Abby Lee Miller Health Scare News: Former 'Dance Moms' Host Devastated, Diagnosed With Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
After undergoing emergency spinal surgery, Abby Lee Miller received a preliminary cancer diagnosis. As doctors once thought the former Dance Moms host had a spinal infection, the findings revealed she has non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. It is a type of cancer that affects the person's white blood cells.
Dr. Hooman Melamed, Abby Lee Miller's surgeon, from Cedar Sinai Marina Del Rey Hospital told a number of publications his preliminary diagnosis was Burkitt lymphoma. According to Lymphoma.org, it is a rare but aggressive version of the disease. This can affect one's central nervous system, kidneys, ovaries, or other organs.
Lymphomas are known to be the immune system's cancer. "The lymphatic system is a system that transports waste products throughout the body," Otis Brawley, M.D., chief medical and scientific officer at the American Cancer Society explained, per Woman's Health Mag. It is being filtered by lymph nodes to help the arteries and veins match. Thus, lymphoma is called the cancer of the lymph nodes—which is what Abby Lee Miller has.
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma's initial symptoms are weight loss, loss of appetite, fever, itching, and intense night sweats. Aside from those, the person could also feel the lymph nodes on their necks, armpits, or in their groin area. If they feel that these nodes are unusual, Brawley said pathologists would have to conduct a biopsy to see if that is lymphoma and what kind of lymphoma it is.
Meanwhile, Dr. Melamed revealed to People an oncologist will help Abby Lee Miller to create a treatment plan. This could include chemotherapy, radiation, and probably more surgeries. However, her medical team is still waiting for the results of her other tests.
It is yet to be confirmed what cause Abby Lee Miller to have this kind of cancer. "This is probably coming from somewhere else," Dr. Melamed said. In fact, they still have no idea of its source. They, too, haven't determined yet what stage her cancer is, although he explained a spreading tumor like this is usually Stage 4.
Fortunately, after the emergency spinal surgery, Abby Lee Miller is now feeling her extremities again. By now, she also knows what caused her health to deteriorate rapidly. "Abby is devastated," a source told Us Weekly. However, the former Dance Moms choreographer remains to be strong and trying to be brave for herself. She is currently still at the hospital and waiting for the next steps to her recovery. "She will make it through this," the insider added.