‘Golden Bachelor’ Gerry Turner Reveals Cancer Diagnosis and Blames Diagnosis On His Divorce from Theresa Nist

‘Golden Bachelor’ Gerry Turner Reveals Cancer Diagnosis and Blames Diagnosis On His Divorce from Theresa Nist

Gerry Turner, star of ABC’s Golden Bachelor, has revealed his battle with cancer, a diagnosis he says played a critical role in the breakdown of his marriage to Theresa Nist.

“There’s a topic that I haven’t wanted to talk about until now,” the 73-year-old told People in an interview published Wednesday. “I think it’s time, also because it probably will clear up a lot of mystery around what happened back in February, March and April.”

Gerry Turner and Theresa tied the knot after finding love on the hit reality series, but the couple announced their divorce just three months later, leaving fans stunned. Gerry has now disclosed that a life-changing health diagnosis was at the heart of their split.

A Shocking Diagnosis

Gerry recounted how an old shoulder injury from a pickleball class led to the discovery of his illness. Initially, he delayed seeking medical attention, but when he finally visited an orthopedic surgeon, unexpected results surfaced.

“The orthopedic surgeon said, ‘Yeah Gerry, there’s not much we can do for your shoulder, but there are some unusual blood markers here,’” Gerry explained. “An orthopedic surgeon referred me to my family doctor, and my family doctor referred me to an oncologist.”

Gerry was diagnosed with Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia, a rare and slow-growing type of bone marrow cancer. According to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, the disease can hinder blood cell production, potentially causing anemia and weakening the immune system.

“There is no cure,” Gerry shared, visibly emotional. “It was like 10 tons of concrete were just dropped on me. I was in denial for a while. I didn’t want to admit it.”

Impact on His Marriage

Faced with such a severe diagnosis, Gerry’s priorities shifted dramatically. He admitted that his focus turned toward spending more time with his two daughters, their spouses, and his beloved grandchildren — a decision that took a toll on his new marriage.

“I wanted my life to continue on as normal as possible,” he confessed. “That meant spending more time with my family … The importance of finding the way with Theresa was still there, but it became less of a priority.”

Gerry acknowledged that the devastating health news likely influenced Theresa’s perspective as well.

“I hope people will understand now that the difficult news had a huge bearing on my decisions — and I think probably Theresa’s as well,” he said.

A Heartbreaking End

The couple announced their mutual decision to divorce in April, just months after exchanging vows in a televised wedding. Appearing on Good Morning America at the time, Gerry explained, “Theresa and I have had a number of heart-to-heart conversations … and we’ve come to the conclusion mutually that it’s probably time for us to dissolve our marriage.”

Theresa echoed his sentiment, emphasizing that they still cherish the love and support they received from Golden Bachelor fans.

“We want none of that to change for anybody,” she said.

Gerry proposed to Theresa during the show’s November 2023 finale. Their whirlwind romance captivated millions, but their unexpected split in June 2024 left viewers heartbroken.

Despite the challenges, Gerry remains hopeful and is determined to cherish his time with loved ones. His story serves as a sobering reminder of life’s unpredictability — and the power of resilience in the face of adversity.

 

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