Gerry Turner, 72, says he was diagnosed with an incurable cancer: What is his rare non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Waldenström's macroglobulinemia?

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Gerry Turner hasn't had the easiest year, and a life-changing diagnosis is shedding some light on why he's now focused on spending time with family and living with no regrets. The alum of The Golden Bachelor shared in a new interview he learned he's living with a bone marrow cancer that's incurable.

While speaking to People over Zoom recently, the 72-year-old reality TV star opened up about his health and divorce to 71-year-old Theresa Nist, whom he married this past January until they split in April. Now, he explained he wanted to talk about this topic for awhile and hopes it "will clear up a lot of mystery around" what happened at the start of this year.

"As Theresa and I were trying very hard to find our lifestyle and where we were going to live and how we were going to make our life work, I was unfortunately diagnosed with cancer," he noted. Turner suffered a shoulder injury three years ago while teaching a pickleball class but, back then, didn't have time to see an orthopedic surgeon.

"Finally I got around to going [to the doctor] and the orthopedic surgeon said, 'Yeah, Gerry, there's not much we can do for your shoulder, but there are some unusual blood markers here,'" he recalled in his People interview, noting he's working with a hematology-oncology group in Fort Wayne, Ind.

He further explained he was diagnosed with a slow-growing "bone marrow cancer" called Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (WM): "Unfortunately, there's no cure for it. So that weighs heavily in every decision I make. It was like 10 tons of concrete were just dropped on me. And I was a bit in denial for a while, I didn't want to admit to it."

At first, oncologists told Turner he had a blood disorder, but he said he "pretty much" knew it would be cancer. He ended up telling his then-wife in February about the blood disorder news, then in mid-March decided to tell her what he knew.

"I wanted my life to continue on as normal as possible, and that led me to believing that as normal as possible more meant spending time with my family, my two daughters, my two son-in-laws, my granddaughters," he explained. "And the importance of finding the way with Theresa was still there, but it became less of a priority."

Now, Turner added her has no plans to say "no to anything" and plans to pack his days full of fun to "enjoy every moment," adding he's not going to have any regrets.

What is Waldenström's macroglobulinemia?

According to the Waldenström's Macroglobulinemia Foundation of Canada (WMFC), WM is a slow-growing cancer of the lymphatic system that begins in the white blood cells. Cancers of the lymphatic system — a large network in your body that helps your body fight disease — are called lymphomas.

Lymphoid tissue can be found in various parts of the body, including bone marrow, lymph nodes and organs like the spleen. It's mostly made up of white blood cells, or lymphocytes. Cancers that grow in these cells are grouped as non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and WM is a B-cell version.

What is a non-Hodgkin lymphoma?

There are more than 70 types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and they're treated differently than Hodgkin lymphomas. They can begin anywhere in the body, but typically start in the lymphatic system. Most often, it will begin in a group of lymph nodes in one part of the body, such as the neck, abdomen or groin.

Some non-Hodgkin lymphoma types are more common while others can be quite rare. The different types can often be categorized by the type of white blood cell the lymphoma starts in:

• B-cell lymphomas start in B cells

• T-cell lymphomas start in T cells

• NK lymphomas start in natural killer cells

These lymphomas can further be described as either aggressive or indolent, depending on how fast the cancer grows. WM is typically indolent, but the Canadian Cancer Society noted it can sometimes become aggressive.

What are the signs and symptoms of Waldenström's macroglobulinemia?

WM will typically develop over the course of many years, and some people don't exhibit any symptoms. But according to the WMFC, some symptoms include:

• Easy bruising

• Bleeding from the nose or gums

• Fatigue

• Night sweats

• Weight loss

• Fever

• Numbness or tingling in your feet or hands

• Headache

• Shortness of breath

• Changes in vision

• Confusion

• Enlarged lymph nodes

• Low hemoglobin

• Frequent colds, infections or pneumonia

Some other symptoms of a non-Hodgkin lymphoma include a rash or itchy skin on the chest, stomach and back; feeling like you're full despite not eating; chest pain; cough; and abdominal pain or swelling.

How is Waldenström's macroglobulinemia diagnosed?

There are three main ways WM is diagnosed. The first includes a blood test, which may reveal low healthy blood cell counts. It also can detect IgM antibodies and see if they're impacting your organ function. People typically have low counts of IgM in their blood, but with WM, those levels will rise.

Bone marrow testing, or a biopsy, is another test. A health-care provider will use a needle to extract some bone marrow. Then, the sample will be examined for any cancer cells.

Finally, imaging tests like CT or PET scans can help your health-care provider determine whether cancer has spread elsewhere in your body

What are the risk factors of Waldenström's macroglobulinemia?

The WMFC noted there are four main risk factors for WM, each related to age, sex, race and genetics. People who live with conditions like Hepatitis C, AIDs or Sjögren's Syndrome are also at higher risk, according to Cleveland Clinic.

For age, WM can develop no matter how old you are. However, it's typically more common in people who are age 65 and older. WM is also more common amongst men and those who are white. Finally, you may have an increased risk of developing WM if you have a relative who has had WM or another non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

How is Waldenström's macroglobulinemia treated?

Currently, there are no treatments that can cure WM. However, it can be managed through various therapies. On top of chemotherapy, some of the more common treatment options include plasma exchange, immunotherapy, radiation therapy, stem cell transplants and targeted therapy using medications.

If you have WM but no symptoms, your health-care provider may suggest watchful waiting. That's because some people may have WM but won't require treatment for several years, according to Cleveland Clinic.

How common are non-Hodgkin lymphomas?

The Canadian Cancer Society noted in 2024, it's estimated around 11,700 people across Canada will be diagnosed with a non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Additionally, around 3,100 people are expected to die from the disease this year in Canada.

The American Cancer Society also shared it's one of the most common types of cancers in the United States, accounting for around four per cent of all cancers. In 2024, the organization estimated more than 80,000 people will be diagnosed and more than 20,000 people will die from non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

How can I prevent developing a non-Hodgkin lymphoma?

Most risk factors of non-Hodgkin lymphomas aren't modifiable, meaning you can't change them, the Canadian Cancer Society noted. Still, there are certain lifestyle changes you can make to ensure you have better chances of remaining healthy. Those include:

• Avoiding your exposure to pesticides

• Making changes if you're obese

• Cutting out a lot of meat and fats from your diet

• Finding out if you’re at high risk of developing a non-Hodgkin lymphoma

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