The “Smoldering” Blood Cancer Diagnosis For General Hospital Actor, His Co-Star’s Fear, And How They Grew Closer

The Impact a Diagnosis Has on the Patient and Their Loved Ones

• “General Hospital” star John York, 65, was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and multiple smoldering myeloma, which are blood and bone marrow disorders. His diagnosis deeply impacted fellow co-star Josh Kelly.
• MDS is a variety of similar bone marrow disorders. Under a microscope, the bone marrow cells look like cancer and may have genetic alterations that are known to cause MDS.
• Symptoms of MDS include frequent infections, fatigue, shortness of breath (anemia), and easy bleeding/bruising. These symptoms result from the bone marrow not being able to produce enough healthy, functional blood cells.
• Smoldering myeloma is close to becoming active myeloma, a cancer of the plasma cells. It is characterized by higher levels of abnormal proteins in the blood and plasma cells that comprise more than 10 percent of the bone marrow. Smoldering myeloma aims to keep it from becoming an active disease.
• York underwent a blood stem cell transplant for treatment.
• “A bone marrow transplant is a therapy where your bone marrow and your blood cells are completely replaced by someone else’s bone marrow cells and blood cells,” Dr. Jun Choi, a hematologist-oncologist at NYU Langone’s Perlmutter Cancer Center, explains to SurvivorNet.
• To help you cope with an unexpected diagnosis, invite your close family and friends for added support. Also, consider adding a therapist to your support group to help process your thoughts and feelings.

When a person is diagnosed with cancer, its impact is felt well beyond the patient. For “General Hospital” actor John York, 65, his fellow soap opera co-stars, including Josh Kelly, 42, were deeply touched after his blood and bone marrow disorders - myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and multiple smoldering myeloma diagnoses. “I was scared,” Kelly told Soap Opera Digest. York portrayed Malcolm Scorpio on the popular television show. Kelly says he and York started bonding before the cancer diagnosis. “[We’d go] on hikes and stuff together,” Kelly explained. When York took a hiatus from production to undergo treatment, Kelly said he was “really worried.”

“I kept checking in, messaging him and wishing him well, and he said, ‘Hopefully I’ll be back in April,’ but then April came and went,” Kelly said. Kelly’s worries grew when York told him he was uncertain if he would ever return to the show. Fortunately, York's treatment proved effective, and he was able to return. “When I found out that he was actually coming back, it made me so happy,” Kelly said.

Helping Patients With Their MDS Journey

• How A Blood Transfusion Can Help Treat The Symptoms of MDS
• How Does A Bone Marrow Transplant Treat MDS?
• How Reblozyl Is Used to Treat A Specific Type Of MDS
• Living With Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS): Coping With Anemia

Understanding York’s Diagnosis

Smoldering myeloma is a disease that often comes before the development of full-blown myeloma, a type of blood cancer. Full-blown multiple myeloma is usually preceded by two conditions– MGUS (monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance) and smoldering myeloma . MGUS is a condition where the number of plasma cells in the bone marrow is near healthy amounts. Still, the same abnormal proteins as multiple myeloma are present throughout the blood, albeit in low amounts. Smoldering myeloma is an intermediate disease between MGUS and full myeloma. Myelodysplastic syndrome is a group of bone marrow disorders that affect blood cell production. It is considered a type of blood cancer. Currently, a stem cell transplant is the only curative treatment option for MDS, but not every patient is a candidate for these intense treatments. York shared his diagnosis publicly this past September, although he was diagnosed in December 2022. He underwent a blood stem cell transplant, which lasted about 100 days. WATCH: Understanding bone marrow biopsies. “The only curative option [for] MDS these days is a bone marrow transplant,” Dr. Jun Choi , a hematologist/oncologist at NYU Langone’s Perlmutter Cancer Center, tells SurvivorNet. “Now, bone marrow transplant is one of the more intense therapies for MDS, so you really want to be able to tolerate this therapy. That is why this therapy is reserved mostly for younger patients and [those] who do not have other medical conditions,” Dr. Choi adds.

How a Diagnosis Can Impact the Loved Ones of Patients

Research published in The Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine studied the impact of disease on family members. It was found that: “Most chronic diseases have similar effects on family members [as they do on the patient], including psychological and emotional functioning, disruption of leisure activities, effect on interpersonal relationships, and financial resources.” Feelings of “helplessness, lack of control, anger, embarrassment” are some common emotions parents, siblings, and other relatives within the household of someone battling a health condition may experience, according to researchers. Other ways a disease, for example, may impact the lives of family members include:

• Affecting sleep
• Concerns about medical treatment
• Altered food choices
• Using religion, spiritual, and cultural beliefs to cope
• Concerns about understanding the disease or illness
• Needing support from others
• Limited freedom
• Worrying about the death of a loved one

Our experts agree that forming a strong support system can help everyone in the family cope with the challenges a diagnosis can bring. These situations can be opportunities to strengthen families and bring them closer together.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

When faced with a cancer diagnosis, it’s crucial to ask your doctor informed questions to understand your condition, treatment options, and coping strategies. These questions can serve as a starting point for your discussion with your doctor so you can feel empowered and informed as you navigate your cancer journey.

• What type and stage of cancer do I have, and what does this mean for my prognosis?
• What treatment options are available, and what are the potential benefits and risks?
• How will the proposed treatment plan impact my daily life, including work, family, and social activities?
• Are there any clinical trials or experimental treatments I may be eligible for?
• How can I manage treatment side effects and maintain my overall well-being during treatment?
• How will my cancer diagnosis and treatment affect my emotional health, and what support resources are available to help me cope?