
Title: The Strongng Chan had always been the pillar of Stray Kids—their leader, their strength, their guiding light. No matter how tough things got, he stood firm, reassuring both his members and their fans with his unwavering spirit. But nothing could have prepared him for the news he received one winter afternoon.
“Chan, the test results are back…” The doctor’s voice was gentle but firm. “You have cancer.”
For a moment, everything stopped. The world outside the hospital window blurred into nothingness, and all he could hear was the pounding of his own heart. Cancer? That couldn’t be right. He had concerts to perform, songs to write, fans waiting for him. How could he tell his members? How could he tell STAY?
But Bang Chan was never one to back down from a fight.
At first, he considered keeping it a secret, not wanting to burden anyone. He still showed up at practice, still stayed up late producing music, still smiled for the cameras. But the weight of his reality grew heavier with each passing day. The exhaustion became harder to hide, the pain more unbearable. It wasn’t long before his members started noticing.
“Hyung, are you okay?” Felix asked one night after practice, his voice filled with concern.
Chan hesitated, but looking at the worried faces around him—his family, his brothers—he knew he couldn’t hide anymore. With a deep breath, he finally told them the truth.
There were tears, there was silence, but there was also determination. “We’re in this together, hyung,” Changbin said, gripping his shoulder. “You’re not alone.”
From that day on, everything changed. The members adjusted their schedules to support him, staying by his side during treatments and making sure he never felt alone. STAY, upon learning the news, flooded social media with messages of love and encouragement. Fan projects sprang up worldwide, all carrying the same message: Stay strong, Bang Chan.
The journey wasn’t easy. There were days when the pain was unbearable, nights when fear crept in, whispering doubts into his mind. But every time he thought of his members, of STAY, of the music he still had left to create, he found the strength to keep going.
Months passed, and though the battle was far from over, Bang Chan stood on stage once again, microphone in hand, looking out at the thousands of fans holding up banners of hope.
With a smile, he spoke into the mic, voice steady and full of emotion. “No matter what happens, we’ll always be together. Because that’s what family does—we stay.”
And with that, the music started, and the light within him
shone brighter than ever.