If former radio DJ Billy Wang's leukaemia has returned, he shows no sign of it.

Dressed in a polo T-shirt and cuffed denim shorts, Wang, better known as Dongfang Billy, looks tanned and healthy. Only the skull cap he is sporting on a hot day gives the game away.

The bachelor wears the cap to hide the loss of hair brought about by chemotherapy.

Asked how he is feeling, he replies: 'What's your impression? I think I'm doing very well but the data indicate otherwise.'

Wang, whose 15-year battle with cancer was widely reported in the press, is giving his first interview to Life! since reports surfaced earlier this month that he has had a relapse. He was given a clean bill of health in 1995.

He was in the United States when news of the relapse broke and subsequent reports had suggested that it was all a publicity stunt.

Looking agitated, the 45-year-old retorts: 'How can this be for publicity? If so, I should have done it when I was at 97.2FM and still in entertainment.'

He left MediaCorp Radio in December last year.

He says he discovered the cancer had returned in March when he had a fever that would not go away. He has been receiving chemotherapy since May. The treatment will continue until November, when he goes for a check-up.

What is the doctor's prognosis at the moment?

'What I can say is that the impact of the medicine on others has not been that good. They anticipated a better result but it's hard to say what the impact on me will be like.

'On the other hand, if it works, then I won't need a bone marrow transplant anymore.'

He adds: 'As to how much more time I have, I would like to ask everyone to please not focus on that.'

He does reveal, however, that the doctor tells him if he had a bone marrow transplant, it may be another one to two years. But the doctor also hopes that, with the medication, he can live for another 10 to 15 years.

'These have given me the greatest encouragement and I didn't ask anymore. I will now live my life with a positive attitude,' he says.

The Taiwan-born Wang was speaking to Life! at the 365 Cancer Prevention Society in New Bridge Road, previously known as the Singapore Cancer Care Foundation, which he had helped set up.

He denies reports that he has given up hope. 'No. That's very incorrect. I could never give up.'

Indeed, following successful treatment of his cancer in 1995, he made a name for himself as a cancer survivor.

He became a fitness and diet guru, and is currently giving free exercise classes for hundreds of fans in Bishan Park every morning.

He also runs commercial slimming classes under his own company, Billy House. He charges $1,200 for a 100-day course.

In fact, he was in the US on a health tour with the top three students from the first course when news of the relapse broke.

He returned last Thursday and conducted his exercise class in Bishan yesterday morning.

If he has not given up the fight, then why did he tell Lianhe Wanbao that he was preparing for his funeral, including choosing the picture and screening an autobiographical film?

Wang explains that he is making the arrangements so as not to inconvenience his family when the time comes.

He clarifies that he told Lianhe Wanbao about the relapse because he wanted to reach out to people whose cancer has returned.

'I want to urge cancer patients not to give up hope and collapse. To those who have read the earlier report and felt sad on my behalf, I feel very apologetic and ashamed.'

He says that he has always believed in thinking positive in the face of illness. 'Settle your affairs and don't make it hard for others. And don't wait till your last breath to address your regrets.'

This article was first published in The Straits Times on Sep 29, 2008.