Gerry Turner still leads 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 shock news to People in an article published on Wednesday – and stated that both he and ex-wife Theresa Nist had split only weeks after learning of his diagnosis.
Earlier this year in January, the former couple tied the knot during a live televised special, but their divorce was announced only three months later in April.
Nist has since broken her silence on Turner’s cancer diagnosis – and expressed she had been ‘extremely upset’ upon hearing the news, but emphasized it did not play ‘a factor in the ending of the relationship.’
And during an interview with TMZ, Gerry shared that he has remained positive during his health journey and maintains an active, daily routine.
The TV personality explained that he plays pickleball three times a week for three hours, and will also enjoy a three-mile walk twice a week around a nearby, scenic lake.
Gerry Turner, 73, still leads 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 has previously opened up about his passion for the sport of pickleball, and talked to USA Pickleball last year.
‘I think there’s a commonality across pickleball communities where it doesn’t matter whether you are in Indiana, Los Angeles, or Florida.’
He added, ‘The spirit of the competition stays the same, but it’s also not a cutthroat environment. People are inclusive with players who aren’t quite as good and that’s something that I’ve seen from coast to coast which I think is really nice.’
He further told TMZ that doctors have advised that he cut down on both his alcohol and sugar intake.
Despite the dietary restrictions, Turner shared that he has developed an interest in new adventures and said, ‘I get the benefit of living like I’m dying!’
Gerry’s cancer is incurable and he doesn’t begin any form of treatment until he shows symptoms of ‘headaches, dizziness, night sweats, and unusual bleeding’ – which he has yet to experience.
In the meantime, the reality star still undergoes 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 a form of treatment for symptoms.
The TV personality explained that he plays pickleball three times a week for three hours, and will also enjoy a three-mile walk twice a week around a nearby, scenic lake
Nist has since broken her silence on Turner’s cancer diagnosis – and expressed she had been ‘extremely upset’ upon hearing the news, but emphasized it had not been ‘a factor in the ending of the relationship’
Turner explained that he is still in the early stages of that specific time frame, although he didn’t give exact details.
The star then expressed that he hasn’t asked doctors about what his own life expectancy could be.
While staying on the optimistic side of his health battle, Gerry also has plans to be involved with the International Waldenström’s 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 talking to People, Turner revealed he was diagnosed with the incurable cancer weeks before his April split from Theresa Nist.
He told the outlet, ‘I think it’s time, also because it probably will clear up a lot of mystery around what happened back in February, March and April.’
‘As Theresa and I were trying very hard to find our lifestyle and where we were going to live and how we were going to make our life work, I was unfortunately diagnosed with cancer.’
Despite the dietary restrictions, Turner shared that he has developed an interest in new adventures and said, ‘I get the benefit of living like I’m dying!’
‘Unfortunately, there’s no cure for it. So that weighs heavily in every decision I make. It was like 10 tons of concrete were just dropped on me. And I was a bit in denial for a while, I didn’t want to admit to it.’
He said it was ‘hard’ sharing the devastating news with Nist who was ‘understandably awestruck.’
Gerry said this played into their widely publicized comments about deciding to split due to location issues – as he lives in Indiana while Nist resides in New Jersey.
The dad and grandfather of two added, ‘I wanted my life to continue on as normal as possible.’
‘And that led me to believing that as normal as possible more meant spending time with my family, my two daughters, my two son-in-laws, my granddaughters.’
He continued, ‘And the importance of finding the way with Theresa was still there, but it became less of a priority.’
According to the American Cancer Society, the overall 5-year survival rate for people with WM is about 78 per cent, and the 10-year survival rate is about 64 per cent.
Turner said his road to discovering the disease began when he sustained a shoulder injury when he was knocked over during a pickleball game three years ago.
When he ‘finally’ visited an orthopedic surgeon, he was found to have unusual blood markers.
And while talking to People, Turner revealed he was diagnosed with the incurable cancer weeks before his April split from Theresa Nist; seen in April
He said it was ‘hard’ sharing the devastating news with Nist who was ‘understandably awestruck’
He was referred to an oncologist who found he had a ‘blood disorder’ which he said he knew ‘pretty much’ would be cancer.
Turner told Nist about his blood disorder in February and after undergoing additional testing and a bone marrow biopsy, some weeks later his cancer was diagnosed.
He told Nist in mid-March, weeks before their public TV split announcement.
Turner said he now plans to ‘pack as much fun into his life and enjoy every moment’ adding ‘And when I’m gone, I’m gone, but I’m not going to have regrets.’
He wishes his ex Nist ‘all of the good luck in the world’ and said he will always fondly remember the ‘glamour and starstruck, whirlwind time’ of their romance.
He said: ‘It was wonderful, and I certainly wish it would’ve had a different ending, that we would’ve found our way, that we would’ve found solutions to a problem. And most of all, that I would not have had a diagnosis that so strongly influenced my decisions and the direction I went.’
Nist also broke her silence on Gerry’s cancer diagnosis while talking to People, and admitted she had been ‘extremely upset’ when Turner told her the devastating news during a trip to Indiana in March.
‘He’s a very positive person and I am too, and I know that he will do the best that he can to make this a positive experience.’
Nist said she and Turner now seldom speak and that ‘sometimes she can’t believe’ she got married and divorced in 2024
She added, ‘And I have every faith that is going to work out that way, that it’s going to be the type of cancer that will not affect his life and that he’ll live to be a very healthy old age.’
She said that Turner’s diagnosis ‘wasn’t a factor in the ending of the relationship, at least not for me’ and part of the reason was the distance between their Indiana and New Jersey homes.
Nist said she and Turner now seldom speak and that ‘sometimes she can’t believe’ she got married and divorced in 2024.
She added her final message to her ex was to ‘wish him the best’ and I’ wish for him a long and healthy, prosperous life, and I hope that he finds his person. I want him to be so happy, and I just wish him all the best of everything in the world.’
