Jeff Bridges Updates His Online Journal
- Actor Jeff Bridges is currently battling lymphoma; he recently updated his online journal where he shared a message and video about gratitude.
- Bridges hasn’t shared which type of lymphoma he has; Non-Hodgkin and Hodgkin Lymphoma are the two most common kinds of this cancer.
- Keeping a postive and grateful attitude through the cancer journey has shown to help, experts tell SurvivorNet.
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In the video, the speaker encourages people to be grateful for every single day, and know that each day is a gift. For those like Bridges who are battling lymphoma or other cancers, they may be more keenly aware of the gift each new day brings.
And over on Instagram, the beloved actor shared an adorable photo, in matching pajamas, with his wife and their new dog. And yes, their new pup also appears to have joined the plaid pajama holiday attire. He wrote: “May we dream together of the kind of world we'd like to live in & make these dreams come true through our actions. Wishing everyone a Happy New Year!”
Jeff’s Lymphoma Battle
Bridges shared his lymphoma diagnosis with the world on Instagram on October 19, 2020, saying, in his inimitable way, “New S**T has come to light. I have been diagnosed with Lymphoma. Although it is a serious disease, I feel fortunate that I have a great team of doctors and the prognosis is good.”
Lymphoma is a cancer affecting the white blood cells. Bridges hasn’t shared the specific type of lymphoma he’s been diagnosed with, but there are two common types of lymphoma: Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin. The distinction between the two lies in the presence of Reed-Sternburg cells.
If doctors detect Reed-Sternberg cells in a patient, the cancer is diagnosed as Non-Hodgkin (this is the more common type of lymphoma). If the cells aren’t found, it is classified as Hodgkin lymphoma, which is the more treatable between the two. Lymphoma can be treated with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and CAR T-Cell therapy.
Some Types of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Treatable With "Boom-Boom" Radiation
Practicing Gratitude Through Cancer
Bridges is beloved not just for his acting, but also for his cool, zen-like demeanor. It’s no surprise that he’s carrying that calm attitude into his cancer journey by cultivating gratitude. And gratitude has been shown to make a difference in the cancer journey, too.
Related: A Major Step in the Cancer Journey: Learning to Deal With Vulnerability
Dr. Zuri Murrell, a Colorectal Surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, said in a previous interview, “My patients who thrive, even with stage 4 cancer…I kind of am pretty good at seeing who is going to be OK. Now doesn’t that mean I’m good at saying that the cancer won’t grow. But I’m pretty good at telling what kind of patients are going to still have this attitude and probably going to live the longest, even with a bad, bad disease.”
Related: Learn to Accept Yourself A Huge Part of Living With Cancer
Dr. Murrell says that the patients who do well are ones who have an attitude of gratitude. “Those are patients who, they have gratitude in life. My mother, who passed away about a month before I graduated med school, from breast cancer, she lived 10 years, at a time when people weren’t. One of her most amazing characteristics was her attitude.”
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