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Child Star's Shock Cancer Diagnosis After Beer Quits
21 Mar
Summary
- Former child star David Carey diagnosed with stage four lung cancer.
- Cancer spread to brain and chest, prognosis is six months.
- Foreigner status prevents free healthcare access in Thailand.
David Carey, who appeared on Opportunity Knocks as a child in 1976, has been diagnosed with stage four metastatic lung cancer. The 59-year-old, who moved to Thailand in 2002, initially believed his considerable weight loss was due to stopping beer consumption. However, he collapsed twice in January 2026 and was subsequently hospitalized in Khon Kaen.
Doctors delivered the devastating news that the cancer had spread to his brain and chest, giving him an estimated six months to live. As a foreigner residing in Thailand for 23 years, Carey is reportedly not entitled to free healthcare and lacks insurance. His brothers have initiated a GoFundMe campaign to cover the substantial costs of his medical treatments.
Treatment costs in Thailand are estimated at approximately £1,000 per visit, with chemotherapy potentially costing millions. His brother Geoffrey highlighted the disparity in healthcare access for foreigners compared to locals. Due to immigration rules, Carey's wife and daughters cannot accompany him if he were to return to the UK, a prospect he is hesitant about due to not wanting to die alone.
