Former Disney Channel star Christy Carlson Romano has shared emotional health news with her fans, revealing that a recent cancer screening test came back positive. The 41-year-old actress made the announcement in a video on her Instagram account on Tuesday, February 17, saying she was “nervous and a bit scared” about what comes next.
Romano is best known for her roles on shows like Even Stevens and for voicing Kim Possible. In the video, she said she and her husband, Brendan Rooney, decided to get cancer screenings because of her family history with the disease. Both her parents were diagnosed with cancer; her mother survived, and her father eventually passed away. Her maternal grandmother also died of lung cancer, she said.
While her husband’s results came back fully clear, Romano said her test did not. She explained that a positive screening result does not always mean a person has cancer. Instead, it shows there might be signs that need further investigation. Her next step will be a PET scan, a specialized imaging test doctors use to look more closely at areas of concern in the body.
In the video, Romano held back tears as she talked about her feelings, admitting she was afraid and overwhelmed. She said that facing the possibility of cancer is difficult, especially as a mother of two young daughters, Isabella, 9, and Sofia, 7.
Romano also talked about how recent events in her life have made her think more about health and mortality. She spoke about her late friend James Van Der Beek, the actor who recently died after a battle with colorectal cancer. She said meeting him and seeing his fight up close helped convince her that screening was important.
The actress shared that she is currently working with her insurance company to have the PET scan covered, a struggle many people face when dealing with costly medical tests. She said she is hopeful the PET scan will show “something easy to treat,” but she is preparing herself for anything.
Even in this hard moment, Romano tried to stay positive. She said she is grateful for the support of her family and close friends. She also mentioned other things in her life that bring her joy, like a new film project she has completed and her upcoming memoir, which she said will share more about her experiences.
Romano thanked her followers for their support and encouraged others to stay on top of their health by getting regular screenings. She said she originally hesitated to post the video because she worried about how people would react. In the end, she said she felt it was important to share her journey and possibly inspire others to take their health seriously.
Fans and followers have responded with messages of support and hope on social media. Her openness about her health challenges has sparked conversations about the importance of early detection and family history in health decisions.
Romano said she will continue to update her community as she goes through the next steps of testing and care. For now, she and her family are focusing on moving forward with strength and hope.