Veteran soap opera actor John J. York, best known for his role as Malcolm “Mac” Scorpio on ABC's "General Hospital," recently revealed that he will be taking a temporary hiatus from the show due to his battle with two blood and bone marrow disorders. York shared this news with his followers on X, formerly known as Twitter, expressing the need for some time away from the program while he waits for important information regarding his health.

In a video posted by York, he began by acknowledging his earlier promise to share the reason behind his hiatus. He then went on to disclose that he was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and multiple smoldering myeloma in December of 2022. MDS is a group of cancers that affects the bone marrow's ability to produce healthy blood cells. Multiple smoldering myeloma, on the other hand, is a precancerous condition that affects proteins in the blood and increases plasma cells in the bone marrow, without causing disease symptoms.

According to the National Cancer Institute, almost half of those diagnosed with multiple smoldering myeloma will develop multiple myeloma within five years. York shared that he has undergone three bone marrow biopsies and numerous chemotherapy treatments over the past few months, with another session scheduled in a couple of weeks. He also mentioned that he is nearing a blood stem cell transplant and has been collaborating with Be The Match, an organization dedicated to finding potential donors on their registry.

In his humble plea, York encouraged his followers and fans to consider joining Be The Match's registry, emphasizing that their support would not only benefit him but also the thousands of other individuals in need of a donor. He directed interested individuals to visit bethematch.org/matchformac for more information. Expressing his gratitude for the support he has received throughout his career, York assured his fans that this hiatus is not a farewell but rather a temporary break. He humorously referenced Arnold Schwarzenegger's famous line from “The Terminator” franchise, stating, "I'll be back."

John J. York's acting career spans over four decades, with his television presence dating back to 1982. However, his portrayal of Mac Scorpio on “General Hospital” has endeared him to audiences since 1991. Having appeared in nearly 650 episodes of the show, York has become a beloved and familiar face in the soap opera world. As he embarks on this health journey, his fans eagerly await his return to the screen, confident in his determination to overcome these challenging diagnoses.