Thelife- YouTube OG Hank Green said he's undergoing chemotherapy for Hodgkin's lymphoma.
- Green obtained an ultrasound for inflamed lymph nodes, and the diagnosis was later confirmed via biopsy.
Hank Green, the OG YouTube vlogger and best-selling author known for founding VidCon and furnishing incisive analysis on the creator economy, shared with fans in a vlog on Friday that he has been diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Green told fans he's undergoing chemotherapy to treat the disease, which he noted is "one of the most treatable cancers." In the description bar of video titled "So, I've got cancer," he said his first treatment was taking place at the same time the video had been set live.
On YouTube, Green said he was diagnosed after noticing his lymph nodes were inflamed, and an ultrasound ended up looking "suspicious for lymphoma," or cancer of the lymphatic system. The diagnosis was confirmed in a subsequent biopsy.
Fortunately, it was caught early enough that it "has not spread anywhere from its original location in my left armpit/chest area," Green wrote, "which is very good news."
Green said he had certain risk factors for lymphoma, including past medications, an autoimmune disorder, and having had mono as a kid.
While he shared he didn't want to do deep, emotional processing on-camera, Green said he wanted to keep fans updated on how the diagnosis would impact his work schedule.
While he won't be producing as much content for his array of YouTube channels — including the informal VlogBrothers channel with his brother, John Green; science-focused SciShow; and educational hub CrashCourse — Green said he foresees that he may want to keep working and producing to spark his drive and get him out of bed.
Green concluded the announcement with a few requests: that viewers not proffer their own healthcare advice, and that they sign up for his Nerdfighteria Newsletter, where he anticipates updates are more likely to be shared than on videos or podcasts.
Finally, he asked for movie, TV show, and video game recommendations. On Twitter, the creator joked for fans to send him "pelicans" and noted he's "sorry if this is how you found out" about his cancer diagnosis.
"Really dumb things that will not make you cry," he said. "As you can tell, I'm fine but I'm not fine. And it sucks."
Insider has reached out to Green and his team.