“General Hospital” actor Cameron Mathison’s family life is entering a new chapter because, after more than two decades of marriage to his wife, Vanessa, the couple is splitting.
The couple has dealt with life-altering experiences before, notably Cameron’s kidney cancer diagnosis five years ago. Vanessa was among the first people he called, and she offered her unyielding support.
“After 22 years of marriage, we have made the difficult decision to part ways,” Cameron wrote in an Instagram post he also tagged Vanessa in.
“We enter this new chapter with deep love, kindness, and respect for each other. We hold gratitude in our hearts for the wonderful years we shared together,” Cameron continued. The couple has two children. Cameron said their kids will continue to be their “highest priority.” They also plan to remain friends.
While details behind the Mathison’s separation remain unclear, Cameron says Vanessa was incredibly helpful as he battled kidney cancer.
“I didn’t want the kids to know yet because, at that point, I didn’t have much information. All I knew was that it was cancer, but I didn’t know how serious it was,” Cameron told Patient Resource during an interview.
The soap opera actor added that after his diagnosis, Vanessa told him, “We’ve got this.”
After reconciling with his diagnosis, Cameron and Vanessa emotionally shared with their children his cancer diagnosis.
WATCH: How to talk to your children about your diagnosis.
“We told them I had cancer in my kidney and that I had the best doctor in the world who felt the prognosis was very positive…They, of course, were loving and supportive,” Cameron said, adding that it was one of the hardest things he’d done in his life.
As Cameron and Vanessa step into this new chapter in their lives, they’ve asked for privacy. The social media post garnered over 22,000 likes in just a few hours.
Helping Patients Cope with a Cancer Diagnosis
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Family Impact of Cancer
Researchpublished in The Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine studied the impact of disease on family members. The researchers noted that: “Most chronic diseases have similar effects on family members [as they do on the patient], including psychological and emotional functioning, disruption of leisure activities, effect on interpersonal relationships, and financial resources.”
Feelings of “helplessness, lack of control, anger, embarrassment” are some common emotions parents, siblings, and other relatives within the household of someone battling a health condition may experience, according to researchers.
Other ways a disease, for example, may impact the lives of family members include:
- Affecting sleep
- Concerns about medical treatment
- Altered food choices
- Using religion, spiritual, and cultural beliefs to cope
- Concerns about understanding the disease or illness
- Needing support from others
- Limited freedom
- Worrying about the death of a loved one
Our experts agree that forming a strong support system can help everyone in the family cope with the challenges a diagnosis can bring. These situations can be opportunities to strengthen families and bring them closer together.
More on Cameron’s Cancer Journey
Mathison’s cancer journey began in 2019 when he was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma, a type of kidney cancer.Accordingto the National Cancer Institute, common symptoms of kidney cancer include blood in the urine, persistent pain in your side, unexplained weight loss, or a lump in your abdomen.
Mathison underwent surgery to rid himself of the cancerous tumor.
Last year, he told Entertainment Tonight that he was “feeling strong” and healthy after his cancer.
“I think I’m as strong as I was in my mid-20s. I have more energy than I had 20 years ago,” Mathisonsaid.
He said his experience with cancer changed his outlook on life.
“If you go through a cancer journey, where I didn’t know if I was going to die or not or what, you can’t go through something like that without it moving you. My willingness and desire to help others have really increased my gratitude for enjoying life. I think maybe it’s also influenced my decision to have more balance in my life and not work nonstop,” he said.
He still undergoes health checks to ensure the cancer has not returned.
“I’m back here at USC Keck for my CT scan, chest X-rays, and bloodwork to make sure I can say three years cancer-free,” Mathisonwrotein a previous Instagram post.
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Kavontae Smalls is a writer and reporter for SurvivorNet. Read More
