Star Lee Brennan Opens Up About Life-Changing Cancer Battle
Lee Brennan, the 90s heartthrob from boyband 911, has opened up in a deeply emotional interview about the long-lasting impact of his childhood cancer diagnosis — including the devastating news that he’s unable to have children.
Appearing on This Morning, the 51-year-old sat down with Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley to reflect on the journey that changed his life forever. Diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma at just eight years old, Lee recalled how the illness completely took over his childhood.
He shared that he became wheelchair-bound and his weight dropped to just two and a half stone. “It was really tough, and I blocked the world out,” he said. “I didn’t really go out and stuff like that — I was isolated, either in hospital or at home. I stopped going out because I lost my hair, hated the way I looked, I was skin and bone.”
As if that wasn’t enough for one child to endure, five years later another lump was discovered and he had to go through more chemotherapy. Hodgkin lymphoma, a rare cancer that affects the lymphatic system, struck twice — but Lee fought it both times.
Despite the trauma of his early years, Lee never let go of his dream. Inspired by his love for Take That, he found himself swept up in the pop world when he joined forces with Spike Dawbarn and Jimmy Constable to form 911 in 1995.
“I did, I loved Take That and I wanted to get into a boyband, and luckily Spike and Jimmy were looking for someone,” he said, grinning at the memory.
Now cancer-free, Lee says he’s grateful for the life he’s built — but admits he still carries the scars. “I am all clear now. There’s a few things that have happened along the way, but I’m happy and living life. It’s taught me things.”
But there was one part of his journey that hit harder than the rest. Years after treatment, Lee learned that he couldn’t have children. “The main repercussion for me was finding out I couldn’t have children, and that was a huge blow,” he said quietly. “It’s something I’ve come to terms with over the years, and I’m alive — that’s the important thing.”
Rather than retreating from the spotlight, Lee is now using his story to help others. He’s become an ambassador for Lymphoma Out Loud’s Know Your Nodes campaign, urging people to look out for the early warning signs of the disease and get checked if anything feels off.
The band’s journey — from performing in school halls to scoring chart hits, then reuniting for ITV2’s The Big Reunion — has given fans plenty of nostalgia. But Lee’s story goes far beyond the pop stardom. It’s about resilience, finding purpose after pain, and making peace with the life you didn’t plan for.
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