Khloe Kardashian has opened up about a deeply personal and emotional chapter from her past, revealing for the first time why she chose to keep her skin cancer diagnosis a secret from her family.
In a candid segment of the latest episode of Khloe in Wonderland, part of the reality series The Kardashians, the 40-year-old star revisited her first experience with skin cancer, which occurred when she was just 19.
Reflecting on that period, Khloe recalled being diagnosed with melanoma, a serious form of skin cancer commonly caused by excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation. “My first bout of skin cancer, I was 19 years old,” she said. “When you’re 19, you don’t really think about how scary things can be, so I don’t remember a lot.”
What made the moment even more complicated for her emotionally was that it came just months after the death of her father, Robert Kardashian, who passed away from esophageal cancer in September 2003.
At the time, Khloe was still grappling with the immense grief of losing a parent. She admitted that the timing of her diagnosis influenced her decision to keep the news to herself.
“I literally didn’t even tell my family because I knew I just had to get this removed, and I’ll be fine,” she explained. “I know my dad died when I was 19 of esophageal cancer, and then months later, I found out I had skin cancer on my back. I didn’t want to worry anyone.”
Khloe shared that she approached the diagnosis with a youthful sense of invincibility and independence. “I knew I was fine. Cancer is a really scary word. I was also 19, and you’re nuts at 19 years old. I literally drove myself to the doctor, got all this skin removed, and that was it. I didn’t think much about it.”
She also revealed how she initially misjudged the seriousness of the condition. “I was convinced it was that cystic pimple. It would not go away. I was trying to pick it, all these things,” she said, highlighting how easy it can be to mistake signs of skin cancer for something minor.
Her revelation adds a new layer of depth to her public persona and brings attention to the importance of early detection, regular checkups, and understanding one’s body. Khloe’s story serves as a reminder that even seemingly minor skin issues can have serious underlying causes and should never be ignored.
