Most of the time I have a lot of fun reporting on celebrity gossip, but every once in a while there are stories that genuinely make me sad – stories like this one.
Television actor Michael C. Hall has been undergoing treatment for Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Currently most known for his role as Dexter, the serial killer of serial killers, Michael C. Hall cemented himself in my brain as David Fisher on the awesome HBO drama Six Feet Under.
Hall, 38, said in a statement he is lucky to have been diagnosed with the “treatable and curable condition” – Hodgkin’s lymphoma – and thanked his Los Angeles-area medical team for their skill in caring for him.
His spokesman, Craig Bankey, said Hall’s cancer is in remission but the actor will continue scheduled treatments.
The 38-year-old plans to attend Sunday’s Golden Globe awards with his wife, actress Jennifer Carpenter, and the upcoming Screen Actors Guild ceremony. He’s a nominee at both awards shows for his role as a serial killer in Showtime’s Dexter.
The disease has a 90% survival rate if caught early.
[source]
Side Note: Jennifer Carpenter plays Debra Morgan, Dexter’s sister on the Showtime hit Dexter.
What is Hodgkin lymphoma, anyway?
Definition of Hodgkin lymphoma: A cancer of the immune system that is marked by the presence of a type of cell called the Reed-Sternberg cell. The two major types of Hodgkin lymphoma are classical Hodgkin lymphoma and nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma. Symptoms include the painless enlargement of lymph nodes, spleen, or other immune tissue. Other symptoms include fever, weight loss, fatigue, or night sweats. Also called Hodgkin disease.
Estimated new cases and deaths from Hodgkin lymphoma in the United States in 2009:
New Cases: 8,510
Deaths: 1,290