Christina Applegate Describes ‘Tough Road’ Following Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis | Culture

Christina Applegate, the actress known for her roles in films like Anchorman and Bad Moms, announced on Twitter overnight that she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

“A few months ago I was diagnosed with MS. It was a strange trip, ”the 49-year-old wrote in her tweet. “It has been a difficult road. But as we all know, the road continues. Unless some asshole blocks it.

Multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune disease, occurs when the immune system begins to attack the sheath that protects nerve fibers, making it difficult for the brain to communicate with the rest of the body. MS often makes walking and movement more difficult and, for some, leads to paralysis of the legs.

The exact cause of MS is unknown, and cases can range from mild to severe. The disease, which mainly affects women, is rarely fatal, but reduces life expectancy by 5 to 10 years on average.

On Twitter, Applegate asked for privacy “while I’m going through this thing.”

“As a friend of mine with MS said, ‘we wake up and take the right action. And that’s what I do, ”the actress wrote.

Over ten years ago, Applegate was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a bilateral mastectomy.

“I cry at least once a day about it because it’s hard to ignore when you’re standing in the mirror. When you look down it’s the first thing you see … So you constantly remember that thing, that cancer that you had, ”Applegate told the Oprah Winfrey Show in 2008.

Applegate won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for Friends in 2003. She was nominated in the same category for the same show in 2004.

She was nominated for Best Leading Actress in a Comedy Series for Samantha Who? in 2008 and 2009.

In 2019 and 2020, Applegate was once again nominated in the Lead Actress category for Dead to Me, which was also nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series. Applegate first rose to prominence as a child actor on the hit sitcom Married With Children.