Eric Braeden, Victor Newman on ‘The Young and the Restless,’ reveals cancer diagnosis
Maybe you don’t know Eric Braeden’s name, but you surely know Eric Braeden.
And that’s because Victor Newman, the character Braeden plays on “The Young and the Restless,” is probably the most well-known in the history of daytime soap operas.
Even people who don’t watch soaps know who Victor Newman is and for more than four decades he has been an ageless wonder, a mainstay on the screens and in the living rooms for men, women and especially grandmothers across the country.
Which is why the world was stunned when Braeden, 82, took to social media Friday with a video revealing that doctors recently found cancer in his bladder. In the emotional video, Braeden said that the issue began shortly after he had knee surgery. He said shortly after, he began to have prostate issues, and eventually that advanced to him not being able to urinate.
He said that, eventually doctors found cancer, and that they believed they removed all of it. However, Braeden said, doctors said they found some “high grade” cancer cells, and he has since been undergoing immunotherapy treatments to deal with those.
“This may be good for some older guys who may or may not listen to this,” Braeden said.
Braeden said he will be undergoing immunotherapy once a week for six weeks. As for Friday, he said he was two infusions into the treatment plan. He said the infusions “were not bad.”
“I’m a little under the weather, but not that much,” he said. “I work out, but the reduced way.
“I’ve learned to listen to my body more and not go all out,” he said. “So, if you have seen me a little under the weather, yeah, I have been. But I will lick this. This bastard ain’t going to get me. I’m going to get it. Alright? And I’ll be in top form again soon. So, I’m still happy to be able to go to work. It distracts me. I love acting. I love knowing I entertain people.”
That is when Braeden became emotional.
“I love your support,” he said to his fans. “Means a lot, OK. So whenever you have someone in the family who goes through this, support them.”