Gerry Turner provides an update on his life-changing diagnosis.
The 73-year-old Golden Bachelor alum was featured on the April 15 episode of the Bachelor Happy Hour podcast, where he spoke with hosts Joe Amabile and Serena Pitt about his life since learning he has a terminal disease.
Turner said on the show that he hasn’t had to change his daily life since being diagnosed.
“I feel great,” he stated. “There will be no therapy unless I develop symptoms. Therefore, I have my blood tested regularly. I’m on a six-month plan right now. The doctor mentioned that when I turn 75, we will need to switch to three-month increments. This implies that he expects me to live a few more years to reach that age. But the basic line is that I feel great.”
Pitt then asked Turner if he was annoyed by the “waiting period” before getting cancer treatment or if he was simply glad that his health had not been badly harmed yet.
“I mean this sincerely, from the time I got this diagnosis, it’s a privilege to live like you’re dying,” he told me. “I don’t refuse anything. I believe I’m more open to emotions. “I am more open to new experiences.”
“The person I’m dating will ask, ‘Do you want to go do—'” And before she finishes the remainder of the phrase, I will say yes. I’m committed to experiencing everything. “That makes life interesting because you feel like you have a lot of living to do, and you don’t know how long you have to do it, so don’t pass” anything up.” So, in a way, it’s a positive thing.
In December 2024, Urner revealed to PEOPLE his diagnosis of Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia, a slow-growing “bone marrow cancer.” An orthopedic physician discovered his condition when he sought treatment for a recurring shoulder issue.
“I felt like someone had just thrown ten tons of concrete on me.” And I was in denial for a long time because I didn’t want to accept it,” he explained at the time.
According to the Mayo Clinic, Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia converts white blood cells into cancer cells, which accumulate in bone marrow, the spongy substance inside the bones that produces blood cells. The condition is more frequent in guys over the age of 70.
“Unfortunately, there’s no cure,” Turner explained.
The retired restaurateur indicated that he wanted to make deliberate judgments despite not knowing what the short-term, medium-term, and long-term effects of that sickness would be.
“I wanted my life to continue on as normal as possible, and that led me to believe that as normal as possible meant spending time with my family, my two daughters, my two sons-in-law, and my granddaughters,” he told me.
Turner also said that, despite his initial denial, he had embraced Tim McGraw’s song “Live Like You’re Dying” as his attitude.
“I have become used to it.” I’ve reached a point where I can be comfortable with it,” he told PEOPLE of his diagnosis. “I’m going to have as much pleasure as possible in my life and cherish every minute. I will leave no regrets behind after my departure.