'That's where I am now': 'The Young and The Restless' star Eric Braeden, 82, reveals cancer diagnosis
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Eric Braeden, 82, of the soap opera ‘The Young And The Restless’ fame has recently shared a video on his Facebook page giving his fans and followers an update about his health. Playing the iconic role of Victor Newman in the iconic show for 43 seasons, Braeden has developed a loyal fan base.
In the video shared, he could be seen narrating his health struggles and giving updates on what treatment he is undergoing. He shares with his fans that at present he is undergoing a treatment named immunotherapy through which the cancer-causing cells near his bladder can be destroyed. Braeden, who appeared also in ‘Titanic’ revealed that he realized he had cancer when he was recovering from a previous knee surgery and “began to have problems with my prostate.”
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“I hate to be this personal but I think this may be good for some older guys who may or may not listen to this,” said the actor in his 13-minute long video where he shared that at one point he was experiencing frequent urination to the point of going “every half hour.”
When did it all start?
As symptoms started showing, he visited a urologist who recommended that he have an UroLift operation to ease the strain on the urethra. Meanwhile, Braeden stated that the condition worsened causing him difficulty urinating. “And that my friends, I can tell you, is one of the most painful experiences I've had," he said. With the problem still hurting his daily life, the actor decided to visit Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, where he consulted with another urologist. After careful examination, the doctor said that he has cancer. “Needless to say, I was taken aback, but I was determined to deal with it,” remarked the veteran actor.
The Emmy winner recounted having the UroLift procedure, during which the doctor also removed the malignancy. A week later, he returned to the doctor's office, where a biopsy report revealed that he had high-grade cancer cells near his bladder, which required treatment. The doctor recommended ‘Immunotherapy’ which he needs to undergo once a week for six weeks. He was also cautioned that after each treatment he might be suffering from “flu-like symptoms.”
After informing his fans that he has already gotten the second round of treatment, he said, “I didn't have a really bad reaction the first day. It was okay.” He sounded quite positive as he said, “So that's where I am right now. I'm a little under the weather, but not really much,” before adding, “I've learned now to listen to my body more and not go all out. I'm gonna get it. And I'll be in top form again soon,” reports Daily Mail.
'I still am happy to be able to go work’
Braeden, who has appeared in over 4000 episodes of the soap, then emotionally says, “I still am happy to be able to go work. It distracts me. I love acting. I love knowing that I entertain people,” before thanking his fans for unconditional support, “I love your support. It means a lot. So whenever you have someone in the family who goes through this, support them. It can work out.”
He concluded, “I also know someone close to me who has had cancer, with chemo, which is tougher, much tougher. They have survived it. So nowadays, there's so much advance in cancer treatment. You can survive it.”