Mary Murphy Announces Cancer-Free Diagnosis

By Sarah Crow Posted Feb 22nd 2011 04:30PM

Mary Murphy is letting her trademark enthusiasm show, and for good reason: The 'So You Think You Can Dance' judge announced to Life & Style that she has overcome thyroid cancer.

The 52-year-old dancer and choreographer discovered she had the disease three years ago, when doctors found a tumor on her thyroid, but only had the surgery to remove the tumor in December 2010.

"They told me that the tumor had to come out and there's a chance I might not be able to talk again. Outside of the word 'cancer,' I really couldn't imagine my life without hearing myself laugh."

"I definitely feel like there's an angel on my shoulder," says Murphy. "I feel like somebody's looking out for me."

Murphy, who dropped a bombshell last year when she admitted to suffering years of physical and verbal abuse at the hands of her ex-husband, plans to rejoin 'So You Think You Can Dance' when it returns to the air this summer. Despite her trials and tribulations, with the tumor removed, Murphy's joie de vivre has returned. "I just wanted to kiss my doctor!" she says.

More than anything, Murphy says she's grateful for those who supported her through her illness. "I've had a major roller coaster of a life, for sure. But my roller coaster keeps going up and down. I just want to thank all my friends and family and my fans."

Tags: mary murphy

Comments

(11)

Wednesday 23 February

By lindajet

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thats great..but she has to be the most annoying person i have ever heard.wont watch it because of her.sorry

Tuesday 22 February

By Nico Toscani

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I hate her shrill voice and horse teeth so much.

By Tommy

I like her and her songs

By qsfoxx

I have heard of getting it "straight from the horse's mouth" but never from the other end of the animal.

By kim

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Love her! I get a kick out of her on SYTYCD.

By Tom

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I beleive she got the thyroid cancer from doing all that shrieking. I don't shriek like that and none of my friends shriek like that and none of us has ever had tyroid cancer.

By Charles Mosely

This is about Jennifer Aniston. She needs to get over her way out of date hairdo, and get a shorter one with some body to it. Her 'do now is totally ugly!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Jenn

I am thrilled that she is healthy, and will be back on this fantastic show. Her absence was felt last season with her less-than-spectacular fill-in Mia "It's all about me" Michaels. It's SO much better to watch talented dancers perform their athletic wonders (with judges that have constructive criticism instead of looking to wow with sound bites) than it is to hear wannabe pop stars sing.

By StayHome

Sorry to hear about the C. But, please don't return to the dance show. You are tooooooooo loud, screechy and annoying and I am sure that you don't know much about dance. With you on the show, I am forced to record it and speed through it when you screech. Your voice hurts dogs' ears alot.

By Tonya

I enjoy Mary on SYTYCD. The first season i watched her I couldn't stand her but then the next season came and I began to recognise the sincerity of her emotions re the contestants. her schreeching used to horrify me, but as I've warmed to her "out there" personality, I understand that she wouldn't be Mary without the shrieking and the shrieking really only means that someone did something unbelievably exciting. Now the shriek pulls me in deeper, lol. Besides, when me and my best friends from grammar school get together (we are all in our late 40-s early 50's) it's funny how we revert to talking fast, nonstop, really and shrieking hysterically just like we did when we were kids about all the exciting goings on in each others lives. I am glad mary's fine and I am glad she'll be back.

Thursday 07 April

By Patches

I am so glad she is returning to the show. I think she made the show fun and gave it life. I can't stand Mia Michaels and would love to see her off the judges panel. And Adam Shankman used to be so fun and funny until he sat next to Mia last season. Maybe Mary can bring some of his personality back to him. I think Mary is sincere and kind in her critique and she gives it in plain English......not wrapped up in some profound, convulted explanation like Mia gives to the contestants.

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