This past Tuesday, Christina Applegate took to Twitter to share both shocking and sad news.
She's been diagnosed with the incurable neurodegenerative disease, multiple sclerosis (MS).
The 49-year-old is handling the news bravely with words of hope. This has been applauded by fans, fellow MS suffers, and celeb pals.
Keep reading to see her tweets.
In 2008, the star revealed that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. While the cancer was in the early stages, she decided to undergo a double mastectomy.
This was done as a precautionary measure having learned that she carries the BRCA1 gene mutation that causes a heightened risk of developing cancer.
“My cousin passed away from ovarian cancer in 2008. I could prevent that. That’s how I’ve taken control of everything," she told Today.
This is an autoimmune disease that attacks healthy tissue in the central nervous system. Symptoms include muscle spasms, dizziness, and chronic pain.
She shared this on Twitter on Tuesday, writing, "Hi friends. A few months ago I was diagnosed with MS."
"It's been a tough road. But as we all know, the road keeps going. Unless some [expletive] blocks it."
She then asked fans for privacy: "So now I ask for privacy. As I go through this thing. Thank you xo."
"Welcome to the disability community, Christina. Sending love snd solidarity," one wrote.
"You've been one of my favorite people to follow, in terms of personal strength and your grace in life," added another.
"I am so sorry. 19 years for me. It's a road but it's not always as bumpy as it seems at first," tweeted this user.
"You'll educate yourself & family, you'll be scared, you'll be in denial,"Then, all of a sudden you don't think about it all the time. It's just you. Hang in there!"
The Legally Blonde actress was diagnosed a few years ago and has made so many great strides in recovery since then.
"Loving you always. Always here. As are our kids. Beating us up with love," she wrote.
"Thank you, Christina, for your courage in opening up about living with MS," they wrote. "We all appreciate the awareness that you are bringing to the disease. Please know that we at the MS Society are here to help in whatever way that we can."
In April 2018, she told People that she feels a responsibility to be open with fans about her health.
"If you do have a voice to do it, which we [as actors] are fortunate to have this platform to be like, 'I am just like you, I can't sleep," she said.
"I feel like crap a lot of the time because of this, but I want you to feel okay with it and not feel shame about it and get information about it so that you can have a better quality of life," she said.
