Golden Bachelor Gerry Turner’s Tragic (And Rare) Cancer Diagnosis Explained – Health Digest

“The Golden Bachelor’s” Gerry Turner surprised fans when he and his wife Theresa Nist announced their divorce in April. In a recent interview with People, he said he has a rare type of bone marrow cancer called Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia.

The five-year survival rate for Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia is 78%, according to the National Cancer Institute (per American Cancer Society). This survival rate is based on how many people with this type of cancer lived at least five years. Survival rates can depend on the disease’s stage when diagnosed.

Turner had injured his shoulder three years ago during a pickleball game but didn’t see an orthopedic surgeon until after his season of “The Golden Bachelor” was over. His doctor noticed unusual blood markers in a blood test and referred Turner to an oncologist.

His cancer diagnosis played a role in his breakup with Nist. “I wanted my life to continue on as normal as possible, and that led me to believing that as normal as possible more meant spending time with my family, my two daughters, my two son-in-laws, my granddaughters,” Turner told People. “And the importance of finding the way with Theresa was still there, but it became less of a priority.”

Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia is a form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma where white blood cells in your bone marrow mutate into cancer cells. These cancer cells produce too much of an antibody called “macroglobulin.” The cancer continues to grow in the bone marrow so there’s less room for red blood cells and healthy white blood cells. This can make people weak with anemia and more prone to infection. (Learn how your body makes blood.)

According to the Dana Farber Institute, fewer than 3,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia each year. This type of cancer is hard to detect because there aren’t any symptoms. It is during a routine blood screening that these abnormal white blood cells are detected. Once there’s a buildup of the antibodies in the bone marrow, people might experience dizziness, numbness, sweating, or joint pain.

Even though there’s no cure for Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia, people who get treated for this cancer can still lead active lives. Turner said he’s seeking treatment at a hematology-oncology group in Indiana. “I’m going to pack as much fun as I possibly can into my life and enjoy every moment,” he said. “And when I’m gone, I’m gone, but I’m not going to have regrets.”