Characters are the realistically depicted art by people around the stage/screen. It is difficult to get into a character and make it realistic for the audience to laugh, cry, and have an attachment to the story.
Actors are an important part of the entertainment industry in showcasing different talents. At the same time, writers are the backbone of such art. The death of an artist in the entertainment industry is a big loss, and it creates a different atmosphere for any person or audience.
Norm Macdonald was an artist with multiple talents like writing, acting, and, most importantly, he was the reason for many people’s smiles. Making someone laugh is one of the hardest things in the world, which a comedian can do by heart.
Table of Contents
Norm Macdonald, A Beloved Artist
Norm Macdonald is a Canadian comedian, actor, and writer who died at the age of 61. The actual cause of death was not disclosed immediately; later, it was declared that it was due to lung cancer complications that caused kidney failure.
Norm Macdonald was popularly known in the industry for his self-made art as a standup comedian and television personality. He was famous for his unique comedy sense, candidness, and quick wit. He was very successful in his career for four decades because of his comedy, acting, and writing.
He was very well-known for Saturday Night Live, where he was a cast member from 1993-1998, and also for his own, The Norm Show, which ran from 1999-2001. He was also a successful stand-up comedian, appearing with Conan O’Brien on Late Night and Jay Leno on The Tonight Show.
Reason For Norm Macdonald’s Death
Norm Macdonald was suffering from the deadliest condition still being happy outside was a huge thing. The lung cancer he was suffering from was detected in June 2020. Since then, he has been under treatment. Despite giving his 100% for the cure, the cancer cells advanced, and complications went to a higher level. He never wanted his audience or loved ones to know about the diagnosis.
Macdonald’s death was mourned everywhere as many people adored him. His death was a loss for the entertainment industry. He will be remembered fondly by his fans and colleagues. He will be indelible in comedy and television for generations.
What Type Of Cancer Was Norm Macdonald Facing?
Macdonald’s brother Neil said that Norm never wanted their dear fans affected by the news of his diagnosis. He was treated for multiple myeloma in 2013. The only people who knew about his condition were his family, his producing partner, and the agency he was associated with.
In early 2020, it returned after metastasizing to myelodysplastic syndrome (Cancer that progresses to acute leukemia). Macdonald suffered an infection during chemotherapy at the City of Hope Medical Center in the USA, California in July 2021. He died on September 14, 2021, due to acute leukemia complications.
Leukemia
Leukemia is a dangerous cancer condition that happens to affect the bone marrow and blood. It is a tissue located at the inner bone where white blood cells are produced. The cause of Leukemia happens in the bone marrow due to the overproduction of white blood cells. These cells are produced on a higher level and destroy the functioning of healthy blood cells.
Two Main Types Of Leukemia
Leukemia is derived in two forms. One is known as acute leukemia, which affects only children, whereas the other chronic myeloid Leukemia, commonly affects adults.
- Acute Leukemia
Acute Leukemia is a life-threatening condition, If you delay its treatment. The rapid production of abnormal and immature white blood cells affects this type of leukemia. The life expectancy is shorter if a person undergoes this type of leukemia because of the disease’s early onset and aggressive tendency.
Acute Leukemia has two different variations:
- Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL): It is one of the most known cancers in children. It happens due to the fast growth in immature blood cells known as lymphoblasts.
- Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML): It is a commonly known cancer in adults. It happens due to the rapid growth of immature white blood cells known as Lymphoblasts.
- Chronic Leukemia Chronic Leukemia can be healed with therapy and medications as it is a slow-progressing disease. Excessive mature white blood cells are produced in this type of Leukemia, but they are abnormal.
Chronic Leukemia has two different variations:
- Chronic lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL): This type of leukemia influences white blood cells, precisely B-lymphocytes. Slow-progressing cancer generally does not show many symptoms until it reaches an advanced stage.
- Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML): This type of Leukemia influences white blood cells, particularly myeloid cells. The symptoms cannot be seen unless the effects get advanced.
Symptoms, Risks, and Causes of Leukemia
Symptoms of Leukemia will depend on the type of Leukemia a person suffers. There are various symptoms of leukemia such as loss in weight, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, fever, frequent causing infections, night sweats, joint pains, or liver issues.
Leukemia is believed to be a genetic issue with various risk factors, such as developing a second cancer, a lower immune system, and a risk of infections. Due to environmental factors, there can be other risk situations, such as other viruses, exposure to radiation, and toxic chemicals. In terms of hereditary conditions, generic disorders can be increased, such as smoking and Down syndrome.
How Is Leukemia Related to Anxiety?
Leukemia is not related to anxiety directly, but Anxiety can be observed in person due to the fear of death. A psychologist, Alexander MacLellan from Practical Anxiety Solutions, has a view on it. Anxiety can cause people suffering from leukemia because of the medical condition, pain, fatigue and the surrounding situations.
The person going through diagnosis is itself a stressful event and an emotion burden with the sufferer and the family around. Challenging it for coping up with the condition is a very big thing to accept. Anxiety can also attack the person because of the thought process that the cancer may reoccur. Various treatment options are available such as therapy or having a person or a group to be with.
While undergoing treatment, its side effects can be a reason for anxiety attacks. Most people get affected by fatigue before or after the treatment, which eventually increases the risk of anxiety and depression. If a person is under treatment process, it is mandatory to talk with a doctor if they face any side effects.
Treatments Available for Leukemia
Cancer treatments should be taken as soon as it is detected. If you prolong the treatment process, the situation can be worsened. Before getting into treatment, know about all the Ins and Outs of the treatment so that a person can be prepared.
There are two types of treatment a cancer patient is mostly recommended to take:
- Chemotherapy
It is one of the known therapy that has saved several lives. By taking chemotherapy, the cancer cells get destroyed, and it starts to prevent them from growing and spreading. While you are on chemotherapy, Prednisone, Doxorubicin, Vincristine, and Cyclophosphamide drugs are recommended. Chemotherapy can show side effects such as hair loss, fatigue, vomiting, and nausea.
- Radiation Therapy
This type of therapy mostly focuses on certain areas with cancer cells. It is also known as Radiotherapy. This therapy is used to destroy cancer cells in specific areas. Radiation therapy is used externally, where the beam is pointed at a place where cancer cells are located. This therapy has its own side effects, such as skin irritation, hair loss, or fatigue.
- Stem Cell Transplant
While transplanting, the method that is used is inserting a healthy stem cell in the body from the bone marrow or blood. Once the transplant is successful, it starts to heal the damaged bone marrow and blood cells.
Above mentioned are the main therapies that are used. There are other alternative therapies, too, that can destroy cancer cells.
- Targeted therapies: It specifically targets genes and proteins involved in leukemia development.
- Immunotherapies: It directs work by the body’s immune system to fight leukemia.
- Clinical trials: While performing this, it tests with combination therapies or other treatments.
The treatment type and process can be changed according to the person and the severity. It all depends on the doctor to conduct a treatment. So inform your doctor about all the medical history as well for better treatment.
Other Celebrities that have suffered from Leukemia
Anyone in the world can suffer from Leukemia. There is no differentiation between a common person and a celebrity. Well-known celebrities have been under leukemia treatments.
- Just like Norm Macdonald, Robin Williams is an actor and a comedian who had suffered from Leukemia. He went through chemotherapy and other therapies to treat Leukemia. Sadly, he passed away in 2014 from the disease.
- In 2008, Actress Christina Applegate underwent breast cancer, which she recovered with several treatments. Later she suffered from leukemia in 2010. Her sister was a donor for bone marrow treatment. Since then, she has been in remission.
- A global star singer and actor, Selena Gomez, was diagnosed with Lupus in 2013. Later In 2017, she also suffered from Leukemia. She went through chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant and has been in remission.
- Actress Ashley Park, who worked in a Netflix series named “Emily in Paris” as a character name Mindy Chen and Gretchen Wieners in “Mean Girls,” was diagnosed with leukemia as a teenager and revealed her chemotherapy experience in 2020 to Cosmopolitan.
It is sad for any common person or celebrity to suffer from such a condition. Getting out of such deadly cancer is an encouraging factor for many people around who lose hope.
Conclusion
Leukemia has a condition that affects adults and children no matter what age. It is one of the most challenging situations the sufferer has to face. A phase with a lot of difficulties and challenging tasks to get own life in control. With a positive attitude, a person can live with Leukemia like conditions.
It is a challenging task to adjust their lifestyle or change their lifestyle for the betterment of self-health. The very first thing is quitting smoking, totally stopping alcohol consumption, and following a healthy nutritional diet. It is essential to control stress and deal with unwanted thoughts that affect mental peace.
As technology is growing, the treatment process is also getting easier for a common person or a celebrity. Leukemia condition should be taken care of with medical help and managing conditions by following a healthy lifestyle.
