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Christy Carlson Romano is sharing a vulnerable look at her life as she gives fans an emotional update on her health.
In a new video shared to Instagram on Tuesday (February 17), the Even Stevens actress, 41, admitted she was "nervous and a bit scared" as she explained that she received a positive result from a recent cancer screening test she did with her husband, Brendan Rooney, per E! News. The couple's decision to get the screenings comes from her family history of battling the disease. Romano revealed that her mother "beat it" while her father "eventually didn't," and even her maternal grandmother passed away of lung cancer.
Romano said that while Rooney's results "came back completely negative," hers did not. Her plan for further testing includes getting a PET scan, a test that can help diagnose conditions like cancer and heart disease by evaluating cellular and metabolic changes within the body.
The news hit her even harder following the passing of James Van Der Beek, who died February 11 more than a year after sharing his stage 3 colorectal diagnosis. The Cadet Kelly alum teared up as he described the Dawson's Creek star as a "pillar" of their community in Austin, Texas.
"I live in Austin, and I was able to meet James Van Der Beek a bunch. His family's amazing," she said. "They always were raising money for the most amazing charities, and he's not with us anymore. Cancer is everywhere. Which is why I got this test."
Though the screening results are not an official diagnosis, it remains a precarious and scary situation with still-unanswered questions about the future, especially given her role as a mom to her and Rooney's two daughters Isabella, 9, and Sofia, 7.
"I'm sure people think I'm overreacting," she said. "But I'm not, because cancer is pretty serious. Man, I have two little girls."
Romano added that while she was in "disbelief" at the results, she is trying to stay focused on all of the positive aspects of her life.
"When you're somebody like me, you gotta take life a day at a time, really be grateful for all the amazing stuff around you," she said, adding, "So know that I have a loving family around me to support me, and gonna keep fighting for answers and eventually give you updates."