After 17 Years Of Leukemia Diagnosis, Roman Reigns Still Battling The Disease While Balancing Wrestling
October 11, 2026
This article was last updated by Saurav Risal on October 11, 2026
The 39-year-old has been very open about his initial diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing remission.
Key Takeaways
- Roman Reigns has been battling chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) since 2007 and remains on long-term oral chemotherapy.
- Despite being in remission, Reigns continues to wrestle with a limited schedule while managing his health and family life.
- Reigns’ wrestling career has been marked by multiple comebacks, including his return in 2026 after taking a hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic to protect his health.
Roman Reigns, the six-time WWE world champion, began his battle with Leukemia in 2007 when he was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) at the age of 22.
While he has been open about his battle with the disease throughout the years, his recently announced involvement in the upcoming WWE Smackdown has reignited fans’ concern about his health.
The last update came from April 2026, when he admitted that he was still on “very potent” medication for his condition.
He quoted,
Well, I’m still on oral chemotherapy. It’s a medication that I’m going to have to remain on my entire life most likely.
However, despite the long and ongoing struggle, Reigns has managed to balance the cancer battle and his highly decorated wrestling career.
Mark Henry salutes Roman Reigns for continuing to entertain WWE fans despite his battle with Leukemia.
"People forget that he has leukemia. And for him to do what he is doing, I heard there are days when he doesn't feel like getting up and working out. You saw how good he looked…
— Wrestle Tracker (@wrestletracker1)
After the initial treatment immediately following the diagnosis, Roman Reigns went into remission in 2008.
For a decade, Reigns battled the illness privately, giving no public updates until 2018, when he announced on WWE Raw that his leukemia had returned and he would be stepping away from wrestling to undergo treatment.
On February 25, 2019, he returned to the sport. He announced that his leukemia was still in remission.
A month later, in March 2019, in an episode of WWE Chronicle, Reigns detailed his diagnosis, treatment, and the emotional impact of his battle.
Throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic, in 2026 and 2026, Reigns took a hiatus from WWE to protect his health due to his compromised immune system.
However, in August 2026, he made a surprise return at WWE SummerSlam, marking his comeback to the ring.
As of 2026, Roman Reigns continues to wrestle with a limited schedule, balancing his health, family life, and wrestling career.
Despite being in remission, Reigns remains on oral chemotherapy, a long-term treatment essential for managing the disease.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Before his wrestling career, Roman Reigns (real name Joe Anoa’i) was a professional football player. He played collegiate football at Georgia Tech and had brief stints with the Minnesota Vikings and Jacksonville Jaguars in the NFL and the Edmonton Eskimos in the CFL.
- Roman Reigns comes from a legendary wrestling family, the Anoa’i family. His father, Sika Anoa’i, was one-half of the Wild Samoans tag team, and his cousins include famous wrestlers like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Yokozuna.
- Roman Reigns made his Hollywood debut in the movie “Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw” (2019), where he played the brother of Dwayne Johnson’s character.
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Saurav Risal is a content writer with a niche in the entertainment industry. With a background in computer science, Saurav best writes articles relating to movies, TV series, and the celebrities behind them.
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