El Phantasmo opens up.
El Phantasmo stepped away from NJPW in October, as he announced that doctors had found a small tumor of cancer. He then returned in December and announced that he was cleared to compete. Phantasmo went on to win the NJPW World Television Championship at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 19.
Speaking with NJPW's website, El Phantasmo looked back on his win at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 19, and he was asked about the fans' support.
"Even just being in the Tokyo Dome was a big win for me. When I found out about my (cancer) diagnosis in October, I had no idea of how long it would take, how long I would be away for, or if it had spread. There was a lot up in the air, but I always had Wrestle Kingdom as the goal to come back. The eight-hour bus rides, the long tours, they’re all with the Tokyo Dome in mind," Phantasmo said.
When asked whether he had a clear target for his return, Phantasmo stated that after he had his surgery, he returned to the gym two weeks later. He explained that he wanted to make sure he could return to NJPW in time for Wrestle Kingdom.
"I think if I’d have had the diagnosis in February say, it would have been harder to gear up for something specific. In the end, I had my surgery on October 29th and they said, ‘Don’t do anything for five to six weeks’. I was in the gym two weeks later, and maybe that could have been a bad thing, but I wanted to get back in time for Tokyo Dome and that’s what I was going for," Phantasmo said.
Phantasmo then recalled how he found out about the tumor, as he noted that he competed at Maple Leaf Pro Forged in Excellence before he went to a walk-in clinic. When asked about how he was calm throughout the process, Phantasmo stated that he wasn't worried.
"I asked people online not to worry about me because I wasn’t worried. I didn’t flinch. I’ve had a lot of family members who have had cancer, and who have passed away from it. I always said to them that it’s all about having a positive mental approach and not to let it get to you. I think it could have got to me a lot more if I got sad, but I literally didn’t think about it at all. I just accepted it. And I had a friend in Japan go through something very similar last year and we went through that journey together. They say testicular cancer is more common for men in their 20s, and I got it relatively late, but it just goes to show how you should get checked and take care of yourself," Phantasmo said.
Phantasmo previously commented on his return. Click here to see what he had to say.
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