Kelley Mack death: ‘Walking Dead’ star mistook signs of brain tumour as back pain; here are early symptoms you should never ignore

In a tragic incident, Kelley Mack, the popular actress from The Walking Dead, passed away at the age of 33; her family announced the news on Instagram on Tuesday. Mack, whose real name is Kelley Lynne Klebahn, died on August 2 after battling that rare form of cancer for a long time. According to the Daily Mail, the actress was diagnosed with glioma of the central nervous system, a very rare form of cancer.

As per a statement shared by her family on CaringBridge, they said, "It is with indelible sadness that we are announcing the passing of our dear Kelley,' her family wrote in a post shared to her Instagram account. 'Such a bright, fervent light has transitioned to the beyond, where we all eventually must go."

Her family further shared that she would be honoured at a celebration of life ceremony in Glendal, Ohio, on August 16. Kelley Mack played a prominent role as Addy on The Walking Dead's ninth season, which aired from 2018 to 2019.

Kelley Mack mistook cancer symptoms for persistent lower back pain

In a shocking discovery, Mack revealed her health issues in January on her Instagram. She first noticed symptoms of cancer as 'back pain' but was later diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in September 2024.

No one saw this coming, as she looked fine when she flashed a thumbs-up from a hospital bed. Sharing the photo of the same, the actress wrote that she had suffered from 'persistent lower back pain' that she first assumed was a result of a 'slipped disc' problem.

How did Kelly Mack discover that she had cancer?

Following persistent suffering from low back pain, which was also accompanied by itching caused by nerve pain in the front of her right thigh, Mack then revealed that she was suffering from paralysing shooting pain in her legs and back too.

The problem became so severe that she was forced to sleep in a recliner for a month, as lying down for her was too painful. Later, the Chicago Med actress wrote that an emergency MRI was conducted on her, which found an 'abnormal mass' on her spinal cord.

This is when she revealed that she was diagnosed with diffuse midline glioma, a rare form of cancer that starts as tumours in the brain or spine, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Kelley Mack mistook cancer symptoms for persistent lower back pain

( Image credit : Kelley Mack mistook cancer symptoms for persistent lower back pain | Credit: Instagram | @itskelleymack )

What is midline glioma?

According to the National Cancer Institute, a diffuse midline glioma (DMG), formerly called a diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), is an aggressive brain tumour that develops in the central areas of the brain, such as the brainstem, thalamus, and spinal cord.

It primarily affects children and young adults, but it can also appear in adults. A hallmark of DMG is a mutation in the histone H3 gene (H3 K27M) that plays a major role in how the tumour forms and progresses.

How dangerous can glioma be to a person?

As per the Mayo Clinic, glioma is a growth of cells that starts in the brain or the spinal cord. These cells in glioma look like healthy brain cells called glial cells, and they surround nerve cells and help them function.

When the glioma grows, it forms a mass of cells called a tumour that can grow to press on brain or spinal cord tissue and cause symptoms that depend on which part of the brain or spinal cord is affected. However, there are many types of glioma, but not all are considered to be cancerous.

Survival rate in midline glioma

A report by PubMed suggests that the median survival time for the entire patient group was 33.3 months, with overall survival rates ranging from 92.9 per cent, 75.4 per cent, and 45.0 per cent at 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years, respectively.

Symptoms of midline glioma, a rare type of cancer

Signs and symptoms of the condition may vary depending on the tumour and can include double vision and more. Here are the symptoms below:

• A headache, particularly one that hurts the most in the morning.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Confusion or a decline in brain function
• Memory loss.
• Personality changes or irritability.
• Vision problems
• Peripheral vision.
• Speech difficulties.
• Seizures, especially in someone who hasn't had seizures before.

FAQs

Q. Has anyone survived diffuse midline glioma?

About 10 per cent of people survive at least 2 years after diagnosis, according to the Brain Tumour Charity.

Q. What grade is a midline glioma?

Diffuse midline gliomas are all grade 4 (also written as grade IV).