Hulk Hogan privately battled cancer before his sudden death.
Hogan suffered from Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), a type of cancer that affects white blood cells called lymphocytes, according to documents obtained by Us Weekly.
CLL typically progresses more slowly than other forms of leukemia, per the Mayo Clinic. The disease usually impacts older adults.
It is not known when Hogan was diagnosed with CLL.
The documents, provided by the Pinellas County Forensic Science Center, indicated Hogan’s cause of death as acute myocardial infarction, commonly known as a heart attack.
Hogan’s manner of death was listed as natural.
The legendary pro wrestler’s body will be cremated, per his wishes.
Hogan died on Thursday, July 24, after suffering cardiac arrest at his home in Clearwater, Florida. He was 71 years old.
In the years prior to his death, Hogan had battled numerous health issues and underwent a myriad of surgeries.
Due to complications from a neck surgery in May, Hogan was intubated and battled renal failure, fluid overload and severe COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), according to wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer.
“What happened with Hulk was they took him out of the hospital and made a hospital in his house as there wasn’t much left they could do,” Meltzer, 65, reported in his Wrestling Observer Newsletter on Friday, July 25.
A source exclusively told Us Weekly after his death that Hogan had been “in and out of the hospital” for years.
The insider described Hogan’s frequent hospital visits as “the culmination of having over 30 surgeries over the course of his life.”
“Wrestling like he did for so many years has done so much damage,” the source explained. “His body was so beaten up. Although wrestling can be fake, it’s not physically fake. There were predetermined outcomes to the matches, but the physicality was very real. He was always in some sort of pain. He paid for his success.”
Despite all of Hogan’s health issues, a source told Us Weekly that his death came as “a shock” to many of his friends and family members.
“He had been calling and texting as normal,” the source said, adding, “Hulk was at home in the last few weeks, not in the hospital. He was recovering well from his heart operation.”
Shortly before his death, Hogan’s wife, Sky Daily, took to social media to shut down “rumors” about her husband’s rumored failing health.
“His heart is strong, and there was never any lack of oxygen or brain damage,” Daily posted via her Instagram Story on July 12.
Hogan died 12 days later.
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