HGTV Star Charlie Kawas Announces Remission After Testicular Cancer Battle

HGTV personality Charlie Kawas announced Tuesday that he is in remission from testicular cancer. The 44-year-old "Botched Homes" co-host shared the update with his 129,000 Instagram followers, detailing his "long journey" and his decision to undergo treatment while continuing to film the show.

"It wasn't easy, I fought through it, and did what I had to do," Kawas wrote in a caption. "The number one thing was not letting it get into my head. My wife held the fort down and gave me the support I needed. I had to keep going there was no other option."

He added that his hair is starting to grow back and his energy levels are improving. Kawas explained that he wanted to share his truth with fans before appearing on screen as if nothing had happened. He noted that his health journey would be depicted in "Botched Homes," with viewers seeing his hair loss, weight loss, and other aspects of his treatment process.

Kawas revealed that he was diagnosed with cancer shortly before the Sept. 2 release of "Botched Homes." He had sought medical attention in late March after experiencing severe back pain. The diagnosis came as a surprise, he told People magazine, particularly as he was managing five different renovations simultaneously while filming.

"I'm the guy on the ladder, on the scaffold, doing the work, dealing with the clients - so how do you just remove the main guy to go take care of treatment?" Kawas recalled thinking. "I wasn't ready for it. It was probably the worst possible time it could have happened."

Despite the challenging circumstances, Kawas opted to continue working, stating, "These homeowners put trust in us and we all worked so hard doing this, so I [didn't] want to stop."

He concluded his update with a message to his followers: "Love your family like every day is your last day!"

"Botched Homes" follows Kawas as he helps South Florida homeowners navigate difficult renovation projects.