"General Hospital" actor John J. York, known for his role as Mac Scorpio since 1991, is taking a break from the show due to health issues.
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York revealed he has been diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and multiple smoldering myeloma, both affecting blood and bone marrow.
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Myelodysplastic syndrome is a rare group of cancers that disrupt blood stem cell maturation, while multiple smoldering myeloma can lead to the rare blood cancer, active multiple myeloma.
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York shared how he broke the news to his wife, Vicki, emphasizing the challenge of understanding complex medical terms.
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The actor has battled ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease since he was 17, adding that this diagnosis is "just another thing" to manage.
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York has undergone multiple bone marrow biopsies and chemotherapy treatments, with a blood stem cell transplant on the horizon.
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He's been working with the Be the Match registry to find a potential bone marrow donor.
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York urged people to consider donating bone marrow, not only for him but for the many others in need.
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York will take a break from "General Hospital" for at least three to four months during his treatment.
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Despite the hiatus, he expressed gratitude for support and pledged to return to the show after his medical journey.
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