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- Kate Walsh, formerly of “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Private Practice,” shares how cancer impacted her life.
- Both of Walsh’s parents died from cancer, and she survived a cancer scare of her own.
- The “Emily in Paris” actress is spreading awareness about the importance of early detection.
Award-winning actress Kate Walsh knows the impact of cancer all too well. In 2015, the former “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Private Practice” star was diagnosed with a brain tumor at 48 years old.
“Thank God it was benign, and it was able to be removed, and I’ve been really healthy,” said Walsh, who recently guest starred in the third season of the hit series “Emily in Paris.”
A few years before her own cancer scare, one of her best friends from high school died of breast cancer.
“[She] had breast cancer multiple times and eventually succumbed to it at 44 years old. It was just too young, and it’s devastating,” Walsh told Healthline.
Walsh’s first experience with cancer loss dates back to when she was a young adult. Her father was diagnosed with late-stage lung cancer and given six months to live. Walsh was just 23 at the time.
“[He] managed to live a year and a half, which was great for me because then I could spend as much time with him as I could, but I lived in a different state, so it was very traumatic to lose my father at 23, as you can imagine,” Walsh said.
Years later, her mom was diagnosed with breast cancer at 62. “It started how it does with a lot of women, which was irregular cells and lumpectomies, and then finally it ended in a double mastectomy, and she lived cancer-free for another almost 30 years, so very lucky,” said Walsh.
At the time of her mother’s diagnosis, Walsh was 28 and pushed to get a screening mammogram. “I had to really advocate and really fight to [get] my mammogram and ultrasound because of my mother’s [history],” she said.
“This governing body makes evidence-based recommendations on ways to prevent cancer as well as many other diseases and prolong life,” said David Cohn, MD, gynecologic oncologist and interim chief executive officer at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center.
“Their recommendations historically influence insurance coverage for any recommended testing that would occur,” Cohn told Healthline.
According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), some multi-cancer early detection (MCED) tests can provide information on which organ the cancer is in, while others may only indicate the presence of cancer in the body, necessitating further tests or imaging to pinpoint the origin of abnormal DNA or proteins.
“This technology is something that wasn’t available in my parents’ or even my own generation,” remarked Walsh. “I’m 57 now, and to witness the development of these tests that can screen for various types of cancers with just a blood draw is truly remarkable. Early detection is crucial as it offers more treatment options.”
Although MCED tests show promise for detecting multiple cancers early, they have yet to receive approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Experts suggest that more research is needed to determine the optimal use of MCED tests in clinical settings.
“There are concerns among public health experts that these tests could exacerbate health disparities if equity is not a priority during product development,” explained Cohn. “Minorities are often underrepresented in clinical trials and cancer screening data, which are essential for the advancement of these technologies.”
When Walsh’s father was diagnosed with lung cancer, she was living a carefree life in her 20s, working on a TV show and neglecting her health. However, her mother’s breast cancer diagnosis prompted her to make lifestyle changes.
“At 48, you realize you can’t maintain that lifestyle forever,” Walsh shared. “I turned to meditation and focused on fitness, Pilates, and outdoor activities like skiing.”
Today, Walsh follows expert-recommended steps to reduce cancer risk, such as maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet, limiting alcohol consumption, avoiding tobacco, wearing sunscreen, managing stress, and prioritizing quality sleep.
“Prevention is key, and making positive lifestyle choices can help lower inflammation in the body and decrease overall cancer risk,” noted Cohn.
