After surgery, travel YouTuber confirms metastasis of pancreatic cancer to the lung
The travel channel “sunny journey”, known by YouTubers Mizuki and Kouhei, communicated sad news to its followers. Mizuki, who had publicly revealed his diagnosis of stage 4 pancreatic cancer, announced in the last video, published on the 20th, the recurrence of the disease. The couple’s journey, which documented their travels across Japan, gained widespread attention for the way Mizuki dealt with the condition.
The channel, which became popular by showing Kouhei, a former kindergarten teacher, and Mizuki traveling around Japan in an adapted van, has been a diary of the couple’s lives. In October 2022, Mizuki was diagnosed with stage 4 acinar pancreatic cancer, which already indicated an advanced stage of the disease and the presence of metastasis, and needed to undergo a surgical procedure.
After around three and a half years of intense battle against the disease, the YouTuber was in the “observation” phase, without active treatment, as a result of chemotherapy and previous surgeries. However, in a video shared on the 26th of last month, she had already warned her followers about the need for hospitalization due to “suspected multiple metastases”.
In the most recent recording, Mizuki detailed the situation: “Suspicious areas appeared in the lung and ovary. While the ovary appears to be fine, the lung showed worrying signs, which led to videothoracoscopy removal surgery.” After a biopsy of the removed cells, metastasis of pancreatic cancer to the lung was confirmed. Videothoracoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that allows visualization and intervention in the thoracic cavity with small incisions.
The YouTuber explained that, due to the nature of the surgery, “there is currently no large tumor in the body, so I don’t feel any pain or discomfort.” However, she also revealed that doctors indicated a high probability of further recurrences in the future, which led her to reflect on the next steps. “I want to think carefully and follow a path that also makes sense for the people around me, who work so hard for me,” said Mizuki, indicating a careful decision about the treatment plan.
The fan community quickly mobilized, flooding the video with messages of support and solidarity. Among the comments, there were countless wishes for recovery, such as “I hope everything goes in the right direction” and expressions of admiration: “Your strength is inspiring. I’m in the healthcare field and I want to be like you.” Many also expressed “From the bottom of our hearts, we pray for your happiness and that of everyone around you” and “Mizuki-san, I know it’s hard, but keep fighting to get through this.”
