Gerry Turner, the beloved star on ABC's Golden Bachelor, has been diagnosed with cancer. The reality star sat down (Dec. 11) with PEOPLE to discuss his long journey ahead and how it influenced him to call it quits with Theresa Nist. 

The couple got engaged during the November 2023 season finale and tied the knot in a live wedding special in January 2024. However, they announced their divorce by April, leaving viewers shocked and speculating about what went wrong.

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"There's a topic that I haven't wanted to talk about until now," he told the publication. "I think it's time, also because it probably will clear up a lot of mystery around what happened back in February, March and April." 

Now, Turner is revealing the deeper reason behind their split – a diagnosis of Waldenström's macroglobulinemia, a rare bone marrow cancer. Waldenström's macroglobulinemia, as described by the Mayo Clinic, is a type of cancer that transforms white blood cells and builds up in the bone marrow. While the disease is slow-progressing, it has no known cure.

Turner's cancer journey began after he sought medical attention for a shoulder injury he sustained teaching a pickleball class. 

"Finally, I got around to going [to the doctor], and the orthopedic surgeon said, 'Yeah Gerry, there's not much we can do for your shoulder, but there are some unusual blood markers here," Turner recalled. "And so an orthopedic surgeon went to my family doctor, my family doctor referred me to an oncologist, and now I'm working with a hematology-oncology group in Fort Wayne," he added. 

Waldenström's macroglobulinemia, as described by the Mayo Clinic, is a type of cancer that transforms white blood cells and builds up in the bone marrow. While the disease is slow-progressing, it has no known cure.

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When the doctor gently revealed his diagnosis, he said it felt like "10 tons of concrete" was dropped on his shoulders. He also mentioned that it took some time for him to wrap his head around the situation. 

It wasn't long until Turner had to share the heartbreaking news to Nist. In mid-March, they sat down in his hometown of Indiana and had the difficult conversation that he was dreading. Nist, a financial services professional in New Jersey, recalls the moment vividly.

"That's devastating news, really. I was extremely upset," explained Nist about the heartbreaking visit. "He told me through, that it was the type of cancer that he would most likely outlive."

Despite her initial shock, Nist praised Turner's optimism.

"He's a very positive person and I am too, and I know that he will do the best that he can to make this a positive experience," she said. "And I have every faith that is going to work out that way, that it's going to be the type of cancer that will not affect his life and that he'll live to be a very healthy old age." 

Turner explained how the diagnosis shifted his focus from their relationship to spending time with his family, including his daughters, sons-in-law, and granddaughters.

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"I wanted my life to continue on as normal as possible," he said. "The importance of finding a way with Theresa was still there, but it became less of a priority."

The couple's decision to divorce was met with speculation, but Turner hopes his story will provide clarity. "When you are hit with that kind of news, you realize what's important to you," he said. "I hope people now understand that this had a huge bearing on my decisions—and probably Theresa's as well."

Despite the challenges ahead, Turner is embracing life with optimism. He plans on checking boxes off his bucket list while surrounding himself with support. 

"I'm going to pack as much fun as I possibly can into my life and enjoy every moment," he said. "When I'm gone, I'm gone, but I'm not going to have regrets."

Nist, who continues to support Turner from afar, cherishes their time together despite the difficult circumstances. "That glamour and whirlwind time was really a cherished memory," Turner reflected. "I certainly wish it would've had a different ending."

Photo Credit: @goldenbachabc on Instagram.