Thriving After Lymphoma
- Actor and producer Michael C. Hall, 53, a Hodgkin lymphoma survivor who achieved remission from the disease in 2010, is back in a brand new Dexter series with Dexter: Original Sin.
- Lymphoma is a cancer of the immune system. There are more than 40 different types of lymphoma — Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma are two sub-categories with the latter being more common.
- According to the National Cancer Institute, Hodgkin Lymphoma typically presents in lymph nodes above the diaphragm. Symptoms may include chills, fever, night sweats, weight loss without trying, and/or swollen glands in your neck, armpit, or groin. Be sure to call your doctor if you have any lingering symptoms.
- Common treatments for lymphoma may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy and CAR T-Cell therapy, which is “a type of cancer immunotherapy treatment that uses immune cells called T cells that are genetically altered in a lab,” states Penn Medicine.
- For those who have received a Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis or have relapsed, know that there is currently even more hope for patients with this disease. People with relapsed or treatment-resistant classic Hodgkin Lymphoma now have FDA approval to use Keytruda. The immunotherapy treatment is proven to extend life.
“This is Dexter looking back at his origin story. And as Original Sin goes on, we will see that it moves from an origin story to an evolution story,” showrunner Clyde Phillips told Variety in an interview published Friday. And we can’t help but think it sounds a bit like art imitating life, as Hall has a lot to look back on in real life after his inspiring health and career journey.
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The Juilliard grad, whose on-screen fame began on the dark and quirky HBO drama series Six Feet Under, surprised his diehard fans with an appearance at the last San Diego Comic-Con in July. During the Dexter: Original Sin panel, Phillips had explained that the new series would be a follow-up to the last sequel Dexter: New Blood, the much-anticipated series that ran on Paramount+ and Showtime in 2021.
Paramount Global co-CEO and president/CEO, Showtime & MTV Entertainment Studios Chris McCarthy said to The Hollywood Reporter, “We are thrilled to have the brilliant Michael C. Hall reprise his iconic role as Dexter Morgan in Showtime’s most successful series ever.”
In Original Sin — which also stars actor Christian Slater as Dexter’s dad, Harry Morgan — Hall narrates the character of a younger Dexter, a role played by actor Patrick Gibson. Molly Brown plays young Dexter’s sister, Deb, originally played by Jennifer Carpenter (who became Hall’s wife in real life until the couple divorced in 2011). Buffy the Vampire Slayer icon Sarah Michelle Gellar and Grey’s Anatomy alum Patrick Dempsey also round out the star-studded cast.
The show is based in the ’90s, while the other spin-off series Resurrection, filming in January and to be released some time next summer, will be set in present day.
Hall said during his Comic-Con appearance, “It’s pretty heady. I’m having flashbacks of the first time I came to Comic-Con. We were in this hall. That was … 75 years ago? It’s amazing to still be alive,” as per Deadline.
Michael C. Hall’s Hodgkin Lymphoma Diagnosis
Michael C. Hall was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma at age 38 during the fourth season of the original Dexter series and kept his cancer journey private until filming had finished up.
After undergoing chemotherapy, he was able to return to work to start shooting the fifth season as scheduled.
Hall, who lost his father to prostate cancer at age 39 when Hall was just 11 years old, has been in remission for 15 years as of next month. And he’s since been more open about his journey with cancer, as he previously told the New York Times:
“I think I’ve been preoccupied since I was 11, and my father died, with the idea of the age 39: would I live that long? What would that be like?” shared the Princes Goes singer, who was diagnosed with cancer just ahead of his 39th birthday.
“To discover that I had the Hodgkin was alarming, but at the same time I felt kind of bemused, like: ‘Wow. Huh. How interesting.'”
Thankfully, the North Carolina native made it through, with Dexter executive producer Sara Colleton sharing an update with fans at the time via EW.com, “Michael’s in full remission … He’s in great shape and is getting his energy back. We are all very excited to get back to work.”
Added Colleton: “The guy is incredibly courageous and worked hard all through last season despite being sick. He’s an amazing human being and actor. It was scary, but the show will go on.”
And indeed it has.
Hodgkin Lymphoma: The Basics
Hodgkin Lymphoma is a blood cancer that affects the immune system.
When white cells become malignant, they may become cancerous, which is what happened to Hall. In a previous interview Dr. Elise Chong, a Medical Oncologist at Penn Medicine told SurvivorNet that Hodgkin Lymphoma is actually less common than non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.
Common treatments for lymphoma may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy and CAR T-Cell therapy, which is “a type of cancer immunotherapy treatment that uses immune cells called T cells that are genetically altered in a lab,” states Penn Medicine.
This type of treatment is also used for leukemia, a type of blood cancer, and multiple myeloma, a more rare type of blood cancer that starts in bone marrow. “Patients are evaluated carefully to determine if this therapy is appropriate for them,” says Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Hall’s chemo treatment path led to hair loss, a common side effect of chemotherapy. During his 2010 Golden Globe win, he wore a cap to cover his head, and Hall also wore a wig during season 5 of Dexter.
Risks for Lymphoma
“The patients who are diagnosed with lymphoma early, typically it’s luck,” Dr. Chong says. They may have had a symptom that made their doctor check them, or the cancer showed up on a scan or blood test that was done for another reason.
Until an effective screening test does become available, you can increase your odds of finding lymphoma early by knowing whether you’re at risk, and staying alert for symptoms.
You might be at higher risk for this cancer if you:
- Have been infected with the HIV or Epstein-Barr virus
- Had an organ transplant
- Have a family history of lymphoma
- Have been treated with radiation or chemotherapy drugs for cancer in the past
- Have an autoimmune disease
Let your doctor know about these risks, so he or she can keep a close eye on you. You may need more frequent checkups and tests.
Also watch out for lymphoma symptoms. The most common ones are:
- Swollen glands in your neck, armpit, or groin
- Fever
- Chills
- Night sweats
- Weight loss without trying
- Feeling tired
- Swelling in your belly
Finding Lymphoma Early: Do you Know the Symptoms and Risks?
Many different conditions, including infections, cause these same symptoms. So don’t panic if you have them. It’s most likely something more benign, but still worth getting checked out. It’s also a good idea to see your doctor for any unusual symptoms, even if they’re not on this list.
More Hope for Hodgkin Lymphoma
For those of you who have gone through Hodgkin lymphoma and are facing a recurrence and/or you have become resistant to your treatment, there has been a recent medical advancement that can provide a lot more hope. People with relapsed or treatment-resistant classic Hodgkin Lymphoma now have FDA approval to use Keytruda. The immunotherapy treatment is proven to extend life.
Keytruda (pembrolizumab) is a PD-1 inhibitor for people who relapse after their first treatment or who don’t respond to first-line treatment. Many people with relapsed or treatment-resistant classic Hodgkin lymphoma may have already been taking the drug off-label (that’s when you take a drug for one condition, though it’s FDA approved for a different condition) or through clinical trials.
RELATED: Keytruda Extends Life for Those Fighting Hodgkin Lymphoma & It’s Now FDA-Approved as Treatment
“PD-1 inhibitors have truly been a game changer in classic Hodgkin lymphoma. Pembrolizumab and nivolumab [marketed as Keytruda and Opdivo] are currently being employed routinely in the relapsed and refractory patients, and numerous on-going studies are examining their use in the upfront setting,” Dr. Ann LaCasce, a hematologist-oncologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, previously told SurvivorNet.
“The FDA approval is welcome news and will prevent issues with insurance approval for what has already become standard of care in this disease.”
Reaching Milestones as a Cancer Survivor
Reaching milestones during or after a cancer battle is huge. These events in your family life or career may mean even more than they did previously, so it’s important to take them all in and celebrate all that you’ve overcome.
Chrissy Degennaro, a cancer warrior determined to keep enjoying these precious milestones, is a great example of this. She has been battling a rare blood cancer called multiple myeloma for 14 years, and was first diagnosed when she was just 36 years old with a 2-year-old son.
When she was diagnosed, she almost expected to not be able to see him enter kindergarten. But thanks to 27 rounds of chemotherapy, two stem cell transplants, a CAR-T cell trial and two CAR-T cell transplants over following 14 years, she’s able to keep making memories with her family.
“You know, I do live one day at a time,” Chrissy previously told SurvivorNet.
“Now, maybe I can go a week, a month, but things are looking pretty good. I’m able to be here for more milestones for my son, for more holidays, more birthdays. I do feel like I have had another chance at life.”
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