Gerry Turner continues to lead a very active lifestyle despite being diagnosed with a slow-growing bone marrow cancer, Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia, which has no cure.
The Golden Bachelor star, 73, revealed the shocking news to People in an article published Wednesday – and claimed that both he and his ex-wife Theresa Nist had separated just weeks after learning of his diagnosis.
In early January of this year, the former couple tied the knot during a live televised special, but their divorce was announced just three months later in April.
Nist has since broken her silence about Turner’s cancer diagnosis, expressing that she was “extremely upset” to hear the news, but stressed that it did not play “a factor in the end of the relationship.”
And during an interview with TMZGerry shared that he has stayed positive throughout his health journey and maintains an active daily routine.
The television personality explained that she plays pickleball three times a week for three hours and will also enjoy a three-mile walk twice a week around a scenic nearby lake.
Gerry Turner, 73, continues to lead a very active lifestyle despite being diagnosed with a slow-growing bone marrow cancer, Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia, which has no cure; seen above in 2023
Gerry previously spoke about his passion for the sport of pickleball and spoke with USA Pickleball last year.
“I think there’s a commonality in pickleball communities where it doesn’t matter if you’re in Indiana, Los Angeles or Florida.”
He added: “The spirit of the competition remains the same, but it is not a cutthroat environment either.” “People are inclusive of players who aren’t as good and that’s something I’ve seen from coast to coast and I think it’s really nice.”
Additionally, he told TMZ that doctors have advised him to reduce his alcohol and sugar consumption.
Despite dietary restrictions, Turner shared that she has developed an interest in new adventures, saying, “I have the benefit of living like I’m dying!”
Gerry’s cancer is incurable and he does not begin any type of treatment until he shows symptoms of “headaches, dizziness, night sweats and unusual bleeding”, which he has not yet experienced.
Meanwhile, the reality star continues to undergo extensive blood tests every six months.
He told TMZ that those who are diagnosed with Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia can live up to nine years before receiving any type of treatment for their symptoms.
The television personality explained that she plays pickleball three times a week for three hours and will also enjoy a three-mile walk twice a week around a scenic nearby lake.
Nist has since broken her silence about Turner’s cancer diagnosis, expressing that she had been “extremely upset” upon hearing the news, but stressed that it had not been “a factor in the end of the relationship.”
Turner explained that it’s still in the early stages of that specific time period, though he didn’t give exact details.
The star then expressed that he has not asked doctors what his life expectancy might be.
While staying on the optimistic side of his health battle, Gerry also plans to get involved with the International Waldenström Macroglobulinemia Foundation.
According to the official website, the cancer is described as “a rare, slow-growing cancer of the lymphatic system.”
‘Cancers of the lymphatic system are called lymphomas. WM is a type of lymphoma called non-Hodgkin lymphoma…’
And while speaking with People, Turner revealed that she was diagnosed with incurable cancer weeks before her April split from Theresa Nist.
He told the outlet: “I think it’s time, also because it will probably clear up a lot of mysteries around what happened in February, March and April.”
“While Theresa and I were trying really hard to figure out our lifestyle, where we were going to live and how we were going to make our life work, unfortunately I was diagnosed with cancer.”
Despite dietary restrictions, Turner shared that she has developed an interest in new adventures, saying, “I have the benefit of living like I’m dying!”
‘Unfortunately, there is no cure for this. So that weighs a lot in every decision I make. It was like 10 tons of concrete had been dumped on me. And for a while I was in denial a little bit, I didn’t want to admit it.’
He said it was “difficult” to share the devastating news with Nist, who was “understandably shocked.”
Gerry said this influenced his widely publicized comments about the decision to split due to location issues, as he lives in Indiana while Nist resides in New Jersey.
The father and grandfather of two added: “I wanted my life to continue as normal as possible.”
“And that led me to believe that as normal as possible meant spending more time with my family, my two daughters, my two sons-in-law, my granddaughters.”
He continued: “And the importance of finding a way with Theresa was still there, but it stopped being a priority.”
According to the American Cancer Society, the overall 5-year survival rate for people with WM is about 78 percent, and the 10-year survival rate is about 64 percent.
Turner said his path to discovering the disease began when he suffered a shoulder injury after falling during a game of pickleball three years ago.
When he “finally” visited an orthopedic surgeon, it was discovered that he had unusual blood markers.
And while speaking with People, Turner revealed that he was diagnosed with incurable cancer weeks before his April split from Theresa Nist; seen in april
He said it was “difficult” to share the devastating news with Nist, who was “understandably shocked.”
He was referred to an oncologist who discovered he had a “blood disorder” that he said he knew “pretty much” would be cancer.
Turner told Nist about her blood disorder in February and after undergoing additional tests and a bone marrow biopsy, she was diagnosed with cancer a few weeks later.
He told Nist in mid-March, weeks before his split announcement on public television.
Turner said she now plans to “add as much fun to her life and enjoy every moment,” adding, “And when I’m gone, I’ll be gone, but I won’t regret it.”
She wishes her ex Nist “all the good luck in the world” and said she will always fondly remember the “glamour, the dizzying, dazzled time” of their romance.
He said: “It was wonderful, and I certainly wish it had had a different ending, that we had found our way, that we had found solutions to a problem.” And, above all, that I wouldn’t have had a diagnosis that so influenced my decisions and the direction I took.’
Nist also broke her silence about Gerry’s cancer diagnosis while speaking to People, admitting that she had been “extremely upset” when Turner told her the devastating news during a trip to Indiana in March.
“He is a very positive person and I am too, and I know he will do his best to make this a positive experience.”
Nist said that she and Turner now rarely speak and that “sometimes she can’t believe” that she got married and divorced in 2024.
He added: “And I have complete faith that everything will turn out well, that it will be the type of cancer that will not affect his life and that he will live to a very healthy old age.”
He said Turner’s diagnosis “wasn’t a factor in the end of the relationship, at least not for me” and part of the reason was the distance between their homes in Indiana and New Jersey.
Nist said that she and Turner now rarely speak and that “sometimes she can’t believe” that she was getting married and divorced in 2024.
He added that his final message to his ex was to “wish him the best” and I wish him a long, healthy and prosperous life, and I hope he finds his person. “I want him to be very happy and I only wish him all the best in the world.”