Twins Luke and Josh reveal how their journey on The Block was impacted by a family tragedy

The Packhams’ secret heartbreak: Twins Luke and Josh reveal how their journey on The Block was impacted by a family tragedy

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Luke and Josh Packham have revealed how their journey on The Block was impacted by their father’s cancer battle.

The twins’ real estate agent father Kevin was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a cancer that affects cells which cover most internal organs, after being exposed to asbestos.

‘I know the dangers of it firsthand and I wanted to stay well clear of it. If you breathe in those particles, they’re in your body for life,’ Josh told Woman’s Day.

The Packham’s secret heartbreak: Twins Luke and Josh have revealed how their journey on The Block was impacted by a family tragedy

Luke added: ‘It was a bit of a shock when we found it [asbestos on the worksite] and it reminded us of the ordeal our dad is going through.’

He went on to say it was difficult and ‘heartbreaking’ to learn of his father’s disease.

‘For years they thought he had an autoimmune disease and one day they decided to cut him open and have a look and found mesothelioma sprawled throughout his organs,’ he explained.

‘It’s an incurable cancer; it’s always going to come back. He’s just trying to hold it back from growing fast.’

Tragic: The twins' real estate agent father Kevin (right) was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a cancer that affects cells which cover most internal organs, after being exposed to asbestos

Tragic: The twins’ real estate agent father Kevin (right) was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a cancer that affects cells which cover most internal organs, after being exposed to asbestos

Luke and Josh made their debut on Sunday’s season 17 premiere of The Block.

The twins were the talking point of the premiere, after Kirsty Lee Akers accused them of breaking the rules when she heard they’d hired a builder to paint their home.

‘Rule number one on The Block is that only contestants can paint,’ Kirsty, 32, said.

‘That’s the one job that we have to do – unfortunately because painting sucks – and I hate painting,’ she added, before making her way over to the Packhams.

Standing in the doorway, she said: ‘So unfortunately, I’ve got to be the bearer of bad news. You know the rule is that only contestants can paint?’

'I know the dangers of it firsthand and I wanted to stay well clear of it. If you breathe in those particles, they're in your body for life,' Josh told Woman's Day

‘I know the dangers of it firsthand and I wanted to stay well clear of it. If you breathe in those particles, they’re in your body for life,’ Josh told Woman’s Day

‘That’s the number-one rule on the show,’ she added, leaving the twins’ builder no choice but to put his paint roller down.

Josh explained he was not impressed that Kirsty went out of her way to dob them in.

‘It’s not something that Luke and I would usually go and do, go and pull someone up if they’re doing the wrong thing,’ he said.

‘It was as if Kirsty was saying it for our sake, but in her best interest,’ he continued.

The Block continues Monday at 7.30 on Channel Nine

Drama: The twins were the talking point of Sunday night's premiere, after Kirsty Lee Akers accused them of breaking the rules when she heard they'd hired a builder to paint their home

Drama: The twins were the talking point of Sunday night’s premiere, after Kirsty Lee Akers accused them of breaking the rules when she heard they’d hired a builder to paint their home 

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