Former Crayon Pop member ChoA (real name Heo Min Jin) has revealed that she was diagnosed with cervical cancer.
On October 14, ChoA shared on Instagram, "I was diagnosed with cancer at 33, during what was supposed to be the happiest time of my life. In May of last year, during the first year of my joyful newlywed life, I went to the hospital for a routine prenatal check-up. That’s when I received the shocking news: I had cervical cancer."
She went on to say, "At first, I couldn’t believe it. How could I, someone so young and healthy, have cancer? I even questioned if it was a misdiagnosis, so I went to five of the top university hospitals in the country, hoping for different results."
ChoA then described her experience: "For the first time in my life, I had to go through tests like MRI and PET CT scans. The diagnosis was Stage 1 cancer, with a 3 cm tumor. The doctors told me that preserving my fertility would be difficult. It felt like my world fell apart hearing that. I collapsed in tears, and it was one of the hardest moments of my life. But even through the despair, my husband and I held hands, prayed, and refused to give up."
Determined to fight, she added, "I did everything I could to shrink the tumor. I studied, exercised daily, and completely overhauled my diet. Thankfully, by the time I had surgery, the tumor was much smaller than expected. Miraculously, I was able to preserve my fertility."
ChoA also shared a recent update: "I just passed my fourth follow-up exam. Soon, I’ll undergo another surgery to protect my fertility. Since my cervix was removed, this procedure will involve tying my uterine body in advance. There are still many hurdles ahead when it comes to pregnancy and childbirth, but I’m determined to overcome them. My goal is to meet a beautiful child, become a mother, and make a full recovery. I hope that by sharing my story, I can offer comfort and hope to others who have gone through similar experiences."
ChoA, who debuted with Crayon Pop and gained widespread love through hits like "Bar Bar Bar" and "Uh-ee," married a businessman six years her senior in June 2021.
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