Oscar-winning actor, philanthropist, and all-around cool dude, Jeff Bridges, best known for his
roles in offerings like True Grit and The Big Lebowski, revealed in October 2020, that
he had been diagnosed with Lymphoma.
He announced this troubling news via a Tweet in which he optimistically stated that although
he had indeed been diagnosed with a very serious disease, he felt fortunate to have a great
team of doctors and that his prognosis was looking good.
The Dude went on to say that he was starting treatment and would keep his fans posted on
his ongoing recovery.
In a follow-up Tweet, the Tron star wrote that he was 'profoundly grateful for the love
and support' of his family and friends.
He then thanked everyone for their prayers and well wishes before encouraging people
to go out and vote.
He wrapped up that thoughtful post by saying that 'we are all in this together'.
For a bit of background, Lymphoma is a type of cancer that begins in the lymphocytes – white
blood cells that make up a part of the body's immune system.
Lymphocytes are primarily found in the body's spleen, thymus, bone marrow, and lymph nodes.
Though Bridges failed to mention at the time what kind of Lymphoma he had, the two primary
subtypes of the disease are Hodgkin's and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
Common side effects of the cancer include swelling of the lymph nodes in the groin,
armpits, or neck, extreme fatigue, night sweats, fever, weight loss, itchy or irritated skin,
and shortness of breath.
While any kind of cancer diagnosis is worrisome, fortunately for those that are diagnosed with
Lymphoma, survival rates are pretty decent.
For Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, 69 percent of patients survive the past 5 years while those
that are diagnosed with the Hodgkin's variety have an 85 percent chance of making it past
five years.
That being said, we in no way want to downplay Mr. Bridges diagnosis.
Cancer is cancer.
Bridges fans, however, may have pretty good reason to be hopeful about his future.
Recent revelations have shown that Jeff is not only in good spirits, but he may very
well be effectively combating the disease.
Join Facts Verse as we discuss how Jeff Bridge's cancer battle has just taken a surprising
turn.
Out And About
In September 2021, the then-71-year-old actor announced that his cancer was in remission.
A week later, he was spotted taking a leisurely walk out in public.
He was accompanied on his stroll by his devoted wife Susan Bridges looking surprisingly spry
in Brentwood, a neighborhood in LA.
Bridges was wearing a dark blue T-shirt, khakis, and sunglasses while lugging a backpack over
his shoulder.
When Bridges announced via his website that he had been in remission after months of chemotherapy
and radiation, he also revealed that the 9 x 12-inch mass had shrunk down to about the
size of a marble.
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Stay tuned, as we still have some very GOOD news to share with you pertaining to Jeff
Bridges' cancer diagnosis.
While he may not be 'totally cured', we sure think that if anyone can beat the disease,
it's Bridges.
Keep watching to find out why we believe this.
He Contracted COVID While On Chemo
Compared to his battle with cancer, Bridges says that his bout with COVID-19, which he
contracted back in January of 2021, was far worse.
In fact, he even said that COVID made cancer look like 'piece of cake'.
Bridged contracted COVID before he was eligible to get vaccinated.
On January 7, 2021, he received a letter from the clinic where he was receiving his chemo
treatments informing him that he may have been exposed to COVID at the facility.
Not long after that, he started experiencing symptoms of highly infectious respiratory
disease.
Days later, he and his wife had to share an ambulance to the ICU.
They had both indeed contracted the 'rona' as he put it.
Sue had to be hospitalized for 5 days while Jeff received treatment in the hospital for
5 weeks.
He told reporters that the reason why he reacted so adversely to the disease compared to his
wife was because his immune system had been crippled by the chemo.
Bridges further said that he was on the verge of death while battling COVID, but it helped
give him a better appreciation for life after he recovered from it.
He described his experience in the ICU in rather colorful terms.
Bridges said that he had moments when he experienced intense pain that left him moaning and screaming
through the night.
Even so, he still held on to his optimism throughout the whole ordeal.
"I felt happy and joyous most of the time" Bridges wrote in a social media post, before
adding that "Life is brief and beautiful" and that 'love is all around us and available
at all times."
By September, when he made that uplifting remission announcement, Bridges confirmed
that COVID was finally in the 'rearview mirror'.
He also mentioned that after getting vaccinated, his long-term symptoms had improved.
What's been most remarkable about Bridges' one-two-punch of health scares is how incredibly
positive he has remained throughout it all.
He was quoted as saying that while most people wouldn't want to get cancer and COVID, as
it turns out, he actually would, as the experience taught him a lot about love.
It's also allowed him to feel grateful for the things he would have never had if he had
never had to deal with either of these two life-threatening diseases.
Bridges claim that he has had a sudden 'flash', as he phrased it, that home is a place where
someone can receive, give and learn about love, that that place can be wherever you
are at any given moment.
More Good News
Months after revealing that his cancer was in remission, Bridges has given us yet another
hopeful update.
In March 2022, he participated in a virtual panel promoting his upcoming FX series The
Old Man.
In it, he thanked the show's cast, crew, and producers for their ongoing support throughout
his cancer battle.
He then said that he is currently feeling 'terrific'.
He later told reporters that as far as he was concerned, FX and the team of professionals
that he has been working with had all been considerate while giving him the time he needed
to heal.
During the production of the show, Bridges said that the COVID protocols implemented
made him feel say and eager to 'get down to business and play'.
Production of The Old Man had to take a pause twice, first in March 2020 at the beginning
of the pandemic and once again while Bridges had to undergo cancer treatment.
Bridges told Dateline that the last year and half felt like a 'bizarre dream', but said
that it felt great to be 'back with the gang'.
Art Imitates Reality
During that virtual panel for The Old Man, Bridges said that his cancer diagnosis had
influenced his portrayal of his character Dan Chase.
In the series, Chase is a person who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
Speaking about that role and how his personal experience relates to it, Bridges said that
it's in those difficult times, when suffering from some kind of debilitating health issue,
that all of your philosophies and spirituality come to test you.
He then added that his own philosophy and spirituality had been made more mature by
his experience.
While he has always approached life in the same way, his recent battles seemed to have
'made things sharper' for him.
The Power Of Positive Thinking
Science and research tells us that more optimistic people tend to live longer lifespans.
In one study it was determined that the most optimistic people survived somewhere between
10 to 15 percent longer than the least optimistic.
Furthermore, cross-sectional studies of cancer survivors have shown us that optimism is one
of the most significant predictors of a positive long-term prognosis.
Cancer patients who have high levels of optimism not only adapt to their disease better but
they have even been shown to have a higher chance of beating it.
From everything that Jeff Bridges has told us in the last couple of years since revealing
his Lymphoma diagnosis, we've got to hand it to the guy.
He is doing pretty amazing at staying positive through it all.
This is a guy who literally expressed gratitude for being hit back to back with cancer and
COVID.
If anyone is able to "Jedi Mind Trick" their way out of cancer, it's got to be Bridges.
As far as his personal beliefs go, Bridges says that he has studied Buddhism and has
once referred to himself as a 'Buddhisty-bent guy'.
Most days, Jeff will meditate for a half-hour before beginning work.
He has also said that he is a practitioner of Transcendental meditation.
Besides spirituality, another thing that keeps Bridges so positive is his rich family life.
He married his wife Susan in 1977.
They met while he was filming Rancho Deluxe on location at a ranch where Sue was working
as a waitress.
The happy couple has three daughters together, Isabelle, Jessica Lily, and Haley Roselouise.
Jeff also has one granddaughter, Isabelle.
Regardless of what keeps Bridges' headspace so positive, he should keep it up.
The world is not yet ready to lose such a phenomenal actor and human being.
What are some of your fondest memories of Jeff Bridges and his films?
And do you believe that his optimism has helped him fight cancer and COVID?
We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
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