Christina Applegate Has Been Diagnosed With Multiple Sclerosis
"It’s been a tough road."
Christina Applegate, 49, announced on Twitter that she has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. The actress, known for her roles in Married… with Children and Bad Moms, took to the platform to ask for support — and privacy.
“Hi friends. A few months ago I was diagnosed with MS,” the tweet read.
“It’s been a strange journey. But I have been so supported by people that I know who also have this condition. It’s been a tough road. But as we all know, the road keeps going. Unless some a**** blocks it.”
Applegate followed her confession with a powerful anecdote and a request to her followers. “As one of my friends that has MS said ‘we wake up and take the indicated action.’ And that’s what I do. So now I ask for privacy. As I go through this thing. Thank you xo,” she wrote.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system and the communication pathways between the body and the brain. When someone has MS, their immune system attacks healthy cells as though they were invaders. The disease can be disabling and drastically affect one’s quality of life.
Researchers aren’t sure exactly what causes MS, but it’s believed to be a combination of environmental and genetic factors. There is currently no cure for the condition, and women are two to three times more likely to be diagnosed.
We have no doubt that Applegate will indeed “take the indicated action” amid this diagnosis, as this isn’t the first time she’s dealt with a life-altering health condition. Back in 2008 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, she made the difficult decision to undergo a double mastectomy. Speaking to the Today show in 2017, she also revealed that she had her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed to prevent further cancer diagnoses.
But Applegate used her experience to share something unique with her fans. In 2019, she opened up to USA Today about writing a double mastectomy into the script for her character on her new Netflix show, Dead to Me. “It hasn’t really been discussed on shows before; I don’t think there’s a lot of characters out there with double mastectomies,” she explained. “But I went through it, and it’s a horribly painful process – emotionally, spiritually, physically – and I never really talked about it. I thought this was my chance to tell a little bit about me, but also all the women that have gone through that.”
We admire Christina Applegate’s courage and openness, and we wish her healing during this difficult time.
