Fighting Every Day
Selma Blair, 49, has been advocating for multiple sclerosis patients ever since her 2018 diagnosis, along with the mental health issues that have come along with navigating through the day-to-day ups and downs of living with this disease. The mom of one dropped by Good Morning America to talk about her new documentary, Introducing, Selma Blair, which shows her intense journey with this debilitating disease of the brain and spinal cord.The mom of one dropped by Good Morning America to talk about her new documentary, Introducing, Selma Blair, with anchor Robin Roberts, a cancer survivor.
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The documentary covers Blair’s decision to get a stem cell transplant, which is not a cure for the condition and is still in the experimental phase (and not yet FDA-approved). She also had intensive rounds of chemo to help “reboot” her immune system, and admits that she has always had a fear of chemotherapy.
Despite the extremely challenging mental and physical experience with MS, Blair continues to push forward.
“I have more gains than losses,” Blair continued. “And I do have things that can sometimes be embarrassing but this part of it that I do want to show ’cause that’s the part that’s healing, and perfect, and acceptancethe glitches, maybe some of the speech.”
Blair says she continues to live day by day.
“We have to take care of ourselves and be patient,” Blair said. “And better times come. Maybe not for good. Maybe it’s not a cure. But more than not, better times will come. We’re meant to have joy on this earth. I never felt that before.”
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The film, directed by Rachel Fleit, just screened at the Hamptons International Film Festival, and Blair couldn’t be more proudand gratefulfor the outpouring of love for her new project.
“I didn’t feel amazing a minute ago,” Blair said, moved to tears during the Q&A after a standing ovation from the audience, according to PEOPLE. “I came in a little rough here right now, so thank you.”
Blair went on to explain that she has a condition called pseudobulbar affect [involuntary crying and laughing due to her nervous system], so she can’t stop crying. “It’s better than the alternative,” she assures spectators. “The other thing that happens with the pseudobulbar is just nastiness, so tears are better. I wish I could assemble myself more carefully in front of a crowd. It means so much.”
Blair also thanked her followers online, posting a photo of herself in a bold, fashion-forward floral dress on the red carpet at the film fest.
“Thank you. Thank you for the love and support of #IntroducingSelmaBlair,” she wrote. “I can't wait for you all to see it.”
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Blair’s Battle
When Blair was finally diagnosed in August 2018 after displaying symptoms for years but not getting taken seriously, it was thanks to friend and Saved By the Bell star Elizabeth Berkley.
"And the biggest thanks to @elizberkley who forced me to see her brother #drjasonberkley who gave me this diagnosis after finding lesions on that mri," she wrote in a prior post. "I have had symptoms for years but was never taken seriously until I fell down in front of him trying to sort out what I thought was a pinched nerve. I have probably had this incurable disease for 15 years at least. And I am relieved to at least know. And share."
Cancer patients can often relate to that feeling of knowing that they've potentially had the cancer for years, or of knowing they had symptoms but perhaps didn't go to the doctor. Many times, symptoms overlap for so many conditions, from more minor to more serious.
Blair was confused at first when her doctor brought up chemotherapy, thinking that chemo was only for people with cancer. Blair told reporters at the Time Health Summit in October 2019 that she went through with the treatment, along with the stem cell transplant, “to help alleviate some of the pain and ailments from her diagnosis," according to USA TODAY.
The Stem Cell Transplant, a Day-by-Day Guide
"Why would I put this horrible drug in itchemotherapy, I don't have cancer," she said. "But I was kind of out of options and I was looking." Chemotherapy acts as a way to reset the immune system so it stops attacking the central nervous system.
Blair’s film will give a deeper picture into what she was has gone through, and in the meantime, to learn more about the strugglesand hopewith this disease, you can tune into SurvivorNetTV’s film about a world-renowned doctor’s incredible journey through MS.
SurvivorNetTV Presents: Defying All OddsA World-Renowned Doctor's Incredible Journey Through MS
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.