What Happened to HGTV’s Charlie Kawas? His Cancer Diagnosis & More

Alyssa Norwin August 28, 2026, 11:03 am

Charlie Kawas is HGTV’s newest star. The general contractor stars in the network’s upcoming series Botched Homes, which premieres on September 2.

On the show, Kawas rescues “South Florida homeowners from some of the region’s most disastrous renovation projects.” But six months into filming, he was hit with an unexpected diagnosis. Rather than stepping away from the cameras, Kawas chose to power through with the series.

Production didn’t wrap until August 21, so Kawas’ entire journey was documented. Scroll down for everything we know.

What happened to Charlie Kawas?

Kawas was experiencing back pain, which led to a trip to the emergency room. He spent a few nights in the hospital before a doctor confirmed the pain was being caused by a tumor. Kawas was diagnosed with testicular cancer.

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A post shared by Charlie Kawas (@ck_construction)

“It took my by surprise,” he admitted to People. “It caught me off guard.”

What treatment did Charlie Kawas have?

After Kawas received his diagnosis, he was advised to start chemotherapy right away. He opted to delay treatment for two weeks so he could get things in order with his ongoing renovation projects.

The side effects from chemotherapy did take a toll on Kawas. “There were times when I had no energy, and I had to get to the job, and I really had to push hard and delegate more, rather than do everything myself. It was a challenge for sure,” he shared.

Kawas completed his chemotherapy treatments in July.

How is Charlie Kawas’ health now?

While Kawas is on the mend, he is still dealing with the side effects from chemo. His hair is just starting to grow back, and he is working on rebuilding strength after experiencing significant weight loss.