Norm Macdonald, the Canadian-born actor and comedian, renowned for his role as the anchor of SNL’s “Weekend Update,” passed away on September 14 after a nine-year battle with cancer. He was 61.
His management company, Brillstein Entertainment, confirmed his passing to Deadline. The news shocked many as he had kept his illness private. Lori Jo Hoekstra, his longtime producing partner and friend, expressed, “He was most proud of his comedy.” She added that he never wanted his illness to change how his audience or loved ones viewed him. “Norm will be missed terribly,” she concluded.
Macdonald’s niece, Andrea Macdonald, shared her grief on Twitter a week after his death, stating, “Today we officially say goodbye to Uncle Norm. It’s been a week, and it still feels strange to refer to him in the past tense. My Uncle Norm was so much to me as I was growing up.” She added, “He was always kind and charmingly quirky. The tributes are both heartwarming and heartbreaking.”
What kind of cancer did Norm Macdonald have?
According to Norm Macdonald’s brother, Neil Macdonald, the comedian died from leukemia. “He kept it quiet because he didn’t want it to affect his comedy,” Neil mentioned in an interview with CBC News. The University of Colorado Cancer Center identified Macdonald’s type of cancer as “acute leukemia.”
Leukemia, as a broad category, is a blood cancer that originates in the blood and bone marrow, as defined by the Cancer Center. It occurs when the body produces too many abnormal white blood cells, hindering the bone marrow’s ability to produce red blood cells and platelets. Around 33% of all blood cancer diagnoses are some form of leukemia, which was the sixth deadliest cancer between 2012 and 2016 (via University of Colorado Cancer Center).
Understanding acute leukemia
The two primary forms of acute leukemia are acute myeloid leukemia (AML), which predominantly affects older individuals, and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), mostly found in children. However, the University of Colorado Cancer Center noted that AML is “quite rare at Norm Macdonald’s age.”
People diagnosed with acute leukemia experience sudden onset, often resulting in an aggressive progression and shorter life expectancy. Compared to those with chronic leukemia, patients with acute leukemia either achieve a cure or face a limited lifespan, according to Dr. Dan Pollyea, clinical director of leukemia services at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.
Macdonald survived nearly a decade after his diagnosis, making his case relatively rare, as those with AML typically survive up to five years, according to the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
Leukemia: causes, risk factors, and symptoms
Currently, no scientifically confirmed cause for leukemia exists. According to the Mayo Clinic, leukemia “seems to develop from a combination of genetic and environmental factors.” Experts suggest that smoking, certain genetic disorders like Down syndrome, chemical exposure, and a family history of leukemia may increase one’s risk of developing the disease.
Leukemia is thought to result from a mutation in the DNA of blood cells. In healthy cells, DNA regulates cell growth and death at a normal rate. When mutated, DNA instructs cells to keep growing and dividing. Consequently, the overproduction of abnormal cells from errant blood cell production overwhelms healthy cells in the bone marrow, leading to reduced healthy white and red blood cells and platelets, a scenario typically leading to leukemia.
While symptoms vary by leukemia type, common signs include persistent fatigue or weakness, fever, unintentional weight loss, swollen lymph nodes, easy bleeding or bruising, excessive night sweating, and bone pain or tenderness.
What are the treatments for leukemia?
Dr. Dan Pollyea shared with the University of Colorado Cancer Center that no screening tests are available for leukemia. However, seeing a doctor is advisable if common symptoms persist over time.
According to WebMD, some chronic leukemia forms may not require treatment if the patient remains stable. Treatment options vary depending on leukemia type, patient health, and age, including chemotherapy, radiation, and stem cell transplants.
As of now, there is no cure for leukemia, though remission is possible following treatment (via Healthline). Remission is the period when cancer is undetectable, though recurrence remains possible. Encouragingly, ongoing clinical trials aim to identify screening methods and more effective treatments. The National Cancer Institute’s website lists trials accepting patients.
Norm Macdonald isn’t the only celeb to have been diagnosed with leukemia
Norm Macdonald is not the only celebrity diagnosed with leukemia. TV star Evan Handler was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia at 24 and given six months to live, yet he continued to have a successful acting career, including playing Charlotte’s husband on HBO’s “Sex and the City” after successful treatment (via HealthGrades).
Ashley Park, who portrays the edgy and effervescent Mindy Chen on Netflix’s “Emily in Paris” and who delighted audiences as Gretchen Wieners in the musical “Mean Girls,” was diagnosed with leukemia as a teenager — just as she prepared for her Broadway debut. Park underwent chemotherapy and, after avoiding discussing it for years, acknowledged to Cosmopolitan in a 2020 interview that she views her cancer experience as her “most defining quality as an artist and a person.”
Additionally, renowned writer Nora Ephron had leukemia, as reported by The New York Times. Like Norm Macdonald, she was diagnosed with, and succumbed to, acute myeloid leukemia (via University of Colorado Cancer Center).
