Young & Restless’ Christian LeBlanc Shares Cancer Diagnosis, Timetable for His Return to Soap

The Young and the Restless vet Christian LeBlanc has confirmed that back in June he was diagnosed with cancer, though he is now in remission and set to return to the CBS soap in time for the holidays.

LeBlanc, who made his debut as Michael in 1991 and has played the character steadily since 1997, told WWL-TV, CBS’ New Orleans affiliate, that after some Y&R fans noticed that his left eye had gotten “kind of wonky,” he went to see a doctor and was eventually diagnosed with multiple myeloma, the same blood cancer which House Majority Leader Steve Scalise has.

LeBlanc said that in retrospect he saw some signs — in addition to the “wonky” eye, his character’s wedding ring “fell off without friction” as he started to lose a lot of weight, and “my nose started bleeding on set.” Doctors went on to discover a tumor in his left sinus cavity, pressing against an optic nerve.

“I had never spent a day in the hospital in my 65 years until this year,” LeBlanc noted.

LeBlanc said that multiple myeloma is a “very common” and a “fast-moving” cancer, but confirmed that after receiving treatment he is now in remission.

Because he had lost 35 lbs. in two months, the doctors “said, ‘Eat like it’s your job,'” LeBlanc related. “I said, ‘I was raised to fulfill this promise!'”

LeBlanc, who has been MIA from Y&R‘s Genoa City since late July, said that Michael will next appear during the long-sunning sudser’s Thanksgiving episode.