“Walking Dead” star Erik Jensen, 53, is battling stage 4 colorectal cancer, and just days before Christmas, he learned his chemotherapy treatment is having a positive effect on his tumors.
As the 53-year-old is undergoing chemotherapy in his fight against cancer, his loving wife, Jessica Blank, has set up a GoFundMe throughout this financially challenging time.
Despite the sudden onset of his diagnosis and the financial impact it has on his family, Jensen hasn’t let the disease dampen his positive spirit.
Staying positive during cancer treatment can help you achieve better health outcomes, according to SurvivorNet experts. So, it’s essential to prioritize your mental health, whether that means continuing to work, taking up a new hobby, or making time for friends.
“Walking Dead” star Erik Jensen, 53, receives an unexpected and early Christmas gift. He revealed his colorectal cancer tumors are responding “really well” to chemotherapy treatments. The news came about after he experienced a high fever, which caused him to be admitted to the hospital. While receiving treatment, he developed a minor infection and underwent a CT scan that revealed the positive news.
“The whole team gave hugs and high-fives,” Jensen said during an Instagram video post.
Jensen, 53, is known for playing Dr. Steven Edwards on the popular AMC television drama.
“He hadn’t seen something like this in his 25 years of practicing,” Jensen recalled his doctor telling him.
He added his chemo exceeded his care team’s expectations.
“I batted a double and hoping for another double,” Jensen said.
He concluded his post by thanking everyone for their thoughts, prayers, and financial contributions to his GoFundMe. Erik’s wife Jessica previously shared that the unexpected cancer diagnosis would bring about severe financial strife as a reason for the GoFundMe page.
Photo: YouTube Screenshot of “Walking Dead” scene featuring Erik Jensen.
“The lack of streaming residuals has affected Erik’s family profoundly in the past few years, as it has affected many middle-class working actors. Erik’s aneurysm, the double strikes, and now this diagnosis has put their family in an extremely precarious financial position. They need a lot of help to make it through the next year, pay for treatment to fight his cancer, keep their home, and maintain some sort of stability for [their daughter] Sadie, 13,” Jessica said.
After Jensen’s optimistic Instagram post, supportive fans ushered in a flurry of added support.
“So glad you are receiving good and promising news. My wife and I are praying for you and fully believe that you will overcome this adversity and have a platform to stand on and use your victory to help others,” Instagram user Marcus LaVoi commented.
“Erik, such wonderful news!! You keep being you and doing life the way you do it! You are surrounded with love, light, and positive intentions – all reflections of what you give to the world and attract and inspire in others. All love, light, and abundant blessings,” Instagram user Donna Murphy wrote.
Jensen is a playwright, screenwriter, and director. His wife Jessica works as a full-freelance artist like her husband. The couple has a 13-year-old daughter. The news of Erik’s stage 4 colorectal cancer was a stunning blow to the family; however, they rallied together to tackle the disease.
Jensen’s colorectal cancer has spread to his liver. Stage 4 cancers have spread to other organs, such as the liver, lungs, or peritoneal cavity (the space in your abdomen that holds your intestines, stomach, and liver).
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 10: Jessica Blank (C), Erik Jensen (R), and their daughter Sadie (L) attend Audible Theater’s Coal Country at Cherry Lane Theater on March 10, 2022, in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Audible)
Colorectal cancer happens when polyps are not removed and become cancerous. It can take up to 10 years for a colon polyp to become cancerous, according to SurvivorNet experts.
“We know that colon cancers can be prevented when polyps are found early,” Dr. Yeo told SurvivorNet. “Lowering the screening age helps somewhat with this, but access to care is a real problem,” Yeo added.
Dr. Zuri Murrell, a colorectal cancer surgeon and Director of the Cedars-Sinai Colorectal Cancer Center, previously explained the colonoscopy procedure to SurvivorNet.
“When we see a polyp, we actually physically take the polyp out through the colonoscope,” he explained.
“What does that mean? That means we basically put a wire through with a little bit of a flange at the end, and we pull the polyp out. Now, note there is no pain with that. Inside the colon, there are no pain fibers. So, there’s no pain,” Dr. Murrell added.
The advantage of a colonoscopy is that your doctor can remove any polyps found during the test. Many colon cancers can be caught on colonoscopy before they develop or when the polyps are small enough to be removed without surgery.
WATCH: The effectiveness of colonoscopies
The American Gastrointestinal Association lowered the recommended initial age for a colorectal screening from 50 to 45.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends guidelines that state colon cancer screenings should begin at 45 years old. This is in response to the increase we see in colon cancer diagnoses in younger adults. However, many insurance companies still do not cover the cost of screenings for those under 50. In the past, the disease had predominantly been found in adults 50 years or older, but for those predisposed to getting it at a younger age, these new guidelines could help catch it earlier.
Focusing on the Positive Amid Cancer
Jensen’s recurring social media updates on his cancer journey are often optimistic. Supportive fans have picked up on the actor’s optimism.
Dr. Zuri Murrell of Cedars-Sinai says this helps a cancer patient’s prognosis.
“A positive attitude is really important,” Dr. Murrell previously told SurvivorNet.
“My patients who thrive, even with stage 4 cancer, from the time that they, about a month after they’re diagnosed, I kind of am pretty good at seeing who is going to be OK. Now, doesn’t that mean I’m good at saying that the cancer won’t grow,” Dr. Murrell says.
WATCH: Focusing on positivity and emotional health.
Other experts at SurvivorNet have recommended that anyone facing cancer make sure they continue to prioritize their overall well-being and do the things that they love.
Dr. Dana Chase, a gynecological oncologist at Arizona Center for Cancer Care, says people with cancer should be making time to do things that make them happy.
“We know from good studies that emotional health is associated with survival, meaning better quality of life is associated with better outcomes,” Chase said.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
If you are facing a colon cancer diagnosis, here are some questions you may ask your doctor.
What are my treatment options based on my diagnosis?
If I’m worried about managing the costs of cancer care, who can help me?
What support services are available to me? To my family?
Could this treatment affect my sex life? If so, how and for how long?
What are the risks and possible side effects of treatment?
Kavontae Smalls is a writer and reporter for SurvivorNet. Read More
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