restaurant in Guangzhou to make ends meet due to potential projects in China falling through due to the pandemic.