Current:Home > ContactChristina Applegate says she has 30 lesions on her brain amid MS battle -Infinite Edge Capital
Christina Applegate says she has 30 lesions on her brain amid MS battle
View
Date:2025-04-14 00:50:38
Christina Applegate is revealing more about her health challenges.
The "Dead to Me" star, 52, opened up about her battle with multiple sclerosis on Monday's episode of Dax Shepard's "Armchair Expert" podcast, telling the host she has "30 lesions" on her brain that she compared to herpes sores.
"So sores all over my brain," she said. "My biggest one is behind my right eye, so my right eye hurts a lot."
The "Anchorman" actress noted that she will sometimes get a "seizurey feeling" in her brain, adding, "I'm not really happy about all the ones in my brain. If you think that I'm just sitting here with 30 lesions on my brain … It's not a fun one to hang with."
According to the Cleveland Clinic, brain lesions are areas of damaged brain tissue that "can disrupt the way your brain works, causing a wide range of symptoms, such as weakness, disruption of one or more senses and confusion." Multiple sclerosis is one of the conditions that can cause brain lesions, the clinic notes.
Christina Applegatemay have had MS symptoms '6 or 7 years' before diagnosis
Applegate was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis while working on the third season of Netflix's "Dead to Me," and she shared news of her diagnosis in 2021. She reflected on "Armchair Expert" that her battle with MS is for "life" and that she isn't sure whether she'll be "around" in 10 years.
"This is the worst thing that's ever happened to me in my entire life," she acknowledged. "I hate it so much, and I'm so mad about it. You can't overcome it."
Although Applegate isn't sugarcoating the difficulty of her MS battle, she expressed regret that she publicly maintained a more sunny attitude while battling breast cancer in 2008. In an interview with Robin Roberts at the time, Applegate, who had undergone a double mastectomy, joked that after reconstructive surgery, she's "gonna have cute boobs till I'm 90."
The actress now says she was "lying my (expletive) off" in this interview about how she felt about the situation.
"I got up and I literally fell into the wall and sobbed because it was a lie," she said. "Everything I was saying was a freaking lie. It was me trying to convince myself of something, and I think that did no service to anyone."
Jamie-Lynn Sigler,multiple sclerosis and the wisdom she's picked up along the way
Earlier this month, Applegate again sat down with Roberts and said she lives "in hell" amid her MS battle. She also revealed she "probably" had MS symptoms for "six or seven years" before being diagnosed.
Applegate recently launched a podcast titled "MeSsy" with Jamie-Lynn Sigler, who also has multiple sclerosis. She has said she expects "Dead to Me" to be her final acting role.
On "Armchair Expert," Applegate and Shepard connected over both being stars who stepped away from acting and started a podcast, although Applegate stressed that she "did not want this" and would be looking for a "cool" project after "Dead to Me" if she were not disabled. But Applegate said she may continue acting via voiceover roles.
"As long as I can speak, I'd love to do that," she said. "That'd be fun. Mama needs to do something."
More on multiple sclerosis:This is America: I'm able-bodied until I'm (unexpectedly) not
Contributing: Naledi Ushe, USA TODAY
veryGood! (89)
Related
- Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie return for an 'Encore,' reminisce about 'The Simple Life'
- Former Rep. Mike Rogers enters Michigan Senate race as the first prominent Republican
- Dramatic shot of a falcon striking a pelican wins Bird Photographer of the Year top prize
- Shuttered EPA investigation could’ve brought ‘meaningful reform’ in Cancer Alley, documents show
- New Zealand official reverses visa refusal for US conservative influencer Candace Owens
- George Washington University sheltering in place after homicide suspect escapes from hospital
- 'Face to Face' is a murder mystery that lives up to the tradition of Nordic Noir
- Texas AG Ken Paxton’s impeachment trial begins with a former ally who reported him to the FBI
- From family road trips to travel woes: Americans are navigating skyrocketing holiday costs
- DeSantis appoints Moms for Liberty co-founder to board overseeing state employee conduct
Ranking
- Mets have visions of grandeur, and a dynasty, with Juan Soto as major catalyst
- One way to save coral reefs? Deep freeze them for the future
- Proud Boys leader gets harshest Jan. 6 sentence yet, Tropical Storm Lee forms: 5 Things podcast
- Week 1 fantasy football rankings: Chase for a championship begins
- The Grammy nominee you need to hear: Esperanza Spalding
- Marlins' Sandy Alcantara, reigning NL Cy Young winner, likely out for year with arm injury
- Elon Musk threatens to sue Anti-Defamation League over antisemitism claims
- Alaska cat named Leo reunited with owners almost month after their home collapsed into flood-swollen river
Recommendation
Meta donates $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund
Schools dismiss early, teach online as blast of heat hits northeastern US
Education secretary praises Springfield after-school program during visit
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis appoints Moms for Liberty co-founder to state Commission on Ethics
Romantasy reigns on spicy BookTok: Recommendations from the internet’s favorite genre
Jennifer Love Hewitt Addresses Comments She Looks Different After Debuting Drastic Hair Change
Cuba says human trafficking ring found trying to recruit Cubans to fight for Russia in Ukraine war
Extreme heat makes air quality worse–that's bad for health