Actor Leon Jay Williams diagnosed with Stage 2 thyroid cancer

SINGAPORE – Local actor Leon Jay Williams, known for his sunny image, was recently diagnosed with Stage 2 thyroid cancer.

The 49-year-old first revealed the condition in an exclusive Dec 8 interview with Taiwanese newspaper United Daily News.

Williams returned to Singapore in 2020 after more than 20 years in Taiwan and China, where he made his name with Taiwanese idol dramas such as La Robe De Mariee Des Cieux (2004) and Green Forest, My Home (2005).

The artiste is of English, German, Japanese and Chinese descent. He is married to a Taiwanese known only as Joyce, and they have a 10-year-old daughter.

Around July and August, Williams went for a vacation on an Indonesian island with his family. He had back and waist pain after returning to Singapore.

The doctors recommended a full health screening after hospital check-ups showed no abnormalities. A magnetic resonance imaging scan revealed a 3cm malignant tumour in his thyroid.

The actor underwent two operations at a private hospital in Singapore in September to remove tumours measuring 3cm and 1.1cm.

He was hospitalised again in October for five days to undergo radiation therapy. The total cost of the three hospital stays amounted to about $166,000, according to Singapore’s Shin Min Daily News in a Dec 9 report.

Williams said the cancer diagnosis came so suddenly that he had little time to process it.

Concerned that his radiation exposure might affect his family, he moved into an empty condominium unit he owned to stay alone for about one week, much like self-isolation during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Currently in Japan, he told Shin Min that accompanying his daughter on this skiing vacation became his biggest motivation during his treatment.

“I usually arrange trips together with my daughter during her school holidays. We had already planned for a skiing trip six months ago and she was looking forward to it,” he told the newspaper.

“I didn’t want my illness to disappoint her, and I hoped her childhood memories would include us enjoying holidays together.”

He also shared his journey on social media on Dec 9.

“I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer a few months ago and my whole world crumbled in those early days of uncertainty,” he wrote in English and Chinese. “After reality set in, I decided to face everything positively and strive for recovery.”

Williams said things are looking up for him for now, but the fight with cancer is not over.

“Monthly visits to the doctor for blood tests and taking pills every day for life have become part of my new routine,” he wrote.

He also talked about his concerns after his diagnosis. “The thought of not being able to see my daughter grow up was my greatest fear,” he wrote. “I also did not like worrying my 85-year-old mother. At her age, she shouldn’t have to worry about anything any more.”

Williams added that his bucket list went out the window.

“I did not wish to travel the world, direct/produce a movie, make more money, buy a bigger house or fancier car,” he wrote. “Surprisingly, I just wanted to get back to my regular daily routine and spend time with my loved ones by simply having a meal and a hearty laugh.”

He added: “I don’t know what the future holds for me, but I’m savouring every day I have and enjoying the present moment.”