September is Blood Cancer Awareness Month; How is Lymphoma Survivor Michael C. Hall Doing?

While Hall notoriously keeps a somewhat low profile, and largely stays out of the public eye, we do know that he’ll be back in a big way come November 7. This is the date that the new limited series of Showtime’s hit show Dexter premieres. Hall is an awesome example of how possible and probable it is to thrive after beating cancer.

Hall’s Cancer Battle

Michael C. Hall was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, a blood cancer, in 2010. The actor experienced flu-like symptoms prior to his cancer diagnosis. Some early symptoms of lymphoma can present as fatigue, unexplained weight loss, night sweats and fever.

Related: As Actor Jeff Bridges, 71, Battles Lymphoma He Focuses on Gratitude: 'Let the Gratefulness Overflow into Blessing All Around You'

The 2010 Golden Globe winner had chemotherapy to treat his lymphoma. Common lymphoma treatments include medication, radiation therapy and stem-cell transplant.

Hall spoke with The Daily Beast about his lymphoma treatment path, saying, "Along with the diagnosis came the assurance that my prognosis was really good if I just decided on a course of treatment and just did it. I was never in a 50/50 life or death proposition. It was scary, but I wasn't really frightened. I was more just interested in finding out the answers to questions surrounding what I needed to do and eager to do them in terms of treatment."

Finding Lymphoma Early Do you Know the Symptoms and Risks?

What is Blood Cancer?

Hodgkin lymphoma, which Hall beat, is one type of blood cancer. The other most common types of blood cancers include Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, leukemia, and multiple myeloma. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society reports that every 3 minutes, one person in the U.S. is diagnosed with a blood cancer.  This year alone, approximately 186,400 people will be diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma.

“Having a blood cancer means that your bone marrow is not functioning correctly.”

UCSF Hematologist-oncologist Dr. Nina Shah explains in an earlier interview, “In general, having a blood cancer means that your bone marrow is not functioning correctly. And when your bone marrow doesn’t function correctly,” she says, “it means that you can have something happen to you like anemia.”

Related: Oscar Winner Matt Damon Opens Up About His Dad's Battle with Multiple Myeloma: 'There Were Things That Worked Really Well for Him'

“Or you can have low platelets, which makes it possible for you to bleed easily. Or your immune system is not functioning correctly. And you can have infections that most people won’t have. One cell got really selfish,” says Dr. Shah. “And decided that it needed to take up all the resources of everybody else. And in doing so took up space and energy from the rest of the body.”

What is a Blood Cancer How is it Different?

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.