Louis Walsh issues health update after cancer diagnosis

Former X Factor judge Louis Walsh has candidly shared details of his unexpected cancer diagnosis, yet reports he is now in remission. Earlier this year, Walsh disclosed that he was diagnosed with a rare blood cancer known as Waldenstrom cancer, a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that affects plasma cells.

Speaking from his home county of Mayo, Walsh expressed gratitude for his recovery after treatment at the Mater Private Hospital in Dublin, saying: "I'm fine now. I did have a thing called Waldenstrom cancer. It's a blood cancer. I didn't realise until I went to the Mater Private to check me out.

"I was told it's fine, it's manageable and I'm in remission and I'm feeling good," reports the Irish Mirror. Speaking on Nicky Byrne's podcast, Nicky Byrne HQ, he praised the Mater Private staff, saying: "Mater Private, fantastic nurses and doctors. They're the real stars. Those men and women, they work tirelessly to help everybody and they cure people. I'm fixed and I'm fine."

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However, the 72-year-old acknowledged the mental and physical challenges he faced, admitting: "Yeah mentally and physically, I didn't know what to do," and noting the fear associated with the word 'cancer'.

He initially attributed tiredness to his demanding schedule from judging on X Factor. "When I got checked, they didn't find it initially. It's a rare one.. but I'm in remission, I'm fine. They can manage it," he disclosed.

The music manager also reflected on the loss of Boyzone member Stephen Gately, expressing that sometimes he feels Stephen is still alive. Stephen died at the young age of 33 in 2009 due to a heart condition while at his holiday home in Majorca.

Walsh recounted the moment he learned of Stephen's untimely death: "It was Saturday night after the X Factor, and I got all these texts."

He continued, "I couldn't believe it. It was awful. It's still hard to believe that he is gone. I still think he might be there somewhere. What a waste."

He discussed how Stephen had been apprehensive about publicly acknowledging his sexuality. "He always dreaded it. I thought it would damage his career, and it would finish him but it actually helped. There wasn't any negativity at all. It made no difference, but he was frightened all his life about it."

With a touch of humour, Louis admitted: "He didn't tell me. I kind of guessed. He liked Mariah Carey, and he liked Eurovision. That was a red flag, and he loved Celine Dion," he said, laughing.

Finally, Louis praised Stephen's character, describing him as "100 percent loyal and great fun and hard working".