“Golden Bachelor”'s Gerry Turner Trying to ‘Enjoy Every Moment’ After Cancer Diagnosis: ‘When I’m Gone, I’m Gone’ (Exclusive)
“I wanted my life to continue on as normal as possible,” the 72-year-old tells PEOPLE
Craig Sjodin/ABC via Getty Images
Gerry TurnerGerry Turner is prioritizing family and living in the moment after learning he has an incurable cancer.
The Golden Bachelor alum, 72, revealed to PEOPLE that he was diagnosed with a slow-growing "bone marrow cancer" called Waldenström's macroglobulinemia. His disease was discovered after visiting an orthopedic surgeon for a recurring shoulder injury.
"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 says of his diagnosis.
Waldenström's macroglobulinemia transforms white blood cells into cancer cells which build up in the bone marrow, the spongy material inside the bones where blood cells are made, according to the Mayo Clinic. The disease is most common in males over age 70.
"Unfortunately, there's no cure for it," Turner adds.
Jason Kempin/Getty
Gerry TurnerNever miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
The retired restaurateur explains that without “knowing what the short-term, medium-term and long-term effect of that disease was,” he wants to be intentional with the decisions he’s making in his life moving forward.
“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 shares.
Turner adds that despite the initial denial, he’s adopted Tim McGraw's song "Live Like You're Dying" as his philosophy.
“I've gotten used to it. I've gotten to the point where I can be somewhat comfortable with it,” he tells PEOPLE of his diagnosis. “I'm going to pack as much fun as I possibly can into my life and enjoy every moment. And when I'm gone, I'm gone, but I'm not going to have regrets.”
Read the original article on People
