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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 NBA’s Alonzo Mourning opening up about his prostate surgery to an actor from “Felicity” dying of cancer, here’s what is happening in the oncology space this week.
Alonzo Mourning, a former NBA Hall-of-Famer known for his time on the Miami HEAT, recently underwent surgery to remove his prostate.
Mourning, who is now 54 years old and the vice president of Player Programs at the HEAT told ESPN that he received a diagnosis of stage 3 prostate cancer after doctors detected rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) scores and “shadows” on an MRI that warranted a biopsy.
"What scares me about this disease is that there are so many men walking around feeling great and have that cancer in them and they don't know it," Mourning told ESPN. "The only way to find out is to get their blood tested and get their PSA checked. There are 3.3 million men living in the U.S. with prostate cancer, and many don't even know it. I was one of those guys."
Mourning had his prostate surgically removed, and is now cancer-free, according to a post he made on Instagram. “I am extremely grateful to say that I am now cancer free. My journey to recovery has been tough, but I am thankful for the support of my loved ones and the amazing medical team that helped me through it all. Men, we have to remember that early detection is key, so make sure to prioritize your health and get regular checkups. Let’s continue to prioritize our health and well-being, and embrace a future filled with good health and happiness!”
Erich Anderson, the actor who was known for his roles on “Felicity” and “Thirtysomething,” died of cancer, according to an Instagram post by his wife, Saxon Trainor. He was 67 years old.
In the caption of the post, Trainor said that she was “too bereft now to write anything,” and shared the words of her brother-in-law, Michael O’Malley.
The post read, “My brother-in-law Erich Anderson passed this morning after a brutal struggle with cancer. He had a long successful career as an actor — he was on that old show [Thirtysomething]; he was Felicity’s father on ‘Felicity;’ he was killed in a basement in a Friday the 13th movie; he was on Star Trek and dozens of other shows. He was a smart and funny guy, a fantastic cook; he wrote three great novels which you can find on Amazon. I’ll miss him but his ordeal is over.”
It was not specified what kind of cancer Anderson had.
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, a democratic congresswoman from Texas, recently announced that she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and is undergoing treatment for the disease.
“My doctors have confirmed my diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. I am currently undergoing treatment to battle this disease that impacts tens of thousands of Americans every year,” Lee said in a statement. “I am confident that my doctors have developed the best possible plan to target my specific disease. The road ahead will not be easy, but I stand in faith that God will strengthen me.”
Lee mentioned that she may be missing time in congress as she undergoes cancer treatment.
“As I pursue my treatments, it is likely that I will be occasionally absent from Congress, but rest assured my office will continue to deliver the vital constituent services that you deserve and expect,” Lee said.
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