LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: 'The Young and the Restless' star Christian J LeBlanc is healthy and has opened up about his battle with multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer that affects plasma cells.
The actor, who plays Michael Baldwin on the long-running soap opera and has received three Emmy awards, revealed that he was diagnosed in June and is now in remission.
How did fans help him spot the early signs of his illness?
LeBlanc credited his fans for helping him notice the early signs of his illness. He told WWL-TV that some viewers commented on his eye being “a little Jim Carrey[-esque] that way.”
LeBlanc, who has 12-time Emmy Award nominations as per CBS, also noticed that his wedding ring fell off without friction, his nose started bleeding on set, and his left eye was “wonky.”
He first went to the eye doctor, who referred him to a neurological ophthalmologist. He discovered a sinus cavity tumor pressing on his optic nerve.
“I’d never spent a day in the hospital in my 65 years until this year,” LeBlanc said.
How did Christian J LeBlanc undergo treatment and lose weight?
The Daytime Emmy Award winner explained had to start treatment immediately. He said modern therapies also quickly attack and spot the type of cancer which is "very common."
“It is such a well-researched cancer, and they have made so many huge steps with taking the pain out of chemo and making more constructive immunotherapies,” he explained.
The treatment caused him to lose 35 pounds in two months. He said he was advised to eat like it was his job and followed the advice.
“I was raised to fulfill this promise." How he is working with organizations to help other cancer patients.
LeBlanc is now working to help other cancer patients
LeBlanc is now healthy and working with 'The Little Big Cup' and the 'Cancer Support Community' (CSC) to help other cancer patients in need, as reported by US Weekly.
He said these organizations provide cancer patients with mental, financial, and emotional support.
“So it’s about how to mentally deal with it, how financially you might cope with some of the expenses being out of work and all these amazing things,” LeBlanc said.
