Garth Collins: Gladiators’ Granite shares cancer battle
Garth Collins – known by his stage name Granite – of the hit 00’s TV series Gladiators has been living with cancer for the last seven years.
You’ll recognise him as the biggest and toughest star from the hit TV series Gladiators. But for Garth Collins, aka Granite, he’s fought more than just an obstacle course on a reality series. The actor and gym enthusiast has battled leukemia, an incurable cancer of the blood cells – for the last five years.
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GARTH COLLINS – GLADIATORS’ GRANITE – SHARES CANCER JOURNEY
Although he appears just as tough as he did during Gladiators, which was screened on SA airwaves between 1999-2001, Garth Collins has walked a tough road with cancer.
In September 2016, the larger-than-life character was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), an incurable cancer.
Recently, the 56-year-old shared an Instagram post reflecting on his battle with leukemia, which he is still living with.
After beginning a new treatment, the TV star claimed he had managed to keep his chromosomes and blood count normal.
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He shared: “I regularly go for blood tests and see my oncologist three times a year now, unless anything surprises us.
He added: “Life is good, and despite the few sides, it beats the alternative by a long shot.”
According to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, people with CML past ten years and even have life spans “nearly as long as normal healthy adults”.
WHAT IS HE UP TO NOW?
Since competing in Gladiators, Garth Collins has had quite an extensive acting career, appearing on soapies Villa Rosa, Binnerlanders, Getroud Met Rugby, and Generations.
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He’s also appeared on other reality shows like Survivor South Africa and Strictly Come Dancing.
According to his bio, he’s also a sports massage therapist and an MC.