'33-year-old actress Kelley Mack from 'The Walking Dead' passes away following a battle with cancer'
In a tragic turn of events, American actress Kelley Mack, known for her roles on popular shows like Chicago Med, 9-1-1, and AMC's The Walking Dead, passed away on August 2 at the age of 33.
Born on July 10, 1992, in Cincinnati, Mack's love for storytelling began in childhood after receiving a mini camcorder as a birthday gift. Her early start in the arts was through commercials, and she later graduated from Chapman University's Dodge College of Film and Media Arts in California in 2014.
However, Mack's life took a turn when she started experiencing persistent lower back pain. Initially, she thought she had a slipped disc. An emergency MRI revealed an abnormal mass in her spinal cord, leading to a devastating diagnosis: a diffuse midline glioma.
Diffuse midline gliomas (DMG) are rare and aggressive tumors that originate from astrocytes, star-shaped cells in the nervous system that support nerve function. These tumors can occur in adults, as confirmed by the University of California's Brain Tumor Center. The prognosis for adults with DMG, including those with the H3 K27-altered mutation, remains very poor, with median survival generally less than one year and a 2-year survival rate below 10%.
Mack underwent radiation therapy in Cincinnati after her diagnosis. After undergoing a spinal biopsy, she lost most use of her legs and required both a wheelchair and a walker. Despite the challenges, Mack continued to share updates about her life and an independent film she had recently starred in, titled Universal.
In January, Mack revealed she had been diagnosed with a DMG. She bravely faced her illness, even sharing a video of herself climbing stairs in March, a significant personal achievement. However, the disease proved to be too aggressive, leading to complications that ultimately took her life.
Mack is survived by her parents, Kristen and Lindsay Klebenow, and her siblings Kathryn and Parker. Her courage and resilience in the face of adversity will be remembered by her fans and the entertainment industry.
While the prognosis for DMG in adults is generally dismal, no specific clinical details relating to Kelley Mack’s individual prognosis or disease course were identified in the available sources. This serves as a reminder of the challenges posed by these rare and aggressive tumors, and the urgent need for more effective treatments.
[1] National Cancer Institute. (2021). Diffuse Midline Glioma (DMG). https://www.cancer.gov/types/brain/patient/diffuse-midline-glioma-treatment-pdq [2] American Brain Tumor Association. (2021). Diffuse Midline Glioma (DMG). https://www.abta.org/brain-tumor-information/brain-tumor-types/diffuse-midline-glioma/ [5] National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. (2021). Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma. https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/All-Disorders/Diffuse-Intrinsic-Pontine-Glioma-Information-Page
Celebrities and entertainment industry mourn the loss of Kelley Mack, a talented actress who passed away after a battle with a diffuse midline glioma. Despite the dismal prognosis for adults with this rare tumor, Mack continued to work in the entertainment industry, even sharing updates about her life and recent film projects.
