Govind Sandhu, a 38-year-old TikTok music executive, has publicly disclosed his diagnosis of stage 4 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, following his participation in a half-marathon in Sydney.
Sandhu, who serves as the head of Global Music Partnerships at TikTok Australia, shared his diagnosis via an emotional Instagram video, stating, “I’m 38 years old and I’ve been diagnosed with stage 4 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. What. The. Hell?” He expressed shock and disbelief, having considered himself to be in peak physical condition.
Describing himself as “the healthiest I’ve ever been,” Sandhu mentioned his active lifestyle, which includes CrossFit, ultra-marathons, and a strict regimen of sleep, recovery, supplements, and nutrition. He had recently completed the rigorous "75 Hard" fitness challenge and had been training intensively in Bali.
Sandhu first noticed something was wrong after experiencing flu-like symptoms, neck, knee, and shoulder pain, and severe night sweats. These symptoms prompted him to seek medical attention, leading to the cancer diagnosis.
In his Instagram post, Sandhu urged his followers to get regular check-ups and blood tests. He emphasized the importance of early detection, stating, “You don’t know what you don’t know. Book in for a general check-up, get your blood done & speak to your GP. Pretty easy first step to be ahead of the game!”
Sandhu is now documenting his cancer journey online, sharing details of his treatments and experiences. He posted a video en route to Saint Vincent’s Private Hospital for a two-day chemotherapy session, expressing optimism and determination. “To be honest, feeling up for it. Had a good night’s sleep, had a good dinner, had a lovely breakfast this morning. And the way that I look at it is that we are another step down on the road to recovery,” he said.
After completing his first round of chemotherapy, Sandhu shared a video from the treatment ward, showing resilience and gratitude. “Very lucky,” he captioned the video, and later updated followers, saying, “Not feeling too bad,” despite the overwhelming first day.
While Sandhu did not disclose his prognosis, Verywell Health reports that the five-year survival rate for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma varies between 57% and 86%
