General Hospital star John J. York became emotional while discussing his battle with cancer and the overwhelming support he has received from fans while joining bone marrow donor registries.
The 65-year-old soap opera actor was diagnosed with two types of blood and bone marrow cancer, myelodysplastic syndrome and smoldering multiple myeloma, in 2022 after a routine checkup. His treatment required bone marrow transplants to fight the disease.
According to the National Cancer Institute, myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a type of cancer “in which immature blood cells in the bone marrow do not mature or become healthy blood cells.” Additionally, Smoldering Multiple Myeloma is a slow-growing form of multiple myeloma, which is a form of cancer that affects plasma cells, causing them to overproduce one type of antibody.Thanks to the Be the Match organization and all of those who have spread the word about his diagnosis, John J. York has found a potential donor to help him in his cancer battle. “Many of my family members were tested and most of them were 6 out of 12; apparently there’s markers that have to be reached.So they were on standby,” the actor said, adding, “Thank you for saving my life. For letting me spend more time with my wife and my daughter and my son-in-law and my grandchildren and seeing this beautiful blue sky.”
Many of York’s friends and colleagues in the daytime television world have also commented on the good news. “General Hospital” star Kassie DePaiva wrote on Twitter, “I’m beyond happy for your match … happy healing @JohnJYork,” while York himself said that he’s managed to keep the faith throughout his ordeal.
If there is one thing that he’s not going to give up, it’s his positive attitude. He told People, “I went through life with colonoscopies, medicines, the whole thing, and always had to be under doctor’s care and living life. Everything’s good.”
Back in 2021, the actor told Soap Opera Digest that being on the show for more than three decades has been nothing short of a blessing. He said, “The simple truth, for me, is that I believe it’s divine intervention. I feel like God has been watching over me and my family and I don’t know if I deserve it, but I’ve been given this incredible gift.”
Appearing on Good Morning America, York teared up when describing how many people signed up to donate bone marrow after he made his diagnosis public. “I made the announcement and it has helped. And so many people have-,” he said, pausing to collect himself before continuing, “joined the registry, just to help to save someone’s life.”
York is now back to work, filming episodes of General Hospital for months after undergoing cancer treatments. He went through seven days a week of chemotherapy at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee before being cleared to fly to California and get back on the set.
