‘Blue Bloods’ Actor Alex Duong Dies at 42—See the Symptom That Led to His Rare Cancer Diagnosis
Plus a doctor weighs in on alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma and how it's typically treated
Key Takeaways
- Actor Alex Duong passed away on March 28 at age 42 from alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma
- Duong's symptoms included headaches behind his eyes and a visibly swollen eyeball
- Treatment for this rare cancer may include surgery, radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy
Alex Duong, a comedian and actor known for guest-starring in Blue Bloods passed away on March 28 at age 42 from a rare form of soft tissue sarcoma known as alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. This type of malignant cancer typically develops in the head and neck area, arms and legs or urinary or reproductive systems. .
“With the heaviest hearts, we share that our dear Alex passed away peacefully this morning, surrounded by love and dear friends,” the actor’s friend Hilarie Steele shared on a GoFundMe account dedicated to helping Duong and his family. “Christina [his wife] and Everest [his daughter] were able to see him last night, and he was alert enough to say goodbye to his little girl, whom he has treasured every moment since the day she was born. We are devastated, but so grateful for the support, prayers, and generosity you have all shown during this unimaginable time. Your continued support now means everything as Christina and Everest navigate the days ahead and to arrange a beautiful celebration of his life.”
Here we look back at his cancer journey, including the symptoms he experienced. Read on for more.
Woman's World Answers
What is alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma?
Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS) is a very rare form of cancer that affects around approximately one out of a million people. It’s more often found in children and teens.
“It presents as either a limb or paraspinal mass, thoracic mass, abdominal wall mass or within the retroperitoneum [the area behind the abdominal cavity],” says Blen Tesfu, MD, a physician and medical advisor at Welzo.
A look at Alex Duong’s cancer journey
Duong was diagnosed with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma in early 2025 after experiencing headaches behind his eyes. He also had a swollen eyeball that caught his family and friend’s attention. Both of those issues turned out to be symptoms of alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, which had formed around his optic nerve. This then caused a massive malignant mass to block blood flow to his optic nerve, resulting in surgery, which the GoFundMe helped pay for.
“It makes me cry because I know people are struggling so hard right now, and they’re still giving,” Duong told the Los Angeles Times in April 2025. “Comedians always have each other’s backs when times are sh-t. We know how hard it is to pine and struggle and scrape by in this lifestyle, just so we can do these jokes and keep improving. It’s a beautiful thing to see in this world; it really is.”
Duong kept the details of his cancer journey private, but from time to time, his friends shared updates on the GoFundMe page.
“Right now, Alex is incredibly weak. The cancer in his spine has taken a heavy toll on his body, and he can barely walk. He has been admitted back into the hospital to receive another round of chemotherapy,” Steele wrote in an update on GoFundMe in May 2025. “Christina continues to work full-time while caring for Alex and their five-year-old daughter, Everest. The emotional and physical weight of everything happening is enormous, and some days it’s hard to even process it all.”
“And yet, Everest continues to bring light into their lives,” she added. “Children have a way of reminding us to keep going, even in the hardest moments.”
Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma symptoms you need to know
For Duong, his alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma symptoms came in the form of headaches and swollen eyes. Dr. Tesfu says most people with this condition will have a big mass or lump that will continue to grow over time.
“While some masses may be painful, many are not, so a person may wait until they become too large and start to push into surrounding structures,” she explains. “Tumors are likely to disrupt functioning tissue and/or organs as they grow, depending on where the tumor has grown. For example, if the tumor is located within the chest area, it could affect one’s ability to breathe; nerve-related tumors could cause numbness and weakness. Any persistent or unusual changes need to be looked at by your doctor immediately.”
As for risk factors? Dr. Tesfu says that the disease has an unclear origin, making it harder to track who is more likely to get it. “Lifestyle-related risk factors for developing ARMS are very difficult to identify,” she says. “Some inherited genetic disorders can slightly elevate a person’s susceptibility to developing ARMS, although this is extremely uncommon.”
Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma treatment options
Following alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma diagnosis, treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy.
“The overall goal of these is to either remove the cancerous tumor(s) or reduce their size while at the same time treating areas that the cancer may have spread to,” Dr.Tesfu explains. “The specifics of each patient’s treatment plan will depend upon how far along the cancer has progressed, as well as where it is located within the body. Additionally, new advances in targeted therapy, as well as ongoing clinical trials, offer additional treatment options for some patients.”
She adds that multidisciplinary teams working together can improve long-term survival.
What to do if you notice symptoms of alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma
Visit your doctor if you notice a mass or lump, especially one that continues to grow over time. In addition to a physical exam, your doctor may order a CT, MRI, PET and/or bone scan, as well as a biopsy of the area in question to confirm a diagnosis and help develop a personalized treatment plan.
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