‘Phantom of the Opera’ Star Dies of Cancer, ‘The Home Edit’ Host Completes Treatment and More

December 9, 2022
Brielle Benyon
Brielle Benyon

Brielle Benyon, Assistant Managing Editor for CURE®, has been with MJH Life Sciences since 2016. She has served as an editor on both CURE and its sister publication, Oncology Nursing News. Brielle is a graduate from The College of New Jersey. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, CrossFit and wishing she had the grace and confidence of her toddler-aged daughter.

From the death of a Broadway actor to TV stars completing treatment, here’s what’s happening in the cancer space this week.

“Phantom of the Opera” actor dies of colon cancer.

Broadway actor Quentin Lee, who is known for his role of The Phantom in “Phantom of the Opera,” died from stage 4 colon cancer — a diagnosis he announced on his Instagram in June. He was 34 years old.

“To say ‘he will be dearly missed’ doesn’t reflect the scope of the people and communities he has created and touched,” Quentin’s wife, Angie, wrote on Instagram of his passing. Additionally, a post on the “Phantom of the Opera” Instagram page read, "Quentin brilliantly lead our North American tour in 2018. Our hearts are with Quentin’s family and friends."

Lee was not the only actor to die of colon cancer recently; earlier this week, “Cheers” actress Kirstie Alley also died of the disease.

A “Grey’s Anatomy” writer lies about having cancer.

Elizabeth Finch, a writer and consulting producer on the TV show “Grey’s Anatomy” starring Patrick Dempsey, admitted to lying about having cancer in essays she penned and published in outlets such as “Elle,” “The Hollywood Reporter” and the Shondaland website. However, sources then came forward doubting the writer’s truthfulness about being diagnosed with a rare bone cancer.

“I know it’s absolutely wrong what I did,” Finch said in an interview with CNN. “I lied and there’s no excuse for it. But there’s context for it. The best way I can explain it is when you experience a level of trauma, a lot of people adopt a maladaptive coping mechanism. Some people drink to hide or forget things. Drug addicts try to alter their reality. Some people cut. I lied. That was my coping and my way to feel safe and seen and heard.”

“The Home Edit” host, Clea Shearer, announces that she is cancer-free.

Clea Shearer, host of the Netflix’s home organizing show, “Get Organized With The Home Edit,” recently announced that she is cancer free.

"I had a friend warn me – she's a few weeks ahead of me — she said, 'Just so you know, when you reach the end of treatment, you're going to feel a little bit like you're in the middle of the earth, because all of the thoughts that you had day in and day out, you don't have to have them anymore. You don't have be at doctors every day. You don't have to do all that, so you're going to feel a little helpless,” Shearer said in an interview on “The Tamron Hall Show.”

Shearer, aged 40, initially announced her breast cancer diagnosis in April.

“Dune” and “Orange Is the New Black” actress, Alicia Witt, opens up about hair growth and preservation after cancer.

Earlier in 2022, Alicia Witt underwent treatment for HER2-positive breast cancer while still working two jobs. In an effort to keep her hair, the 47-year-old utilized cold caps during chemotherapy treatment — something she noted she is very thankful for.

"When I completed my treatment for breast disease back in March, I had worn cold caps so that I was able to keep enough of my hair to continue working through my treatments (I did two jobs during that time)," she said in an Instagram post. "What a gift to have that privilege, so that it could be my choice to share when I wanted to… but still, about 45% or so did fall out."

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