Back in October of 2018, Roman Reigns vacated the Universal Championship and stepped away from the world of professional wrestling so that he could battle leukemia.
On Monday, Roman made his return to Raw and announced to the world that he’s in remission, and The Big Dog is back.
Given the nature of professional wrestling, there are some fans out there who feel that Roman’s leukemia was all a work, and the charity Leukaemia Cares took to Twitter to shut this theory down.
The organization posted the following:
Morning! In response to some of the tweets we're seeing online about @WWE and @WWERomanReigns we wanted to have a little chat about leukaemia/leukemia, relapse and perceptions of cancer. #WWE @davemeltzerWON https://t.co/iIXgrBKKz3.A.THREAD! pic.twitter.com/thhKt17gTZ
— Leukaemia Care (@LeukaemiaCareUK) February 26, 2019
Firstly, incredible news about Roman Reigns. Relapse is a scary reality for all leukaemia patients. Either fear of your cancer returning or having to face treatment for relapse. It's great to hear some positive news from a leukaemia patient.
— Leukaemia Care (@LeukaemiaCareUK) February 26, 2019
The tweets we are seeing mainly centre around the idea of what a cancer patient should look like.
"How can he have hair?"
"How can he have not lost weight?"
"Why doesn't he look like a cancer patient?"— Leukaemia Care (@LeukaemiaCareUK) February 26, 2019
We're going to weigh in here with some leukaemia information. We feel like we know a little bit and the Vince gif is appropriate pic.twitter.com/FzMgSswuIB
— Leukaemia Care (@LeukaemiaCareUK) February 26, 2019
Back to basics. Leukaemia is a cancer. It affects people of all ages. There are four main types of cancer: ALL, AML, CLL and CML. However, there are other types and subtypes. LEUKAEMIA IS COMPLICATED!
— Leukaemia Care (@LeukaemiaCareUK) February 26, 2019
The different types are key. Acute leukaemias are aggressive and need aggressive treatment to save a patient. Chronic leukaemias are incurable but treatable.
— Leukaemia Care (@LeukaemiaCareUK) February 26, 2019
DON'T FORGET – We do not KNOW what type of leukaemia he has. Therefore, NONE of us are in a position to question his treatment, how he should look etc.
— Leukaemia Care (@LeukaemiaCareUK) February 26, 2019
The first question – How can he have hair?
Treatment for leukaemia may cause hair loss. It may cause hair thinning. It may cause no hair loss at all. pic.twitter.com/KXGKFDpA0q
— Leukaemia Care (@LeukaemiaCareUK) February 26, 2019
Leukaemia can make you lose weight. Leukaemia can also make you gain weight. There is no one way that leukaemia SHOULD look.
— Leukaemia Care (@LeukaemiaCareUK) February 26, 2019
A key example of this is huge @WWE fan and patient advocate @KrisTheScript who has lived with a chronic leukaemia for the past decade. Does he look like a leukaemia patient to you?
— Leukaemia Care (@LeukaemiaCareUK) February 26, 2019
Our website is full of stories of leukaemia patients – if you have ten minutes, it might be worth having a read https://t.co/2hAIcp4iYM
— Leukaemia Care (@LeukaemiaCareUK) February 26, 2019
A final few thoughts on the psychological impact of leukaemia. Living with or beyond a leukaemia diagnosis is scary. The fear of relapse is always there. Think before you tweet. pic.twitter.com/PflEnrdUML
— Leukaemia Care (@LeukaemiaCareUK) February 26, 2019
We're more than happy to answer any questions you have about leukaemia/leukemia or point you in the right direction of other information. Don't be shy, there is no such thing as a silly question pic.twitter.com/ar92XhwEVr
— Leukaemia Care (@LeukaemiaCareUK) February 26, 2019
Remember, everything in life isn't a work.
</end thread> #wwe #wrestling #romanreigns pic.twitter.com/otPQ6H4dWJ
— Leukaemia Care (@LeukaemiaCareUK) February 26, 2019
As of right now Roman’s first match back hasn’t been announced, but it’s been speculated that he could be teaming up with his former Shield brothers at the Fastlane PPV next month.
