General Hospital's John J. York reveals that he's been cleared for a stem cell transplant. He also details what the life-saving procedure will entail and what he will face in the weeks, months, and years to come.
General Hospital's John J. York (Mac Scorpio) shared an important update about his health journey in an exclusive interview with People. The beloved veteran actor has begun the process of a blood stem cell transplant.
On September 13, York revealed that he would be taking a hiatus from GH to focus on this health after he was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome and smoldering multiple myeloma, and that he would need to undergo a stem cell transplant. Thanks to BeTheMatch.org, a match was found.
York and his donor underwent months of vigorous testing to ensure the best possible outcome for both, and they were both cleared to proceed with the life-saving transplant. "It's literally a whole new ballgame from then on," York told People. Despite the grueling process, York has stayed positive because he knew it was a necessary step to get him to the transplant.
York revealed that the first week of treatment would include an eight-day regimen of heavy-duty chemo. "I'll probably lose my hair, and that's OK," he said. York is also aware that there are risks to the treatment. "I could pass away. I mean, maybe not from the chemo, but when the transplant starts," York explained.
The actor shared that after his body had been wiped of what he'd been living with in terms of his "blood and DNA and all this stuff for my entire life," he would receive the new stem cells from his donor. "And that's going to be new to me," York admitted.
According to York, once the transplant is completed, he will go through a 100-day treatment plan that will require him to go to the hospital every day for testing. If his numbers look good in the early months, there's a possibility that the doctors might decide to spread out the tests. He explained that the first few weeks were the crucial days. "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 the stem cells," York said.
York also shared that he would need to take medication for a year or two, and he will undergo periodic testing that will include a painful bone marrow aspiration and biopsy. "I thought I was done doing bone marrow biopsies, but I still have like five bone marrow biopsies out there. Those are just not my favorite things in the world to do," York said as he winced.
York acknowledges that much of it is out of his hands, so all he can do is take it one day at a time.
Would you like to send John J. York well wishes? We want to hear from you -- so drop your comments in the Comments section below, tweet about it on Twitter, share it on Facebook, or chat about it on our Message Boards.
