Ink Master star Ryan Hadley dead at 46: Tattoo artist succumbed to cancer after months-long battle

Ink Master star Ryan Hadley died Thursday night the age of just 46, after a difficult months-long battle with cancer.

Hadley, who featured on season six of the reality show, suffered from a germ cell tumor called seminoma that began as testicular cancer and then spread.

'Ryan left this world last night surrounded by loved ones,' read an announcement that was posted to his Instagram page Friday.

'While his life was cut short, in that time he left a legacy behind in both the art and tattoo world,' the message continued.

'He loved his many fans, his friends and clients, and most of all his children. He’ll be missed and always remembered. A legend forever. #rip #f***cancer'.

Ink Master star Ryan Hadley died Thursday night the age of just 46, after a difficult months-long battle with cancer; pictured with his sons last month

The death announcement was accompanied by a black and white picture of him beaming while applying a tattoo to a client. 

Hadley, who is survived by two sons under the age of 13, started chemotherapy in December with the help of a GoFundMe launched by his family.

'I’m only 45yrs and I’m not ready to leave here yet,' he wrote on Instagram after completing his first week of treatments. 'I will not abandoned my children and loved ones. I’m here fighting one day at a time.'

In January he was able to return to work, but the cancer spread to his lungs and liver and the chemotherapy failed to halt its progress.

By late April he announced that his illness was terminal, writing: 'This is a non treatable cancer in my liver and death is the outcome.'

Hadley reflected: 'I may be around for another week or maybe another 3 months, either way it tears me apart that I’m leaving my children behind.'

He added: 'Death doesn’t scare me in any way.. it’s the fact of abandonment with my kids is what p***es me off and there’s nothing I can do about it. I’ll keep everyone updated to a certain point in all this. I’ll be signing off very soon forever.' 

During the couple of months left to him, he continued to take solace in his love of tattoos, posting images of his handiwork to social media.

Hadley, who featured on season six of the reality show (pictured), suffered from a germ cell tumor called seminoma that began as testicular cancer and then spread

'Ryan left this world last night surrounded by loved ones,' read an announcement that was posted to his Instagram page Friday, accompanied by a picture of him at work

'I’m only 45yrs and I’m not ready to leave here yet,' he wrote on Instagram in December after completing his first week of chemotherapy

In May he was able to make the journey from Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he lived, to Columbus, Ohio for the Hell City Tattoo Festival, where he is pictured with influencer Big Gus

In May he was able to make the journey from Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he lived, to Columbus, Ohio for a local branch of the Hell City Tattoo Festival.

He apparently continued working to the end of the month, posting a brief video on May 30 of an arm tattoo that he had seemingly just applied. 

However by this Monday his loved ones posted on his Instagram to reveal they were collecting money for his end-of-life expenses.

'Ryan would like to thank everyone for their support over the years,' they wrote next to a picture of him with his sons. 'He’s always taken great pride in his work.'