Khaled Selim: "The wrong treatment was nothing more than a temporary painkiller"

Khaled Selim: "The shock after surgery: it wasn’t a blood clot, but a tumor"

In a revelation that shocked his fans, Egyptian artist Khaled Selim opened up about one of the most difficult periods of his life, when he faced a serious health crisis in 2019 that deeply affected his voice, appearance, and mental health — a harrowing experience that led him into isolation and silent tears away from the spotlight.

In a television interview, Selim recounted the beginning of the ordeal, saying the issue started with a vocal cord dysfunction, which led him to visit multiple ENT doctors. Each time, he was prescribed the same treatment — corticosteroids, which offered temporary improvement but failed to address the root cause that was silently worsening.

“I was on corticosteroids for three months,” Selim said. “Each time I improved a bit, but the problem kept growing inside. The wrong treatment was only a temporary relief, while the real issue remained hidden until a turning point came.”

Mohamed Hamaki helps by recommending the right specialist

Selim revealed that things began to change when fellow artist Mohamed Hamaki recommended a specialist. That doctor performed a precise endoscopy, which revealed a blood clot on one of the vocal cords. Although surgery was advised, Selim initially opted to continue with corticosteroids due to filming commitments — but eventually, surgery became inevitable.

The shock after surgery: it wasn't a blood clot, but a tumor

“After the surgery,” he added, “the doctor told me it wasn’t just a blood clot — it was a tumor. He didn’t tell me beforehand so I wouldn’t worry.” Selim spent 15 anxious days awaiting the biopsy results, during which he was under intense psychological stress — until he was relieved to learn the tumor was benign.

Corticosteroids caused dramatic weight gain

The treatment also affected his body: the corticosteroids caused him to gain a significant amount of weight, reaching 124 kilograms, which was 45 kg above his normal weight. This led to body-shaming and embarrassing situations that took a toll on his mental health.

Hurtful stares and professional rejection

Reflecting on this phase, Selim said:

“I’d attend meetings for TV shows, but after the first meeting, no one would follow up. Some friends just disappeared after my appearance changed. Even at public events, I couldn’t escape the hurtful comments. Sometimes I would just walk away in silence.”

Breakdown in the kitchen... A painful moment witnessed by his wife

His wife was by his side through it all. She recalled one of the most painful moments:

“We came back from an event, and he walked into the kitchen and started eating everything in front of him, crying with his eyes full of tears.”