Christy Carlson Romano reveals positive cancer screening

Christy Carlson Romano tearfully told fans on Instagram that a recent cancer screening came back positive. She said she and her husband, Brendan Rooney, were tested "the other day"; his results were completely negative while hers "did not come back negative." Romano added that the next step is a PET scan and that she is fighting with companies to get it covered.

Romano noted a family history of the disease: both of her parents were diagnosed, her mother ultimately "beat it" while her father "eventually didn't," and her maternal grandmother died of lung cancer. She also said the recent death of actor James Van Der Beek, who died last week at 48 after a battle with colorectal cancer, was one of the motivators for her to get tested; Romano knew him and his wife while living in Texas and called him a "pillar" of the community.

The actress said she was in "disbelief" about the results and is trying not to dwell on them, instead putting energy into an upcoming memoir and filming for a movie.

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