‘General Hospital’ John J. York Details Grueling Cancer Fight

General Hospital star John J. York recently went public with why he had been MIA from the soap. He shared the devasting news that he is battling two forms of cancer. The disease is debilitating and the next steps are uncertain but he is staying positive. He is now detailing his fight and what that entails as he begins the treatment process. Keep reading to find out more.

General Hospital star John J. York details treatment plan

John J. York who plays Mac Scorpio on General Hospital spoke with People to share his treatment plan for the two forms of cancer he is battling. He shared with fans in September that last December he was diagnosed with two forms of the horrible disease. He is fighting is myelodysplastic syndromes and multiple smoldering myeloma. These cancers affect blood and bone marrow.

John is about to start stem cell transplant treatment. The wait to find out if his body accepts or rejects the transplant will be grueling. He said, “There’s still a long road ahead, but these next 100 days I would say is rocky terrain.”

In order to prepare for the stem cell transplant he and his matching donor had to undergo tons of testing. He described it by saying, “It’s literally a whole new ballgame from then on. From what I understand — this is kind of how I received the information — has been like pre-game and practice.”

He finally began the actual transplant process earlier this week. John is staying positive because he knows he is doing what has to be done to fight the disease.

John J. York Family-YouTube

What will the next few months be like?

John J. York detailed what he next few months will look like for him as his treatment gets intense. He said, “The first week is an 8-day process of heavy-duty chemo, where I’ll probably lose my hair, and that’s OK. And, you know, there’s just all kinds of issues. I could, I could pass away. I mean, maybe not from the chemo, but when the transplant starts. So after the eight days of these different chemo treatments that they’re doing, they’re basically wiping my body of what I’ve been living with in terms of my blood and DNA and all this stuff for my entire life. They’re wiping that clean and then they’re gonna put new stuff in me from the donor. And that’s going to be the new me.”

Following the transplant, York will be required to take daily trips to the hospital over the next 100 days. If after 30 to 45 days his tests are coming back well and his body is accepting of the transplant then he will start coming to the hospital less and less.

According to John, the first twenty days following the stem cell transplant are the most crucial. He said, “From the first day of the transplant, I’m guessing 14 to 20 days out, they’ll be able to tell with testing daily how I’m receiving and accepting the stem cells.”

He will also be forced to endure at least five more bone marrow aspirations and biopsies. John cringes at the thought. However, he knows it’s necessary. He said, “Well, you know, what can I do? There’s nothing I can do about it. I said it before: one day at a time.”

Sending well wishes for John as he begins his grueling battle with cancer.

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