MasterChef judge Tomasz Jakubiak has cancer

The first thing that attracted the attention of viewers and Internet users was the significant weight loss of the “MasterChef” and “MasterChef Teens” jury. The internet is in crisis. “Mr. Tomek, please tell me what kind of diet, exercise or surgery is this?” – said one of the comments posted on the chef’s social media profile.

Jakubiak usually responded evasively or turned the situation into a joke. Finally, he decided to admit the truth.

– Some time ago I found out that I suffer from cancer which is very rare and difficult to cure. I didn’t want to admit it because of how the family started to suffer, and I was also ashamed. I was just embarrassed to admit that I was sick as a child, he admitted.

– It’s amazing what disease can do to your mind. Now I am mature enough to do this, I stand before you and say: yes, dear, I have cancer – he said.

He announced that he was starting “the biggest challenge of his life”, ie the fight against cancer, “which will probably be long.” – We’ll see. I hope it ends for the best, of course. I also hope that I will not disappear from the media, that I will appear in the next “Masterchef”, that I will get back on my feet, that I will gain strength, that I will gain some weight and that I will continue to do you smile from the screen, I will continue to share my cooking experiences with you and talk about my love for food, because this is my main driver – said Jakubiak.

He thanked them for their support and positive energy. – I need this energy now and the strength you give me will certainly do a lot for me – he said.

He confirmed that it was a very difficult and close situation for him and his loved ones. – I would like to ask you not to make too much sense out of it, because it is very difficult to suffer from such diseases. I will see you, I hope, soon – he finished his recording.

He also spoke about his illness on Saturday in an interview with Dorota Wellman in “Dzień Dobry TVN”. He revealed that the first symptom was abdominal pain.

– They appeared, but I decided that I will eat so much, travel around this world so much, try so many things that it could happen. Like a normal person, I did the tests I do every year, ie gastroscopy and colonoscopy. I even ended up in the emergency room. They did blood tests etc and said there was nothing wrong with me, I just hadn’t taken antibiotics and that might be the reason I had such cramps, so they let me go home. Over time, it spread to the spine. My dear mother-in-law said: “You need to go for an MRI.” I went and that’s when the whole adventure started – he recalled in an interview with Wellman.

– A doctor, a friend of mine, came to my house and said: “Listen, we have to talk, because you have cancer. (…) The MRI showed that your pelvic bones are badly eaten, around two vertebrae in your spine and that the situation is bad.” – he said.

Jakubiak went through chemotherapy, which – as he said – “worked to some extent.” – Unfortunately, I have to change to external, parenteral nutrition. I need to get stronger again, get some protein. If I get some of this mass, I will have to do another operation, he said.