Paul Kent reveals brutal toll of cancer battle as he makes podcast return after chemotherapy

Speaking on the FanaticsTV podcast, the former NRL 360 host said the cancer diagnosis and subsequent chemotherapy had completely rocked his body, and his life had turned upside down.

“I’ve lost 12kg … and they tell you not to lose weight as it makes the treatment less effective,” he said on the FanaticsTV podcast.

“I also haven’t had a solid meal in five or six weeks … I have ulcers in my mouth and throat, some up to 5cm, so basically it is impossible to eat.

“Everything I try and eat tastes metallic, like steel wool.”

Kent also revealed he had finally got off Endone – a prescription-only narcotic prescribed for pain relief – but was hoping pain-free days could soon return.

And the NRL world was happy to see him back.

“Great to see Kenty back after a tough round of chemotherapy. Wishing him all the best. Such a great episode. A powerful, honest reflection on his cancer treatment and life before diving into some NRL talking points,” popular NRL account NRL Central wrote on X.

“Good on your Kenty. All the best with your recovery,” Brett Spinks said.

“Toughest bloke in the game. The fact he’s still showing up, still talking footy — that’s the spirit rugby league was built on. Get well soon Kenty,” The Rugby League Café added.

While Noah Zark added, “Stay strong good man.”

It comes after the 56-year-old was diagnosed with throat cancer, with cancer found in his throat and lymph nodes around his neck, just before Christmas.

He was then treated at Sydney’s Chris O’Brien Cancer Treatment Centre and underwent intensive radiotherapy five days a week for several weeks.

Earlier this month he posted a smiling image on Instagram, saying treatment was almost over.

“Last chemo (triple hit) underway today. Four more rounds of radiation left and we are closing this chapter,” he wrote.

“Hanging in there and doing well. The messages and support from you all has been overwhelming – truly grateful. See you all soon.”

While the former Daily Telegraph journalist previously said the hardest part of the whole diagnosis had been telling his wife and kids.

“It’s tough, it’s tough telling everyone mate,” he said on his Kenty Prime Time podcast, referring to telling his partner Sam and his daughter.

He also shared confronting details about his treatment, including the need to wear a tightly fitted mask during radiotherapy to prevent any movement.

“Because it’s in a confined area in my neck, there’s a lot of stuff going on around in your neck, but when they shoot the radiation into it, you’re not allowed to move around, in case you start to hit the wrong spots,” he said.

“You put this mask on, which basically just locks you down for the 15 minutes. It’s not painful and you can’t even put your tongue through your teeth — that’s how tight it is.”

Kent rose to prominence as one of the game’s most outspoken commentators before his career was derailed in 2024, when he parted ways with News Corp and Fox Sports following a widely publicised street brawl outside Totti’s restaurant in Sydney.

He later pleaded guilty to a charge of affray, avoided a conviction and was placed on a two-year good behaviour bond.

Since then, Kent has rebuilt his media presence through podcasting, launching Kenty Prime Time and Kenty Blitz, which have attracted a strong following.

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