How Did Eric Braeden Conquer Bladder Cancer? The Y&R Star Shares His Story

Victor Newman has vanquished many foes on The Young and the Restless, and, fortunately, the same can be said for his portrayer, Eric Braeden. The actor was diagnosed with cancer a year ago, and now, the Daytime Emmy winner is talking about his victory over his illness.

Eric Braeden: The Fight of His Life

“I would not be as ruthless as he is,” Braeden told KCAL-TV journalist (and Y&R devotee) Pat Harvey, who asked if he, Eric, would like his TV alter-ego. “I would not lock [up] my wife’s lover,” Braeden quipped, referring to the storyline in which Victor imprisoned Michael Scott (Nick Benedict) in his basement after finding out he was sleeping with his wife, Julia (Meg Bennett).

Braeden shared with Harvey what it was like growing up in World War II, having been born in 1940 in Germany. “That means we are bombed every day and every night, tough upbringing, but a good one,” the actor shared. Braeden’s survival instincts kicked into high gear last year when he was diagnosed with cancer.

He shared the symptoms he was feeling that led to his cancer. His urine was not releasing, a common cause in men over 50. “Everything grows in the wrong places,” he quipped about having an enlarged prostate. While cancer was not found in Braeden’s prostate, it was located in his bladder.

“My eldest brother turned 90 [and] he had his bladder removed 11 years ago,” Braeden said. “He discovered cancer too late, and [it] penetrated the muscle wall of the bladder.” Thanks to a treatment called BCG, a drug that was developed to fight tuberculosis, Braeden’s health took a turn for the better, and he is now cancer-free.

“As a man, you are used to [saying], ‘oh, to hell with it,'” he says. The actor says early detection and listening to your body are key steps to take in order to preserve your health.

While he’s one of the most famous faces worldwide, given Y&R’s international success, Braeden says he’s not approached too often for his autograph in Los Angeles. “There’s an unwritten law [in L.A.] that people don’t come up to you,” he says. “They sort of may look, but they really don’t come up to you here. A tourist will, but not a native in L.A. does that — almost never.

“It’s wonderful,” Braeden says whenever he is recognized as the mustached mogul. “You want to have an impact, knowing we made a difference.”