Actor David Ramsey shared this week that he privately fought cancer earlier in his career.
On Monday’s episode of the Inside Of You podcast with Michael Rosenbaum, 54-year-old Ramsey revealed he had previously been diagnosed with testicular cancer.
The actor from Arrow, whose colleague Stephen Amell faced criticism for his statements about the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, revealed he underwent surgery and chemotherapy to fight a health issue. As a result of the disease, he lost one of his testicles.
Ramsey explained to Rosenbaum why he hadn’t shared his diagnosis before this moment.
‘I mean, listen, there’s a part of my personality that’s, in general, a little more, kind of, laid back and “Hey, as it comes it comes and I’m enjoying it. I love it. Period, no problem.” That’s how I see the world and it’s worked for me,’ he explained, via Just Jared. ‘I think that’s kind of reflected in me not really sharing the story.’
He added that it wasn’t that he didn’t ‘want to’ tell his tale.
He explained that talking about health issues doesn’t really fit his personality. However, he acknowledged that rates of testicular cancer, and cancer overall, have been increasing recently, and he feels he should address this more often.
Ramsey noticed something was wrong when he realized one of his testicles had become noticeably smaller than the other, after regularly kickboxing.
Ramsey explained that things are never truly identical. He used the example of two sides of a face, pointing out they’ll never be a perfect match, and emphasized this is a universal truth.
‘But one was significant,’ he said. ‘So I went to the doctor.’
Ramsey says his doctor initially advised him to keep an eye on his testicles. He did this with regular check-ups for about ten years, starting when he was 28.
He joked that he thought at the time, ‘Do you want to take the testicle right now?’
Okay, so I was totally freaking out after the ultrasound. The doctors kept looking at this thing called microlithiasis, and honestly, it sounded terrifying. They seemed really concerned about it, and now I am too. It’s like, tiny little things showing up on the scan, and it’s got me completely worried about what it all means!
Most people with this rare condition don’t experience any symptoms. However, some may feel constantly tired and depressed, and could also have problems with their hormones.
Sometimes, microlithiasis can cause testicle pain or swelling. Though uncommon, it can also contribute to painful stones in the prostate.
Generally, this condition isn’t linked to testicular cancer. However, people who are already at higher risk of developing the cancer may experience a connection.
Ramsey explained that people who’ve had testicular cancer often have something called ‘microlithiasis.’ This condition can show up when cancer is present, but it doesn’t automatically mean cancer is there, so doctors keep a close watch on it.
About eight and a half years after his doctor initially suggested monitoring his condition, he noticed one of his testicles suddenly became very swollen – about the size of his fist. He stressed, however, that it never hurt.
After discovering the growth, he had surgery to remove the testicle, followed by chemotherapy.
Ramsey admitted that while chemotherapy was very difficult, the hardest part was watching the other children go through treatment alongside him in the waiting room.
‘What was tougher was seeing the other kids in there going through it.
Ramsey remembered observing a diverse group of people receiving treatment – some young, like a twelve-year-old boy with his mother, others older, like a seventy-year-old man. Everyone seemed to be coping with the situation, appearing calm and accepting of what was happening. He described a sense of quiet resilience among them, a feeling of simply being okay despite their circumstances.
That experience really shifted how I see acting, honestly. It made me appreciate every single role I’ve been lucky enough to get so much more. It’s like it opened my eyes to how good I have it!
He explained that he doesn’t focus on comparing his roles to others, like thinking, ‘Now it’s my turn to be the star.’ Instead, he always views his work with excitement, saying, ‘This is amazing!’ He added that this positive outlook is his constant mindset.
Oh my gosh, I’ve been following Kirk Ramsey forever – seriously, he was in stuff way back in the late 80s! But you know when he really got noticed? When he landed the starring role in ‘Good News’ on UPN. It only lasted one season, starting in ’97, which is a tragedy, honestly, but that’s when I first fell in love with him! It was everything.
After appearing in many films and TV shows, he landed a recurring role as Anton Briggs on Dexter from 2008 to 2009. He then went on to play a recurring character on Blue Bloods, starting in 2011.
He’s best known for playing Spartan in the superhero series Arrow, and he’s also appeared as the same character in episodes of The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, Supergirl, Batwoman, and Superman & Lois.
He recently made a guest appearance in two episodes of the new version of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, now called Bel-Air.
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2026-02-18 09:34