Michael Madsen cremated, more details about actor's death emerge
A number of conditions, including cardiomyopathy — which makes it more difficult for the heart to pump blood throughout the body — along with coronary artery disease and chronic alcoholism all contributed to the cardiac arrest that ultimately killed the 67-year-old 'Kill Bill' star, according to a death certificate issued by Los Angeles County Medical Examiner and obtained by TMZ on Thursday.
Thromboembolic disease, when vessels or arteries are blocked by blood clots, was also identified as a significant contributing factor.
The death certificate shows that Madsen, who'd reportedly gotten sober in recent months, died less than two months after undergoing coronary angiography, which uses X-rays to look at the heart's blood vessels, per Mayo Clinic.
Madsen's manager Ron Smith previously confirmed to NBCLA that Madsen died at his Malibu, California, home on July 3 from cardiac arrest.
Days later, Madsen's cardiologist told the outlet that heart disease and alcoholism would be listed as contributing factors to his heart failure.
Sister and fellow actor, Oscar nominee Virginia Madsen, remembered her big brother as 'half legend, half lullaby' — 'etched in contradiction, tempered by love that left its mark.'
Madsen is survived by four children, including his son Christian, who is also an actor. He was predeceased by one of his sons, Hudson, who died by suicide in 2022.
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Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
A Miss Universe who thought it was just a mole, a college cheerleader who loved to tan: 4 women on having melanoma
'I could have detected it earlier — I just wasn't paying attention.' Former Miss Universe Dayanara Torres knew she had a mole on the back of her leg for years, but didn't think much about it. 'I remember people talking to me about it,' she says. 'But because it was on the back of my leg, I would forget.' The Married to Me author finally decided to take action in 2019, when she spotted the mole and realized that it was bigger than ever. Although she was traveling at the time, she was concerned enough to make an appointment to see a doctor in Miami before heading back to her home in Los Angeles. Torres says her doctor was pretty sure it was skin cancer, but when the biopsy confirmed that she had stage 3 melanoma, she was shocked. 'I have two kids, and I was a single mom. It was tough,' Torres tells Yahoo. She had surgery on her leg to remove the mole, along with surrounding areas of skin, which left her with 77 stitches. She started radiation treatment and immunotherapy every 21 days for a year after that. Before her skin cancer diagnosis, Torrres says she didn't know anything about melanoma. After her experience, she decided to speak out about it, regularly sharing updates on her journey on social media. 'I wanted people to know and to understand,' she says. 'Each treatment, I would post a video just to keep people aware of what they should be looking for.' Torres participated in the Melanoma Research Foundation's 'Get Naked' campaign to encourage people to get their moles checked too. 'So many Latinos started doing appointments at their dermatologist because of me speaking out about it,' she says. 'It made me feel good.' The 50-year-old is now diligent about putting on sunscreen before leaving the house, especially on her arms and face. She's also partnered with Coolibar, a brand that makes sun-protective shirts. 'Back in 2019, during my treatment, I was always wearing Coolibar,' she says. Torres says she makes a point to wear a hat and sunglasses while outdoors, and makes sure that 'every product I put on my face has SPF too.' Torres urges other people to see a health care provider if they spot a suspicious spot. 'I could have detected it earlier — I just wasn't paying attention,' she says. 'You should pay attention to your skin. The earlier you detect it, the better the results.' Melanoma can be fatal Melanoma is the most deadly form of skin cancer, but it's highly treatable if it's caught early. According to the Melanoma Research Alliance (MRA), about 90% of melanomas are caused by exposure to UV (ultraviolet light). Getting five or more blistering sunburns between 15-20 years old can also raise your risk of getting melanoma by 80%, according to the MRA. There's also a genetic component. For some people, melanoma runs in their family, or they have certain traits, like fair skin and red hair, that raise the risk of getting this type of cancer. Also worth noting: Melanoma can crop up anywhere on the body, including the eyes, scalp, nails, mouth and feet, according to the Melanoma Research Foundation. If you've had melanoma once, you're also at a higher risk of having it again, with research suggesting an up to 10% chance of a second melanoma, Dr. Hooman Khorasani, a dermatologic and cosmetic surgeon in private practice in New York City, tells Yahoo. 'This risk underscores the importance of regular full-body skin exams and lifelong skin surveillance,' he says. It's also why Dr. Anthony Rossi, a dermatologist and Mohs surgeon at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, always tells his patients to be 'sun smart' by wearing sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher daily, along with a hat and sunglasses. 'You don't have to be a vampire, but you shouldn't be tanning intentionally,' he tells Yahoo. People who have had melanoma, like Torres, tell Yahoo that they're now conscientious about doing what they can to lower their risk of having cancer again — and they want to help others avoid going through the same thing. 'I had no education or experience with melanoma' As a college cheerleader whose team was sponsored by a tanning salon, Kelly McWhinney tanned regularly in her late teens and early 20s. Like Torres, McWhinney didn't know what melanoma was or that tanning was a risk factor for developing the cancer. She was diagnosed with melanoma for the first time in 2022, followed by a metastatic form of melanoma in 2023. 'The first sign I noticed was a mole on my body that started getting bigger,' she tells Yahoo. 'When I had my recurrence, I noticed a sharp pain in my left breast that was caused by the enlarged lymph node in my armpit.' McWhinney says she was shocked by her original diagnosis. 'I had no education or experience with melanoma and felt like I was left with no knowledge other than what the doctors told me, which at the time was very little,' she says. 'I reacted quickly by finding the best specialist in my area.' She originally had the mole surgically removed, but a year later started having persistent chest pain. The melanoma had spread to her lymph nodes, creating a lymph node 17 times the normal size. McWhinney had it removed and started 26 rounds of immunotherapy treatment, but she had a severe reaction that changed her health. 'The treatment triggered extremely rare autoimmune complications, causing my immune system to attack my organs and resulting in medically induced hypothyroidism and type 1 diabetes,' she says. 'The cascade of treatment-related complications continued even after completing immunotherapy in July 2024, requiring removal of my gallbladder and tonsils, causing heavy menstrual bleeding and ovarian cysts and ultimately forcing me to have tubal ligation, ending my hopes for having more children.' Now she uses sunscreen daily, rotating between Melan, Daily Shade, Sun Bum and Blue Lizard. McWhinney also wears sun-protective clothes by Watskin and Lands' End. 'I always aim for shade when outside,' she says. McWhinney has partnered with the Melanoma Research Alliance to spread awareness of the disease and urges other people to think of getting skin checks as a vital part of their health care. 'It is a necessity. It is equally as important as a Pap or a mammogram,' she says. 'I would also love for others to understand that melanoma will never 'just' be skin cancer. It is a cancer that is quick, sneaky and shows up everywhere, including large organs. Melanoma can change your life in every single way.' 'I started having difficulty breathing' It was Mother's Day when Juanita Taylor felt like something was wrong. 'I was sitting on the sofa and I started having difficulty breathing,' she tells Yahoo. Taylor has a history of heart issues, so she called 911. 'I went to the ER, and they couldn't find anything happening with my heart,' she says. But doctors also did a chest X-ray and discovered that there was a small shadow on the back of her chest. 'Eventually, they saw there was a mass,' she says. A biopsy revealed that she had melanoma. 'I had no outward signs. It's not normal, especially for a person of color,' Taylor says. 'The only thing I'd had previously was a cough.' (While it's not common, melanomas do start in the lungs on rare occasions.) Taylor, who was 61 at the time, had surgery at MD Anderson Cancer Center to remove the mass, along with a portion of her lung. 'That was the only treatment I had,' she says. Even though her melanoma was internal, Taylor says she's had friends who have had melanomas on their skin. She's now diligent about sun protection as a result. 'I try not to go out at midday,' she says. 'I have a big sun hat that I wear, even in the wintertime. It covers the upper part of my body.' Taylor also makes a point to use a body lotion with SPF that's certified by the Skin Cancer Foundation. 'Know your own body,' Taylor says. 'When I had shortness of breath, I knew the body was telling me that something was amiss.' 'I've had melanoma four times' Nancy Stokes was first diagnosed with melanoma in 2008. She's had three more since then. Stokes tells Yahoo that she was warned she might develop melanoma after a dermatologist spotted and removed a precancerous lesion from her chest when she was in her 20s. 'I started having annual skin checks after that,' she says. While Stokes says her dermatologist has caught most of her melanomas, she spotted one on her ankle that her doctor initially cleared. 'I actually caught that one,' she says. Stokes says she's grateful that her regular skin checks have identified these cancers early. 'The worst one I had was very early stage, but on my temple. They were worried it was going to damage my temporal nerve and the whole side of my face,' she says, noting that she went to see specialists at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center for surgery. 'Luckily, somehow it didn't,' she added. Stokes says she's now strict about protecting her skin from the sun. 'For my daily routine, I use Elizabeth Arden Prevage face cream — that has sunscreen in it,' she says. Stokes also uses a tinted moisturizer with SPF. 'For my body, I just cover up,' she says. 'If I'm going to be in the sun, I wear a hat with an SPF liner.' Stokes also wears bathing suits with UPF sleeves (brands like Outdoor Research and Coolibar also make UPF sleeves you can wear with any outfit). And when she's at the beach, Stokes says her husband will set up an umbrella before she gets there to make sure she's in the shade as much as possible. Stokes is also diligent about seeing a dermatologist. 'Getting your skin checked is the name of the game,' she says. Solve the daily Crossword
Medscape
2 hours ago
- Medscape
Breast Growth: Cancer or Coincidence in 42-Year-Old?
A 42-year-old woman presented with an atypical enlarging breast mass over the course, which initially raised suspicion of a serious condition but resolved spontaneously. Initial physical examination revealed skin ulcerations and nipple retraction, raising suspicion for inflammatory breast cancer. Biopsy revealed acute and chronic inflammation, granulation-type tissue, and focal granuloma with suppuration, but no evidence of malignancy. With the diagnosis still unclear, the patient was asked to return within 1 month. However, upon her return, the breast mass and positive axillary lymph node had decreased in size significantly, with ulcerated areas showing signs of healing. The case reported by Junisha Martin, a medical student at Ross University School of Medicine in Miami, highlighted the importance of considering a wide range of potential diagnoses. The Patient and Her History The patient with no significant past medical history presented with an enlarging 4.5 cm mass over 2.5 months in the right breast. The patient disclosed that 2 years ago, she had experienced a lemon-sized lump in her right breast that had persisted for approximately 2 months. The mass was accompanied by small superficial ulcerations on the overlying skin and occasional discomfort. The mass completely resolved during that time, and no medical treatment was sought. Six months later, the mass returned to the same location and increased in size, with ulcerations in the areolar region. The patient declined to undergo mammography during that time because of the discomfort of the areolar lesion. The past surgical history consisted of three prior caesarean sections. The patient denied any allergies, smoking, recent travel, pets at home, or use of topical creams and ointments on the affected area. The patient denied any significant family or social history. Findings and Diagnosis On admission, patient vitals were obtained and reported normal: temperature 36.8 °C, blood pressure 132/88 mm Hg, heart rate 84 beats/min, respiratory rate 19 breaths/min, and oxygen saturation 99% on room air. She was alert and in no acute distress on physical examination. Physical examination revealed that the large right breast mass had decreased in size significantly. The mass now measured 3 cm from 4.5 cm and was non-tender, with minimal nipple retraction and healing ulcerations and scars with improving skin discoloration. The patient was scheduled for an ultrasound-guided core biopsy of the right breast and right axillary lymph node due to a high suspicion of malignancy, instead of fine-needle aspiration cytology. A core biopsy of the right breast at 12:00 revealed acute and chronic inflammation, granulation-type tissue, and focal granuloma with suppuration. Immunohistochemical tests were negative for carcinoma. A right axillary lymph node biopsy revealed sinus histiocytosis and acute non-specific lymphadenitis but no evidence of malignancy. During the follow-up visit after 1 week, the patient reported feeling well, with mild soreness at the biopsy site. Repeated physical examinations were consistent with an enlarging areolar breast mass with skin ulcerations and nipple retraction. The right breast was moderately tender on palpation. Due to the discordance between the pathology report and physical examination, a repeat ultrasound-guided biopsy was recommended for further management. No medications were prescribed to the patient, and conservative measures were taken because the final diagnosis was not confirmed. Upon repeat biopsy, physical examination revealed that the large right breast mass had decreased in size significantly. The decreasing size of the lesion (mass effect), decreasing size of the lymph node, and the nature of the ulcer now healing ruled out inflammatory breast cancer, and the physician suspected an idiopathic aetiology, instead of an inflammatory or infectious cause of this patient's presentation. A multidisciplinary approach was established for the patient, with a primary care physician and surgeon for further management if there were signs of disease progression. Discussion 'This case illustrates the diagnostic challenges of inflammatory breast lesions with overlapping clinical presentations. While initial findings suggested inflammatory breast cancer, biopsy results were negative for malignancy, pointing towards a benign inflammatory or infectious aetiology, such as idiopathic granulomatous mastitis or cat scratch disease. The spontaneous improvement after conservative management provided further evidence against a malignant process. This case reinforces the need for interdisciplinary collaboration, and further research into inflammatory breast pathologies is vital. Maintaining an open perspective and integrating all available data are essential when evaluating breast masses, facilitating timely diagnosis, and preventing unnecessary aggressive treatments. This case concluded without a definitive diagnosis, highlighting the importance of flexible management guided by clinical improvement in complex presentations,' the authors wrote.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Study reveals this type of exercise lowers your biological age by 9 years
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. If you're looking to pause time, we've got good news — when it comes to biological aging, that's the aging process that happens inside your cells, sweating can help. Specifically, sweating due to high-impact exercise, which can lower your biological age by nearly a decade, according to researchers. The study, conducted at Brigham Young University and published in the Preventive Medicine medical journal, looked at the data of more than 5,800 adults aged 20-84. The study looked at the participants' biological age by examining the length of their telomeres — these are the protective DNA caps at the end of chromosomes. Telomeres prevent your DNA from getting damaged; they shorten as we get older, and shortened telomeres are often associated with age-related diseases. The measurement is taken through blood samples. The researchers found that people who consistently performed high levels of physical activity, specifically high-impact activity, had longer telomeres than those with sedentary lifestyles. For the study, to be highly active, women had to engage in 30 minutes of jogging per day and 40 minutes for men, five days a week. They concluded that regular high-impact exercise added nine years of reduced cellular aging. 'If you want to see a real difference in slowing your biological aging, it appears that a little exercise won't cut it,' exercise science professor Larry Tucker said. 'You have to work out regularly at high levels.' If you're new to jogging, it can be difficult to know where to start. Mixing jogging with walking intervals as you get fitter and build up your distance, also known as Jeffing, can be beneficial. Here's everything you need to know about Jeffing, and a round-up of the best running shoes on the market. That said, if you're not a runner or you're worried about the impact of running on your joints, high-intensity training doesn't have to involve pounding the sidewalk or hours on the treadmill. HIIT training, cycling sprints on a stationary bike, taking a spin class, or using the rowing machine in the gym all count as high-intensity exercise. Find the one that works for you, and you'll increase your cardiovascular fitness while lowering your biological age. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button. More from Tom's Guide Forget running and swimming — study finds this sport adds 10 years to your life Forget gym machines — study shows this type of exercise is the most effective at building strength, muscle and power Forget 10,000 steps — study reveals the real number of minimum daily steps you should take, according to your age
