My fascination with celebrity cancer cases is not just morbid curiosity
There’s security in knowing we’re not the only ones dealing with a diagnosis
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Is this morbid? I have a new habit after my multiple myeloma diagnosis. When I see a headline that says someone famous has cancer, I click on it to see what kind of cancer they have.
I may not know anything about the famous person, but I want to know if they have my cancer.
The latest headline is about actor Bruce Campbell, known for “Evil Dead” and “Spider-Man.” He recently announced on X that he has a “‘treatable,’ not ‘curable’” cancer. He does not say which cancer. Of course, that is his prerogative. Even public figures have a right to privacy.
To tell, or not to tell?
Some public figures are very public about their diagnoses. Journalist and author Tom Brokaw comes to mind immediately. He wrote about the first year of his myeloma journey in “A Lucky Life Interrupted: A Memoir of Hope.” This was the first book I read after my own diagnosis, and I enjoyed it as much for the insider bits about broadcast news as for Brokaw’s hopeful attitude toward myeloma and treatment.
Others choose to keep it quiet. Former Secretary of State and Joint Chiefs chairman Colin Powell did. The world learned of his multiple myeloma diagnosis only after he died of COVID-19 complications in 2021. In his final years, it was a tightly held secret, not just for his family, but for his audience at a 2019 fireside chat with Kathy Giusti of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. In an opinion piece for CNN, she told of learning about his diagnosis just before the event, and his decision to reveal it there, stunning the audience. “Out of respect, that news never left the ballroom,” Giusti wrote.
Myeloma among the rich and famous
Myeloma is a rare cancer, so sometimes we’re surprised when “big names” reveal they have it. The roster of patients includes Patti Scialfa Springsteen, Charles Grodin, and Roy Scheider. U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise announced his myeloma diagnosis in 2023 and keeps his Louisiana constituents updated on his condition.
Former New York congresswoman and onetime vice presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro died of myeloma in 2011. This one’s a little more personal to me, since I covered one of her 1984 campaign stops as a college journalist.
Another myeloma death also feels personal to me — that of actor Mark Lenard in 1996. His most famous role was Ambassador Sarek in “Star Trek.” Until I started researching for this column, I didn’t know Spock’s father died of the same cancer I have.
Comfort in community
Spock and Sarek might say my interest in celebrity cancer cases is illogical. These are not people I know. I’ve never been closer to most of them than through a television screen. So what drives the interest?
Well, it may not be logical, but I think it’s certainly human. For most of us, there’s security in knowing we’re not the only ones dealing with pain, confusion, and outright fear over our diagnoses. I think we find some comfort in the idea that the rich and famous can have the same struggles we do. And we may hope that they use their positions to raise awareness, especially during this Myeloma Action Month.
In his cancer announcement, Bruce Campbell wrote, “These days, when someone is having a health issue, it’s referred to as an ‘opportunity,’ so let’s go with that.”
Bruce Campbell, I hope your “opportunity” takes you to good places. I wish you all the best.
Note: Rare Cancer News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Rare Cancer News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to rare cancer.
Paul Dodd
I feel the same. Wishing you all the best in your journey.
Joan Elsasser
Gina! I thought I was the ONLY one who did this...a celebrity announces they have cancer or someone in that world dies of cancer and I am immediately Googling "what kind", "my kind"? I have never told anyone I do this, not my best friend, not my husband. Your article made me feel scene and in a weird way validated. Thank you for writing this article.
Mike Burns
Another famous person who had multiple myeloma is Sam Walton, founder of Walmart. I'm not sure, but I think there must be a connection between him having it and the Multiple Myeloma department at the University of Arkansas Medical Center being so well funded some years ago. Also, I've noticed that it seems like a lot of baseball players have or have had the disease (relatively speaking): Don Baylor, Mel Stottlemyre, Lou Brock, Gary Pettis, and Moe Drabowsky have been public about it. I've wondered about them playing a sport where they are often in contact with grass that's probably been treated with herbicide and pesticide chemicals. I guess the same thing could be true with other sports like football and soccer, but baseball's connection with MM jumped out at me since I'm a baseball fan and I have MM. Thanks for your article!
Jennifer Palmtag
I completely relate to your “morbid” curiosity. My husband was diagnosed in Aug 2023. We had never heard of it before. He has gone through chemo, radiation and a SCT. While it isn’t curable yet, a lot of progress has been made. It helps to hear about others for the most part. It can scare you too. I appreciate your article and the openness of all with MM. Keep up your fight!!!😊
Robert de Sadow
As a myeloma patient for 15 years, I have noticed a prevalent pattern. Many people are claiming a cure for myeloma. I have gone to countless drs and hospitals, used homeopathic and conventional doctors over the years. It is my feeling that myeloma healing has become an avocation for many, bringing in income from many patients. It has not been an easy road less traveled for me.
Ernest J Zurkan
My misadventure with MM began 30 years ago come June, and it's been quite a ride.
Initially, I was given '6 months, or so' and soon referred for psychiatric counselling because I rejected the conventional treatments ( 2 ) of the day and set out to do my own research.
With the assistance of three top drawer research physicians, surgery to decompress the spinal cord and a little bit of radiation I bought the time needed to develop a protocol employing four drugs, two of which were completely new to the oncology world at that time, which meant the government, the manufacturer and hospital board all had to be involved in the approval of this novel approach.
Anyway, my protocol outperformed ANY approach attempted to that time and virtually all to this date.
The strategy proved repeatable in three other cases involving end stage patients who had exhausted all other therapies and were now turned out to pasture.
In my case, the first whack at the myeloma resulted in a fifteen year complete molecular remission however, the disease recurred twice thereafter and required retreatment using the same approach.
Nevertheless, in spite of being somewhat buggered up by complications of the disease and treatment, I am enjoying life to the fullest, which surely has been a gift from GOD who granted me whatever was needed to make it possible to be here today at 70 years young.
Instead of pretending I'm some sort of fluke, I believe the myeloma patient population would be well served if someone out there in 'the system' was to take a serious look at my protocol and maybe undertake clinical research & trials.
Sincerely and best of luck to all my fellow myeloma journeymen.
Jay Zurkan