Lymphoma is a common type of cancer that starts in the cells present in the lymphatic system, which is part of the immune system. There are different types of lymphoma and the disease affects people of all ages and genders. Celebrities are not immune to any condition and Michael C. Hall is one of the celebrities who has openly talked about his struggle with a lymphoma diagnosis.
The actor is better known for the roles as David Fisher in the HBO TV series Six Feet Under, and as the forensics expert and secret serial killer Dexter in the homonymous TV show. It was while filming the fourth season of Dexter, which aired between 2006 and 2013, that Michael C. Hall received the diagnosis. He kept it a secret and decided to deal with the lymphoma privately.
His condition was unknown among his co-workers as Hall waited for the filming to end before beginning chemotherapy. However, it became obvious that something was wrong when he showed at the 2010 Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild award ceremonies wearing a knitted cap. At the time, he said the initial plan was to keep the disease and the treatment a secret, but the actor ended up changing his mind.
Watch Michael C. Hall talk about his experience with Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
“I thought, ‘Well, I can treat this successfully and if my hair falls out [which it did] I’ll wear a wig during the fifth season – and I won’t even have to share with anyone that this is happening.’ But I thought it would be conspicuous if I showed up (at the awards) without eyebrows, and so I made an announcement,” said Hall in an interview with The Guardian. “I’m glad I did because I really underestimated how much that would be a source of inspiration or strength to other people. Just to see someone who you know and spend time watching, who goes through the treatment process successfully, is of value.”
He also admitted that lymphoma made him reflect about his family and fear for his life. “I think I’ve been preoccupied since I was 11, and my father died of the age 39: would I live that long? What would that be like?” said Hall in an interview with the New York Times, when he was diagnosed at the age of 38. “To discover that I had Hodgkin’s was alarming, but at the same time, I felt kind of bemused, like: ‘Wow. Huh. How interesting.'”
On January 13, 2010, Michael C. Hall announced that he had undergone successful cancer treatment for Hodgkin’s lymphoma and that the disease had entered remission after the treatment. After the struggle with lymphoma, Hall decided to become a spokesman for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS), the largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding research, finding cures and ensuring access to treatments for blood cancer patients.
Lymphoma News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
