Latest news with #Caringbridge
New York Post
3 days ago
- Health
- New York Post
What to know about the rare cancer that killed Walking Dead star Kelley Mack at age 33 — which she mistook as a back injury
Actress Kelley Mack, best known for her roles on 'The Walking Dead' and 'Chicago Med,' has died at age 33 after a seven-month battle with an aggressive form of cancer. In January, the rising star was diagnosed with diffuse midline glioma, a fast-growing tumor that attacks the central nervous system. The illness surfaced just months after she began experiencing pain she believed was from a simple back injury. Mack, born Kelley Klebenow, 'passed peacefully' on August 2 in her hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio, with her mother and aunt by her side, her sister shared in an Instagram post on Tuesday. Advertisement 5 Kelley Mack died Saturday, just months after announcing her January cancer diagnosis. Getty Images Gliomas are considered rare, with just six cases diagnosed per 100,000 people each year in the US. Still, they are the most common type of tumor that begins in the brain or spinal cord, rather than spreading there from other parts of the body. Here's everything you need to know about the potentially life-threatening condition. Advertisement What is a glioma? It's a type of tumor that forms in the brain or spinal cord when glial cells — which normally support and protect neurons — begin to grow uncontrollably, according to the Cleveland Clinic. There are different types of gliomas, classified by the specific kind of glial cell they originate from. Mack had an astrocytoma, a tumor that develops from astrocytes, the star-shaped glial cells in the brain and spinal cord, according to a blog on health platform Caringbridge about her health journey. Gliomas are often cancerous, but not always. They can be life-threatening, especially when tumors grow near critical brain areas, making treatment more difficult and potentially affecting neurological functions. Advertisement 5 A funeral for the actress will be held Aug. 16 in Glendale, Ohio. Kelley Mack/Instagram What causes gliomas? Doctors still aren't sure, but they believe it begins when cells in the brain or spinal cord develop changes in their DNA that make them multiply out of control. It's possible to inherit these genetic mutations from your parents, but they can also happen spontaneously at any point in your life. 5 Mack portrayed 'Addy' in five episodes of 'The Walking Dead.' Getty Images What are the symptoms? Advertisement Symptoms can vary widely depending on the tumor's size and location, according to the Mayo Clinic. Common signs include: Headaches, especially those that are worst in the morning Nausea and vomiting Confusion or trouble thinking clearly Memory loss Personality changes or irritability Vision problems like blurred vision, double vision, or loss of peripheral vision Speech difficulties Seizures, particularly in someone with no prior history Balance issues such as dizziness or trouble walking Muscle weakness or paralysis For Mack, the first warning sign came in October 2024, when she developed persistent lower back pain. Assuming it was a slipped disc, she brushed it off — until she started experiencing 'neuropathic itching' in her right leg, a strange nerve-related sensation that's not caused by a skin condition. 'Then, the shooting pains in my legs and back began, which resulted in me having to sleep in a recliner for a month because laying down was too painful,' she wrote in an Instagram post on January 3. On the night before Thanksgiving, an emergency MRI revealed a mass in her spinal cord. A biopsy later confirmed it was glioma. 5 A biopsy surgery on Mack's spinal cord left her unable to walk on her own in the final months of her life. Instagram/itskelleymack Advertisement How do you treat gliomas? Treatment varies depending on the tumor's size, location and how quickly it's growing, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. First, doctors usually perform a biopsy to remove a small tissue sample for testing before starting treatment. Surgery typically comes next, with doctors aiming to remove as much of the tumor as possible without harming the surrounding healthy brain or spinal cord tissue. Advertisement Radiation and chemotherapy usually follow surgery. In some cases, when the tumor is located in areas too risky for surgery, these treatments may be the first option. 5 Condolences have poured in from colleagues, friends and fans following Mack's death. Instagram/itskelleymack After her MRI, Mack had a biopsy on the mass in her spinal cord, which caused her to lose movement in her right leg and most of her left leg, requiring her to use a walker and wheelchair to get around. Advertisement 'It has been a very emotional and challenging time, truly testing my mental fortitude, faith, and physical strength,' she wrote on social media. Following surgery, Mack underwent radiation treatment in Cincinnati and shared regular updates about her progress online. In March, she posted a video of herself walking up stairs, calling it 'a big deal for me.' Who's at risk for glioma? While the exact cause of glioma remains unknown, researchers have identified certain groups who may be at higher risk. Gliomas can develop at any age but are most common in adults between 45 and 65 years old. Advertisement People exposed to high doses of ionizing radiation — such as during certain cancer treatments — may also have an increased risk. Though rare, gliomas can sometimes run in families. However, more research is needed to determine if and how this risk is passed from parents to children. Currently, there are no known ways to prevent glioma.
IOL News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- IOL News
'The Walking Dead' actress Kelley Mack dies after 2-year cancer battle
33-year-old "Chicago Med" actress Kelley Mack has passed away after being diagnosed with glioma of the central nervous system. Her family has shared the news through a statement, as well as on a CaringBridge page dedicated to her journey. The 33-year-old died on Saturday, August 2, in Cincinnati, Ohio, after being diagnosed with glioma of the central nervous system. Mack was most popular for her roles as Addy on the post-apocalyptic zombie drama "The Walking Dead" season 9 and as Penelope Jacobs on "Chicago Med" season 8. Her impressive career also included appearances in the series "9-1-1" and various commercials, and she was set to star in the upcoming film "Universal", slated for release later this year. In an emotional Instagram post, Mack's sister announced her passing. She wrote: "It is with indelible sadness that we are announcing the passing of our dear Kelley. Such a bright, fervent light has transitioned to the beyond, where we all eventually must go. Kelley passed peacefully on Saturday evening with her loving mother Kristen and steadfast aunt Karen present." She continued: "Kelley has already come to many of her loved ones in the form of various butterflies 🦋 ❤️. She will be missed by so many to depths that words cannot express. "Kelley's Caringbridge link in her bio includes the 2-page formal announcement with information on her upcoming life celebration in Ohio on August 16th. "She would want you all to know how much she loves you. And as her sister, I want you all to know how brave that tough SOB was, especially when she decided to make the leap to be reunited with God. I'm so f***ing proud of her."
New York Post
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
‘The Walking Dead' actress Kelley Mack dead at 33
Actress Kelley Mack, known for her roles in 'The Walking Dead' and 'Chicago Med,' died Saturday in her hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio. Mack succumbed to a battle with glioma, a form of cancer that affects the central nervous system, according to a blog on health platform Caringbridge about her health journey. She was 33. 4 Kelley Mack died saturday in her hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio. Kelley Mack/Instagram 'It is with indelible sadness that we are announcing the passing of our dear Kelley,' her sister, Kathryn Klebenow, revealed on Mack's Instagram page Tuesday. 'Such a bright, fervent light has transitioned to the beyond, where we all eventually must go.' 'Kelley passed peacefully on Saturday evening with her loving mother Kristen and steadfast aunt Karen present,' the Instagram post added. 'Kelley has already come to many of her loved ones in the form of various butterflies. She will be missed by so many to depths that words cannot express.' Mack, whose full name is Kelley Lynne Klebenow, said she first started noticing 'persistent lower back pain' in October 2024. Her health issues escalated the night before Thanksgiving when she went to the emergency room and underwent an MRI, which revealed 'an abnormal mass' in her spinal cord. In January, Mack was diagnosed with diffuse midline glioma, a rare tumor that begins in the brain or spinal cord, according to the National Cancer Institute. 4 Mack portrayed 'Addy' in five episodes of 'The Walking Dead.' AMC 'Due to the biopsy surgery on my spinal cord, I have lost the use of my right leg and most of my left leg, so I now get around with a walker and a wheelchair,' Mack said. Mack was public about her recovery efforts on social media. On March 26, she documented herself 're-learning how to walk' during her physical therapy as she walked up a set of stairs with support from a railing. 'Life has also had its ups and downs lately am I right,' Mack quipped. 4 Mack announced her rare cancer diagnosis in January 2024. Getty Images 4 A funeral for the actress will be held Aug. 16 in Glendale, Ohio. Getty Images Mack started acting in commercials as a kid and her first film role was in 'The Elephant Garden,' which won the Student Visionary Award at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival. The Ohio native appeared in five episodes of 'The Walking Dead' as Hilltop Colony resident 'Addy' in season 9 of the hit post-apocalyptic horror series. 'I was only supposed to be in 2 episodes originally, so I was grateful to have been able to work on five of them and hadn't anticipated that I'd stay on the show for too long,' Mack told Alternative Mindz in 2019. Mack is survived by her mother and father, Kristen and Lindsay Klebenow, sister, Kathryn, brother Parker, and grandmother and grandfather Lois and Larry Klebenow. Her funeral will be on August 16 in Glendale, Ohio. 'As her sister, I want you all to know how brave that tough SOB was, especially when she decided to make the leap to be reunited with God. I'm so f–king proud of her,' Kathryn wrote. Aside from her role on 'The Walking Dead,' Mack has produced a series of short films and appeared as a guest star on shows like '9-1-1' and 'Chicago Med.'
