‘Talk to you in the New Year’: Dylan Willows taking month-long break to tackle cancer diagnosis

A beloved radio personality in Victoria, Dylan Willows, has announced he will be taking a month-long break to undergo treatment for his recent cancer diagnosis.

Willows, a morning host on The Zone at 91-3, announced on Dec. 1 that after a few months of testing, he has been diagnosed with uveal melanoma.

“I found out recently working with BC Cancer now that I’ve been diagnosed with what’s called uveal melanoma, and it’s bad cancer,” Willows said on the morning show on Dec. 1.

“We’re not sure exactly what the outcome is here, but the good news is that technology has been working hard and coming up with solutions to try and help people like me, and there’s a state-of-the-art treatment that I’m told isn’t going to solve my problem, but is hopefully going to help me buy some time.”

Willows will be off the air for December so he can undergo treatment and spend time with his family.

“I’m happy to say that I’m on the schedule for January 2,” he said. “So if things go as planned, then hopefully I’ll be back at least for a short period of time to come back and do this thing that we’re just so absolutely lucky to do.”

Willows has been on the air at The Zone for 20 years and says, behind loved ones and family, “this radio show is probably the third most important, consistent thing in my life, and I’ve never, ever taken it for granted.”

At The Zone, he has helped local musicians get a foothold in the community by shining a spotlight on up-and-coming bands through Band of the Month.

Beyond his work at The Zone, he has also been involved in community events like VIC Fest and he has served as a juror to music grant programs like the JUNOs, Peak Performance, Western Canadian Music Awards, and FACTOR.

“I love all you Zoners, and we’ll talk to you in the New Year,” Willows said.

Listen to Willows’ full message here:

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