Lauren Tom is asking fans to surround her 25-year-old daughter, Ellie, with love as their family begins what the actress described as a “long journey” through cancer treatment.
THE “Friends” alum revealed that Ellie is battling osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer commonly diagnosed in teenagers and young adults. Although Tom didn’t reveal the stage of the cancer or details of her daughter’s treatment, she said the family is doing everything they can to support Ellie’s recovery.
Tom announced his daughter’s diagnosis in an emotional Instagram post featuring several photographs of Ellie. “I wanted to share some difficult news today,” the 64-year-old actress wrote. “This is my beautiful daughter, Ellie. She is currently battling osteosarcoma (bone cancer), and my family and I are doing everything we can to help her heal.”
Tom turned to a well-known message from Fred Rogers as she thanked the people who supported her family during this scary time, sharing: “I remember the Fred Rogers quote: ‘When I was a boy and I saw scary things in the news, my mother would say to me: Look for the helpers. You will always find people who help me’.”
“With that in mind, I’d like to thank our friends and family, and the incredible doctors and nurses at @cedarssinai for their boundless support, love and care,” added the actress, who shares Ellie and 22-year-old son Leo with her husband, actor Curt Kaplan. The couple has been married since October 1999.
Actress praises Ellie’s strength
Tom celebrated his daughter’s personality and resilience while acknowledging that the family has a difficult road ahead. “Ellie is an incredible soul, deep, sensitive, wise, strong, courageous, intelligent and funny. Beautiful inside and out,” she wrote.
“It’s truly humbling to see how willing people are to reach out and help,” Tom continued. “We have a long journey ahead of us. Would you be kind enough to keep Ellie in your prayers for a full recovery, and perhaps leave her a comment here, or on her account? @eliatom_.”
Tom closed his post by thanking his followers for their support and included a transgender pride flag. She also left a personal message under one of Ellie’s recent Instagram posts, captioned: “The most ephemeral part of my environment is me.”
“You are strong, courageous and will fully recover to live a beautiful and meaningful life,” Tom wrote. “You are so loved, Ellie, by everyone who knows you. Especially the grouper…”
What is osteosarcoma?
Osteosarcoma is a rare cancer that begins in the cells responsible for bone formation. It most commonly develops in the long bones of the legs or arms, although it can occur in any bone. The disease is diagnosed most often in adolescents and young adults, according to the National Cancer Institute. Its incidence is estimated at around four cases per million people under the age of 40 each year.
Common symptoms may include persistent bone or joint pain, swelling near a bone, and fractures that occur without an obvious explanation. However, Tom did not publicly share the symptoms Ellie experienced before receiving her diagnosis.
Treatment decisions depend on several factors, including where the tumor is, how it has spread, and how it responds to treatment. Chemotherapy and surgery are commonly used to treat osteosarcoma, but no information has been released regarding Ellie’s individual care plan.
A patient’s outlook can vary greatly depending on the specific circumstances of the diagnosis. Tom did not reveal Ellie’s stage, so broader survival statistics cannot be used to predict his personal prognosis.
Hollywood stars rally around Lauren Tom’s family
Tom’s announcement quickly received messages from fellow cast members and fans who wanted Ellie to know she wasn’t alone in facing the illness. “Sending all our love and prayers for Ellie. Anything we can do, please let us know. I love you,” Ken Jeong wrote.
Ming-Na Wen, who played the title character in Disney’s animated film “Mulan,” also offered her support. “Praying for Ellie and keeping your entire family in our thoughts and prayers, sis! I love you!” Wen wrote.
As the messages continued to come in, Tom returned to the station to express how much the response meant to his family. “Thank you so much to everyone for this immense outpouring of love, support and prayers,” she said. “We have read every comment and are filled with gratitude that you hold us in your heart.”
Lauren Tom has built a decades-long acting career
Tom is known to “Friends” viewers as Julie, the paleontologist who dated Ross Geller in the sitcom’s second season. Her character’s arrival complicated the central romance between Ross and Rachel after Ross returned from a trip to China with a new girlfriend.
His career extends well beyond the NBC sitcom, however. Tom played Lena St. Clair in the 1993 film adaptation of Amy Tan’s “The Joy Luck Club.” She went on to build a prolific acting career as Amy Wong in “Futurama” and Minh and Connie Souphanousinphone in “King of the Hill.”
Her other television roles include appearances on “Supernatural” and the role of Celia Mack in the Disney Channel series “Andi Mack.”