Eric Braeden Shares His Cancer Diagnosis
In an emotional video posted to his Facebook page, THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS star Eric Braden (Victor) shared a very personal story as he revealed that he has been diagnosed with bladder cancer and is currently undergoing treatment.
“While recovering from knee surgery, I began to have… problems with my prostate,” he explained. “I hate to be this personal, but I think this may be good for some older guys who may or may not listen to this. It’ll happen to them.”
Braeden recalled how he began to experience difficulty urinating because of his enlarged prostate and went to a urologist, who was able to use a catheter to relieve his symptoms. And when the catheter was removed a few days later, the doctor used a camera to examine his bladder and reported things were clear. However, the problem continued, and while on his way to the Y&R studio for work, he began to experience the same pain and went to Cedars Hospital to see another doctor.
This other doctor performed the same procedure — although recognizing Braden as Victor Newman and telling him when he came from Vietnam he learned English from watching Y&R! — however when he looked into the bladder, this physician had very different news to report.
“The same methodology used by the other urologist six weeks prior,” Braeden admitted. “He says, ‘You have cancer.’ So needless to say, I was taken aback. But I was determined to deal with it.”
The urologist eventually performed a UroLift procedure which helps solve the problem of the enlarged prostate and difficulty urinating, and at the same time, removed the cancer. Following the surgery, the doctor was confident he removed all of the cancer but then the following week, the biopsy results came in and revealed that among the low-grade cancer cells, there were also high-grade cancer cells.
Braeden then underwent a BCG procedure where a virus is injected into the bladder to kickstart the immune system into fighting the cancerous cells. And while the treatment can cause the patient to experience flu-like symptoms and weakness, the actor reported that he is doing well so far.
“So that’s where I am right now,” he declared. “I’m a little under the weather but not really much. But I’m gonna lick this. This bastard ain’t gonna get me. I’m gonna get it. And I’ll be in top form again, soon.
“So I still am happy to be able to be working,” Braden added, growing emotional and fighting back tears. “I love knowing that I entertain people and… yeah. I love your support. It means a lot.”
