christy carlson romano shares tearful health update after positive cancer screening
Christy Carlson Romano, 41, posted an emotional video on social media on Tuesday (ET) saying a recent cancer screening produced a positive result. She told viewers she and her husband both got tested because of a family history of the disease, and that she now faces follow-up scans and an insurance battle.
Positive screening, family history and next medical steps
In the video, Romano said her husband’s screening came back completely negative, but that her own results “did not come back negative. ” She described feeling nervous and scared and said the next immediate step is a PET scan to look for signs of cancer. Romano added she is pushing her insurer to cover that scan while she waits for clarity.
Romano cited a strong family history as the reason she sought testing: both of her parents were diagnosed with cancer, her mother survived and her father passed away, and a maternal grandmother died of lung cancer. She also said the recent death of a fellow actor from colorectal cancer motivated her to get tested.
Personal context: family, work and past health scares
The former child star, known for on-screen and voice roles in hit projects, said she debated whether to share the news but ultimately felt a responsibility to encourage others to get screened. Romano is a mother of two daughters, Isabella, 9, and Sophia, 7, and emphasized that her children factor into how seriously she’s taking the situation.
She vowed to keep fighting for answers and to keep the public informed as tests continue. Romano also thanked family members for their support; her husband wrote in the comments that they will “figure this out” together and pledged his love and support.
Last year Romano described an unrelated incident in which she was accidentally struck in the face by birdshot while at a clay-pigeon shooting event. She characterized that episode as frightening but non-malicious and used it to stress the importance of safety around firearms.
Message to fans and what to watch for next
Romano urged followers to use her update as a reminder to get screenings when advised, stressing that cancer can affect many families. She said she would post additional updates as she receives more information and asked for positive thoughts while she navigates diagnostic steps and insurance hurdles.
At this stage she framed the situation as an active fight for answers: a positive initial screen that requires confirmatory imaging and potentially further intervention. Medical experts typically use PET scans to identify areas of concern and help determine staging if cancer is present, but a positive screening does not always mean a definitive diagnosis.
Romano closed her message by appealing to faith and resilience and noting she’s taking things day by day. She said she hopes sharing her experience will prompt others with risk factors or symptoms to seek appropriate testing and follow-up care.
