Glitz, glamor, and the biggest reality show around: You might think Khloé Kardashian
has it all — that doesn't mean things are always easy for the star.
In October 2022, Khloé Kardashian revealed that she had experienced a cancer scare.
On Instagram Stories, she wrote:
"After noticing a small bump on my face and assuming it was something as minor as a zit,
I decided to get it biopsied seven months after realizing it was not budging."
After doctors discovered a tumor in one of her cheeks, Kardashian underwent surgery with
celebrity cosmetic surgeon Dr. Garth Fisher.
In her post, Kardashian also recounted a past melanoma diagnosis at the age of 19, adding:
"I had a surgery to remove that as well, so I am pre-composed to melanomas."
While Kardashian did not speak about how difficult it was to navigate her diagnosis, it soon
became clear how much she had struggled.
In Season 3 of The Kardashians, we saw her family worrying about her diagnosis and surgery.
"Khloé has a little bit of a history with melanoma and cancerous lesions."
Speaking to her friend Malika Haqq, Khloé revealed that the diagnosis and the procedure
to remove the tumor were more serious than she realized.
"I guess when they were reviewing the labs, a lot more than they thought had to be removed."
Through the years, Khloé Kardashian has experienced a publicly fractured relationship with Tristan
Thompson, whom she dated on and off between 2016 and 2021.
Not only did Thompson's philanderous ways cost him his romantic relationship with Khloé,
but it also appears to have left actual scars.
In a September 2022 episode of The Kardashians, the reality star met with Dr. Daniel Amen,
a psychiatrist and brain disorder specialist.
Following an MRI scan, he detected physical trauma which Kardashian tied back to a past
car crash.
"I was knocked out and I actually hit my head a couple more times after that."
In addition to the physical trauma, Dr. Amen also detected activities indicating that Kardashian
had experienced emotional trauma, too.
The reality star proceeded to list her father's death and her relationship with Tristan as
some of the causes of that particular trauma.
"He just had a baby with someone else while we were together.
And all these things I find out about from social media."
Between losing her father at 19, the upsetting outcomes of her relationships, and a cancer
scare, there is no denying that Khloé Kardashian has had it rough.
Unfortunately, the reality star has also had difficulty processing each of these painful
situations.
In a Season 3 episode of The Kardashians, her best friend Malika Haqq advised her to
deal with her emotional trauma.
"It would probably be emotionally clearing and refreshing if you just had a good cry,
like 'F---, I hate this place.'"
While Kardashian admits to keeping things bottled up, she insisted it was her best strategy
for coping with difficult situations.
"I can block things out and just want to laugh things off.
It's just how I cope with things."
Taking to Instagram in June 2023, Haqq shared a post praising her best friend's strength
and resilience through the years, writing:
"Please hear me loud and clear, I will forever have your back.
I will cry when you don't.
Worry when you don't.
Pray for you nonstop.
I love you and I celebrate you and your healing."
The Kardashians are no strangers to critics.
Of all the members of her famous family, however, Khloé Kardashian has arguably experienced
some of the harshest online trolling and criticism.
As the star told People magazine, she first experienced such vitriol during the family's
earliest years in the spotlight — and it had lasting effects on her self-esteem.
She told the outlet:
"I didn't realize I was the 'fat' sister until I went on TV and the media started saying
that about me."
On top of accusations that the star has received too many cosmetic procedures, she has also
had to fight off rumors that she heavily retouches images of herself.
On Instagram, she confronted the criticism with an unedited video of herself while describing
the intense analysis her looks receive, stating:
"Every single flaw and imperfection has been micro-analyzed and made fun of to the smallest
detail and I am reminded of them every day by the world."
But it's not just her looks that have received criticism.
Along with critics slamming her decision to maintain a cordial relationship with her ex,
Tristan Thompson, Kardashian's paternity has also been constantly held under scrutiny.
Endless rumors have suggested that she is the result of an affair between Kris Jenner
and O.J.
Simpson, both of whom have always denied the allegations.
Regardless, Kardashian has faced a fair amount of online bullying related to this rumor.
Amid her difficult divorce from Lamar Odom, Khloé Kardashian found comfort in the gym.
In 2017, she told USA Today:
"I turned to working out because I needed clarity in my brain, and I didn't know what
else to do but go to the gym.
And, as a byproduct, I started losing weight."
Since then, Kardashian has made significant progress in her fitness journey — which
she admits once turned obsessive.
In 2023, she told InStyle:
"When I first started [working out], I cared so much.
Maybe [it's] just being younger.
I think you care about the scale.
[...] I don't even look at a scale anymore.
I think it's really unhealthy.
I haven't in years.
They're just numbers."
But while Kardashian says she no longer cares about the numbers on the scales, her seemingly
continuous weight loss has sparked concern from her family.
In the trailer for Season 3 of The Kardashians, Kardashian's half-sister Kendall Jenner is
seen raising concerns over the Good American founder's frail figure, stating:
"She doesn't sleep, she’s lost a lot of weight."
While the initial cause of that weight loss appears to have been Khloe's brush with cancer,
the end result of her fitness journey remains to be seen.
In August 2022, Khloé Kardashian and Tristan Thompson welcomed their son, Tatum, who was
born via surrogate.
According to an insider close to the former couple, the child was conceived only a few
weeks before Thompson's paternity scandal with Maralee Nichols blew up.
Despite the controversy surrounding Tatum's conception, Kardashian couldn't have been
more excited about becoming a mom of two.
She told Elle:
"I know it's cliché, but I love everything, even the hard parts."
But while Tatum's birth was accompanied by considerable excitement, Kardashian has since
admitted to struggling to bond with him.
"People do say it takes a minute to feel connected but Kim said hers was easy.
This is not easy."
Thankfully, in a later episode, Khloé gave an update revealing that bonding with her
newborn had gotten easier.