McNickle, who competed on season 33 of the CBS series, also revealed the symptoms that led him to seek medical attention.

Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X runner-up Ken McNickle reveals cancer diagnosis

McNickle, who competed on season 33 of the CBS series, also revealed the symptoms that led him to seek medical attention.

By Shania Russell

Shania Russell

Shania Russell is a news writer at *, *with five years of experience. Her work has previously appeared in SlashFilm and Paste Magazine.

EW's editorial guidelines

June 4, 2026 12:06 p.m. ET

Leave a Comment

Ken McNickle on 'Survivor' in 2016. Credit:

Monty Brinton/CBS via Getty

- Former *Survivor* contestant Ken McNickle is sharing his cancer diagnosis.

- In a series of social media posts, he expressed regret over not getting diagnosed sooner and urged followers to be proactive about their health.

- McNickle played on season 33 of the CBS competition, which was themed "Millennials vs. Gen X."

*Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X* runner-up Ken McNickle revealed on Monday that he has been diagnosed with cancer.

In a series of social media posts, the reality TV alum got candid about the symptoms he experienced in the lead-up to his diagnosis and expressed regret over not seeking medical help sooner.

"So here we go… I deliberated for a while about whether to share or not but I ultimately decided to because I’m hoping this chapter in my story can help others," McNickle began his Instagram post. "I’ve made some mistakes in the process and should have taken care of myself better and sooner. But, here we are."

He added, "As I’ve said before, if you have a health concern, don’t sit on it. Get yourself checked. There’s no valid reason not to. Not one."

Ken McNickle on 'Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X'.

Monty Brinton/CBS via Getty

McNickle did not reveal what type of cancer he has nor did he discuss treatment plans. The post itself featured a photo of the *Survivor* alum sitting in a doctor's office, wearing a serious expression.

"The moment when you hear the words… It's cancer. And everything becomes muted. The doctor sounding like the teacher from Charlie Brown. You realize nothing is registering other than that one word," he wrote in the caption.

He wrote that for him, this moment was followed by a "flood of questions. Why now? What did I do to deserve this? Why didn’t I come in sooner. After everything else, now this?”

McNickle acknowledged that it was difficult coming to terms with this new reality, recounting "the feeling of defeat" and "beginning of the process of giving up."

Howard Stern's longtime cohost Robin Quivers is cancer-free after 14 years: 'I never gave up hope'

Best 'Survivor' winner ever bracket game champion revealed

But he noted that he has been able to overcome thanks to his loved ones.

"I think about my daughter and my lady and the life we want and how there’s another option," he wrote. "Because there’s always a choice. I’m choosing optimism, health, happiness and knowing that the spirit has me. And most importantly, I’m choosing love."

McNickle competed on season 33 of CBS' long-running reality show. That season, which aired in 2016, pitted a group of millennials against a group of Gen-Xers. A finalist for the millennials, he went all the way to final tribal alongside Hannah Shapiro and Adam Klein, but ultimately lost out to Klein who was a unanimous winner after earning all 10 jury votes.

Ken McNickle at the 'Survivor' finale.

Monty Brinton/CBS via Getty

In a follow-up video posted on Wednesday, McNickle detailed the painful symptoms that led him to seek treatment while urging followers to be proactive about their own health.

"I waited almost a year until my skin was tearing open to get this checked and had I gone in sooner, it would have been a simple procedure," he explained. "Not a three-inch hole in my chest."

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our ******EW Dispatch newsletter******.***

McNickle also recounted experiencing "blood fill [his] stool every morning" and noticing a "lump on my testes" but said he still waited months before seeking medical attention.

"I was wondering why so many times I have been so f---ing stupid. And then it hit me, flashes from my childhood and adolescence where I heard the words, 'Stop crying. Don’t be a baby. Don’t be a bitch. Don’t be a p---y. Just be a man,'" he said. "And yeah, I am thinking that had something to do with it."

The post concluded with a call to action in the caption.

"There’s an epidemic in regards to men’s health and we’re not giving it enough attention," he wrote. "We need to be talking more about why men are 50% less likely to go to a doctor for physical ailments and 60% less likely to get help with mental and emotional issues. Why do you think it is? What needs to change?"

- Survivor Fandom

Original Article on Source

Source: “EW Survivor”