Bridges Reflects on the Past After Beating Cancer
- Actor Jeff Bridges recently shared a throwback photo on social media from earlier in his career; the 71-year-old beat lymphoma after being diagnosed with the disease in October 2020.
- He had chemotherapy to treat it, which resulted in some hair loss; in September 2021 he shared that his cancer was in remission.
- Lymphoma is typically treated with chemotherapy, medication, radiation, and, sometimes, stem-cell transplant. The type of lymphoma you have will dictate the treatment path.
The cancer survivor writes, “I didn’t take any pics while making the Last Picture Show, but here are some shots from the sequel Texasville, also written by Larry McMurtry.”
Read MoreView this post on InstagramBridges continues, “We made this movie 20 years after Picture Show – same cast, same director, Peter Bogdanovich. Picture Show, in my opinion, stands alone – no movie is like it & it's not like any other movie. We made it 50 years ago – can't believe it.”
Jeff’s Cancer Journey
Jeff Bridges shared the news with fans and followers that he had lymphoma in October 2020. In September 2021, he declared that his cancer was in remission and his tumor had shrunk.
The actor had chemotherapy to treat his disease, and throughout his cancer journey, he kept his fans updated during his treatment process, as he shared exciting updates, such as news that his tumor is shrinking, in his online journal and on social media.
Updates from Bridges included the shrinking of his tumor, his time with his new puppy, his newly shaved head, and his good spirits.
While Bridges did not publicly disclose the type of lymphoma he was diagnosed with, the two most common types of this disease are Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The distinction between the two lies in the presence or absence of Reed-Sternberg cells. If doctors find these cells, the lymphoma is classified as Hodgkin lymphoma.
What Kind of Lymphoma Do You Have? Why Your Type Matters
Treatment Options for Lymphoma
Treatment for lymphoma is dependent upon the type of lymphoma. This disease is typically treated with chemotherapy, medication, radiation, and, sometimes, stem-cell transplant.
Related: Recovering From A Stem Cell Transplant
In an earlier interview, Dr. Caitlin Costello, a hematologist-oncologist at UC San Diego Health, describes the process leading up to a stem cell transplant. She says, “First, we have to prove that you’re as fit and healthy as we think you are, and so patients will go through a variety of testing in order to understand the strength of their heart and their lungs and their liver and their kidneys.”
“And while you are going through this, your donor, if it has not been identified, is being searched for,” says Dr. Costello. “That donor may be a sibling, which is what is ideal. If a sibling is not a match or unavailable, we’ll be looking for an unrelated donor in a worldwide registry.”
Preparing For A Stem-Cell Transplant
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