Karen Black: Husband Says Cancer Is Taking Its Toll

Actress Karen Black continues to struggle against the disease that has left her bedridden. In a recent update from her husband, the cancer is reportedly taking its toll on the Burnt Offerings star.

Although he provided an update about her condition in June, things have been relatively quiet about her well-being in recent weeks. In an August 7 post on his official blog, husband Stephen Eckelberry provided some insight into how the disease is affecting her life.

After spending some time at St John’s Hospital to treat bacterial infections and other complications, Karen Black was eventually moved into a nursing facility with the assistance of the Motion Picture Television Fund. She was ultimately unable to make the trip to Europe for treatment earlier this year.

Despite doctors’ best efforts, the cancer is still spreading throughout her body. In addition to destroying nerves in her lower back, the cancer caused her to lose functionality in her left leg. While her prognosis isn’t good, Black is still fighting.

“I have given up predicting what is going to happen to Karen. In June family members flew in fearing the worse, but Karen is still here. You look at the scans, they tell you one thing, then you meet Karen, and what you are left with is how amazingly alive she is,” Eckelberry explained.

He continued, “Maybe it’s her belief system, maybe it’s because she was never one to tune out with drugs in her life, but mostly it’s her innate character. She can’t help but take life head-on and be completely engaged in the moment, always interested, always curious.”

With some help from family, friends, and fans, Karen Black’s husband and daughter were able to take off work to stay by her side. Eckelberry raised money earlier this year through crowdfunding in hopes of taking the actress to Europe for treatment. Sadly, that plan didn’t work out.

“Thanks to your generous support through this process we can be there for her all the time. We are supplementing traditional medicine with all the alternative care we can afford. This would not have been possible without your generosity,” he wrote.

As a life-long fan of Karen Black, this writer is especially saddened by these turn of events. At least the actress has her family and friends by her side during this difficult time.

[Image via s_bukley / Shutterstock.com]