Credit: DisneyFormer Disney Channel star Christy Carlson Romano has revealed that she recently received positive results from a cancer screening, sharing the emotional update with fans in a tearful video posted online.
Romano, 41, is best known for her role as Ren Stevens on Disney Channel’s Even Stevens (2000), one of the network’s most beloved early-era sitcoms. The series helped define Disney Channel programming in the early 2000s and turned Romano into a recognizable face for an entire generation of viewers. As the sharp, responsible, and often sarcastic older sister in the Stevens family, Romano played a key role in the show’s success and became one of Disney Channel’s standout young stars at the time.
Her Disney career didn’t stop there. Romano later became the voice of Kim Possible in the animated series Kim Possible (2002), another massive Disney Channel hit that became a pop culture phenomenon. The show ran for several seasons and cemented Romano’s legacy as one of the most memorable performers from Disney Channel’s golden era, especially for fans who grew up watching the network during its peak years.
Over the years, Romano continued to build her career beyond Disney, taking on additional acting work, voice performances, and later stepping into the world of online media. In recent years, she has also gained attention for her candid presence on social platforms, where she often reflects on her career, family life, and personal experiences.
This week, Romano posted a vulnerable video revealing that she recently underwent a cancer screening, and the results came back positive. In the emotional clip, Romano appeared shaken and held back tears while explaining the situation.
Christy Carlson Romano tearfully shared an update on her health. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/qxw1DctYYW
— Page Six (@PageSix) February 18, 2026
She shared that she and her husband, Brendan Rooney, decided to undergo cancer screenings together. Romano said the decision was influenced by two major factors: her family’s history of cancer and the recent death of actor James Van Der Beek, who passed away last week at the age of 48 from colorectal cancer. Romano explained that Van Der Beek’s passing deeply affected her and pushed her to take the possibility of cancer more seriously.
During the video, Romano admitted she is frightened about what comes next, describing herself as “nervous” and “a bit scared” as she waits for further clarity. While she did not provide specific details about the type of cancer or the stage of the illness, her message made it clear that the situation is serious and ongoing.
Since posting the video, Romano has received an outpouring of support from fans, many of whom grew up watching her Disney Channel work and have followed her journey ever since. Her announcement has sparked renewed conversations online about the importance of routine health screenings and paying attention to family medical history.
At this time, Romano has not publicly shared further information about treatment options or next steps, though her post suggests she is actively working with doctors to determine what the results mean moving forward.
We send our thoughts and prayers to Romano and her family and wish the very best.