At the appointment, his doctor said the lump was most likely epididymitis, inflammation of the epididymis, the tube behind the testicle that stores and carries sperm. Cancer could not be ruled out without further imaging, so an ultrasound was scheduled for the following morning. That left Johnson continuing public appearances while privately carrying the possibility of a cancer diagnosis.

I had to live with that for those twenty-four hours, not knowing and I had to be on all day, joking around, making speeches,

Johnson said. He also indicated he did not tell his wife, Lauren Hashian, before he had clearer results because he did not want to worry her unnecessarily.

The next morning, the ultrasound confirmed the lump was not cancerous. Johnson was diagnosed with epididymitis and later reassured the public.