Christy Carlson Romano’s Emotional Reveal: Positive Cancer Screening Results

Christy Carlson Romano has never really been the type to hide the messy parts of her life, and this week she proved that again in a way that felt almost uncomfortably honest. She told fans she’d gotten a positive result on a recent cancer screening — something most people would keep quiet until they had answers, but she chose to say it out loud while she’s still in the thick of it. The former “Even Stevens” and “Kim Possible” star shared the news in a shaky, emotional Instagram video, talking about how cancer has been woven through her family for years and how that history finally pushed her to get tested.

It wasn’t polished or rehearsed. It was just her — scared, trying to process it in real time, and letting people see the cracks. And for a lot of fans who grew up watching her, it hit hard. It was a reminder that even the people we think we “know” from TV are dealing with their own private storms.

Here’s where she’s at, why she decided to speak up now, and what comes next as she waits for more answers.

A Family History That Changed Everything

For Romano, cancer isn’t an abstract fear — it’s part of her family story. She explained that both of her parents had cancer, with her mother surviving and her father ultimately not. Her maternal grandmother also died from lung cancer. That history weighed heavily on her decision to get screened.

In an article with US Weekly, Romano said, “Both my parents had cancer. My mom beat it, my dad eventually didn’t, my grandmother on my mom’s side had lung cancer and died from that.”

Her husband, Brendan Rooney, took the same screening. His results came back negative. Hers did not.

The Moment She Learned the Results

Romano shared that she received the positive screening results shortly before filming a project in Florida. The timing, she admitted, shook her. She described the moment with raw honesty, saying in an article from Screen Rant, “I got the results back a little bit before filming down in Florida. My husband’s came back completely negative. Mine did not come back negative.”

While a positive screening doesn’t confirm a cancer diagnosis, it does mean further testing is needed. Romano told fans she may have “stageable cancer,” and that her next step is undergoing a PET scan — an imaging test that can detect early signs of the disease.

Why She Chose to Share Her Story Publicly

Romano made it clear she wasn’t sharing any of this for attention or headlines. She talked about it like it was something she almost had to do — not because she wanted the world in her business, but because she knows how many families are touched by cancer and how easy it is to put off getting checked until it’s too late.

She pointed out that cancer screenings are usually covered by insurance and can genuinely save lives, especially for people with a family history like hers. There was no lecturing, no polished PSA tone — just her hoping that someone watching might finally make that appointment they’ve been avoiding.

Romano didn’t pretend to be brave, either. She admitted this is a “very vulnerable time” and that sitting with the unknown is terrifying. That honesty — the shaky, unfiltered kind — is what hit people the hardest. Fans who grew up with her have watched her shift from a Disney kid to an adult who isn’t afraid to talk about the uncomfortable stuff, and this moment felt like another step in that evolution.

A Reminder of How Widespread Cancer Really Is

In discussing her results, Romano didn’t shy away from the reality that the disease touches countless lives. She referenced the recent death of actor James Van Der Beek, who passed away from Stage III colorectal cancer, as another reminder of how pervasive the disease is.

Her message was clear: cancer is everywhere, and early detection matters.

What Comes Next

Romano is now gearing up for her PET scan, just trying to take things one step at a time while she waits for real answers. She didn’t hide the fact that she’s scared — you can hear it in the way she talks about the next few weeks — but she also made a point to say how much the support from fans, friends, and family has meant to her. It’s the kind of gratitude that comes from someone who’s genuinely overwhelmed, not performing for the camera.

Her story is still unfolding, and she’s the first to admit she doesn’t know what’s coming next. But she’s meeting it with the same honesty and heart people have always connected with, even back when she was a teenager on Disney Channel. By letting people in now, when everything feels uncertain, she’s permitting others to talk about their own fear and confusion around cancer — something a lot of folks carry quietly.

What she shared isn’t just another celebrity headline. It’s a reminder of how important it is to speak up when something feels off, to ask questions, to get checked, and to be honest about the parts of life that are terrifying. And in her own way, Romano is showing that being open about that fear can make the whole thing feel a little less lonely.