GENERAL Hospital star John York cried on live TV while discussing his battle with cancer.
The soap opera actor was diagnosed with two types of blood and bone marrow cancer in 2022, following a routine exam that would require bone marrow transplants for treatment.
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On Good Morning America, John, 65, got emotional talking about how many people have signed up to donate bone marrow.
“I made the announcement and that helped. And so many people did-” he let out a shaky breath and cried.
“-went into the registry office, just to help save someone’s life”, John concluded, composing himself.
The General Hospital star also opened up about how she discovered she had cancer.
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Two years ago, he had a routine check-up for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, both types of inflammatory bowel disease.
During the consultation, doctors found signs of cancer and he was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome and smoldering multiple myeloma, both types of blood and bone marrow cancer.
John has been filming episodes of the soap for months, but will return to screens on June 19th.
The actor has not been on General Hospital since November 2023.
He underwent chemotherapy seven days a week in Tennessee, and about two to three weeks later he was allowed to fly to California to film the soap opera.
John found a perfect match in November 2023 after months of waiting, allowing him to return to work quickly.
NMDP called him and said they found an exact match.
Crying, John told GMA, “I couldn’t speak.”
He said the donation was a bag of blood and fluids that was injected into his body.
John hopes to one day meet his donor of 20 years.
What are myelodysplastic syndrome and smoldering multiple myeloma?
Myelodysplastic syndrome and smoldering multiple myeloma are two types of cancer of the blood and bone marrow. General Hospital star John York was diagnosed with both in 2022.
Myelodysplastic syndrome is a group of disorders that cause blood cells to not function properly or to be malformed.
Cancer forms from something that goes wrong with the spongy material inside the bones where blood cells are made, known as bone marrow.
Common treatments for the disease include blood transfusions and medications.
Smoldering multiple myeloma affects the plasma cells in the bone marrow and proteins in the blood.
The disease causes no symptoms and can transform into blood cancer or multiple myeloma.
MM occurs when specialized white blood cells in the immune system transform into abnormal cells.
Smoldering multiple myeloma usually affects people over the age of 60 and is not common, as 1 in 100,000 develop it.
Various tests, including complete blood count, urine tests, X-rays, and more, are used to diagnose the disorder.
MAC IS BACK
When John returned to the set, everyone was wearing t-shirts that said “Mac is back.”
He has played Mac Scorpio on the ABC soap opera since 1991.
Mac also made a guest appearance on All My Children in 2001.
The character is a police commissioner, father and grandfather.
John revealed that he loves his cast and crew and that he feels so attached to the show that he doesn’t feel like he’s missed out on anything.
‘So much to talk about’
John is returning to GH with his on-screen wife, Kristina Wagner, who plays Felicia.
The pair are set to host a Zoom fan event on July 14.
“So much to talk about”, John he said on X, formerly Twitter.
“And I’m so excited to be with Kristina on her first Zoom! Hope you can join us!
Tickets are still available for the event.
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
