Mathison's Vitality & His Return to Work
- Actor Cameron Mathison was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2019; he beat the disease following surgery and says in a new interview “I feel literally better than I have in decades.”
- Mathison returns to daytime TV on General Hospital and says he was nervous going back to work.
- Symptoms of kidney cancer may include blood in the urine, a lump in the abdomen area, persistent pain, unexplained weight loss, loss of appetite, and anemia.
Mathison was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2019 and beat the disease. He recently returned to work and is joining iconic soap opera General Hospital as Drew Cain. The actor is no stranger to daytime television. Ten years ago, Mathison starred in All My Children, another iconic soap.
Read MoreView this post on Instagram
He continues, “it meant a lot to me, because All My Children was so important to me. And then coming back to General Hospital, I wanted to make an impact and after the first day, I’m like, ‘Man I didn’t know how much I missed it’.”
Many fans are wondering how the actor is feeling after being diagnosed with and beating! kidney cancer. He tells ET, “I feel literally better than I have in decades. I feel so good and strong and my energy is up and my all systems go health-wise and I'm so so grateful. It’s been almost two years since the surgery.”
“We never know what tomorrow is going to bring”
He says that cancer made him connect with his mortality in an even more meaningful way. Mathison explains, “You go through something like that, you really want to have some takeaways and the main one for sure, is that life is short and we know we say it, it’s on bumper stickers and stuff, but we really truly don’t know, we just don’t know,” he says. “We never know what tomorrow is going to bring.”
Mathison’s Kidney Cancer Journey
In 2019, Mathison was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma, a type of kidney cancer. In October 2019, he had kidney surgery to remove the cancerous tumor growing there, and had part of his right kidney removed.
There are two primary types of kidney cancer found in adults: renal cell cancer and transitional cell cancer. Mathison's type of cancer, renal cell carcinoma, occurs when malignant cells form in the tubules of the kidney. Robotic surgery is sometimes used to treat kidney cancer tumors. In a previous interview, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance’s Dr. Heidi Gray explains how to prepare for robotic surgery.
"There's not a lot of preparation before surgery,” she says. “There's typically no eating after midnight kind of things like that. But most of the time, patients are just overnight in the hospital and are able to go home the next day.”
Again, the benefit for minimally invasive surgery, because the incisions are small, pain is less, infection is less, things like that,” says Dr. Gray. “So patients are up walking really sometimes four to six hours after surgery. And so they're really able to return to their homes and do their recovery at home."
How Do You Prepare for Robotic Surgery?
Signs of Kidney Cancer & Advocating For Your Health
Signs of kidney cancer may include blood in the urine and a lump in the abdomen area. Other symptoms of kidney cancer may be persistent pain, unexplained weight loss, loss of appetite and anemia.
It's important to listen to your body and note any changes that may be occurring, so you can seek a physician's care if needed. Remember, too, to always be your own best advocate for your health and physical needs. If you don’t get sufficient answers about what’s going on in your body, seek a second, or third opinion.
Our expert, Cedars-Sinai’s Dr. Zuri Murrell, a colorectal surgeon, advises patients to lead each appointment with a plan and to do their own research. He says, “It’s important for you to actually educate yourself and be your own health care advocate.”
“And that’s something that I think is really important,” says Dr. Murrell. “You should lead each doctor’s appointment with a plan.”
Mathison echoes Dr. Murrell’s advice in speaking with ET. The soap star says, “Really be in-tune with your own body, listen to your body, listen to what happens when you eat something and it doesn’t feel right, really be in tune with it, because your body could be telling you something. It’s saved my life.”
“I had to fight for an MRI,” says Mathison. “It took me two years to get one, so you’ve got to really listen to your body. I really believe that.”
Be Pushy, Be Your Own Advocate… Don't Settle
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
