Christy Carlson Carlson Romano, Voice of Disney’s Kim Possible, Reveals Positive Cancer Screening Results

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Disney Channel star Christy Carlson Romano has shared that a recent cancer screening came back positive, prompting an emotional public update just days after the death of fellow actor James Van Der Beek from colorectal cancer.

The 41-year-old actress, known for voicing Kim Possible and playing Ren Stevens on Even Stevens, posted a tearful Instagram video on Feb. 17, 2026. She explained that she and her husband, Brendan Rooney, got screened because cancer runs in her family. His results were negative. Hers were not.

My love said she mine…

Here’s the TL;DR…

  • Christy Carlson Romano, 41, announced positive cancer screening results in an emotional Instagram video posted Feb. 17, 2026.

  • The test followed her family history of cancer; her husband’s came back negative.

  • No official diagnosis yet — next step is a PET scan, which she is working to get covered by insurance.

  • She referenced being shot in the face a year ago and James Van Der Beek’s recent death as reasons for getting checked.

  • Romano voiced Kim Possible and starred in Even Stevens and Cadet Kelly; she urged fans to stay proactive about health screenings.

Christy Carlson Romano Shares Her Screening Results in a Tearful Video

In the video, Romano fought back tears while describing the moment the results arrived. “My husband’s came back completely negative. Mine did not come back negative,” she said. She added that she felt “nervous and a bit scared,” but stressed this is not yet a cancer diagnosis. The next step is a PET scan to investigate further.

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She noted both her parents had cancer — her mother beat it, her father did not — and her maternal grandmother died of lung cancer. That history pushed her to test. “Cancer is pretty serious, and I have two little girls,” she said, referring to daughters Isabella, 9, and Sophia, 7.

A Year After Being Shot in the Face, Romano Faces New Health Scare

The timing hits hard. Almost exactly one year earlier, in February 2025, Romano was accidentally shot in the eye while clay-pigeon shooting for her husband’s birthday. A fragment remains, but her vision is intact. She has spoken openly about how the incident made her grateful for every day.

In her latest post, she tied the two events together. Life can change fast, she said, and she wants to encourage others to get screened.

Christy Carlson Romano’s Iconic Disney Channel Career

Romano rose to fame in the early 2000s as the sharp-witted older sister Ren Stevens opposite Shia LaBeouf in Even Stevens. She also starred alongside Hilary Duff in the 2002 Disney Channel movie Cadet Kelly. Her voice work as the fearless teen spy Kim Possible became a defining role, earning her a Daytime Emmy nomination and spawning movies, games, and theme-park attractions.

After Disney, she stayed active with podcasting, Broadway (she played Belle in Beauty and the Beast), and voice roles in games like Kingdom Hearts. More recently she has hosted the “Vulnerable” podcast and teased an upcoming memoir.

James Van Der Beek’s Death Spurs Romano to Get Screened

Romano lives in Austin, Texas, and knew Van Der Beek and his family personally. She called him “a pillar of our community” who raised money for charities. Van Der Beek, 48, announced his stage 3 colorectal cancer diagnosis in November 2024 after noticing bowel changes. He died on Feb. 11, 2026.

“I was able to meet James Van Der Beek a bunch,” she said in the video. “Cancer is everywhere. Which is why I got this test.”

Other Young Celebrities Diagnosed With Cancer in Recent Years

Romano’s news arrives amid several public health battles involving younger stars. Singer Jessie J, 37, revealed an early-stage breast cancer diagnosis in June 2025 and underwent surgery. She has shared updates about recovery and perspective gained from the experience.

*Boy Meets World star Danielle Fishel, now in her early 40s, announced a breast cancer diagnosis in 2024 and provided follow-ups in 2025. Reality star Katie Thurston, 34, has also documented treatment for advanced breast cancer.

These cases, along with Van Der Beek’s, highlight a noted rise in certain cancers among people under 50 and the value of proactive screening even without symptoms.

What Happens Next for Christy Carlson Romano

Romano said she is leaning on faith, family support, and a sense of gratitude. Her husband posted a supportive comment: “You got this my beautiful wife. We will figure this out and destroy any problem that comes our way.”

She plans to keep fans posted as she pursues the PET scan and whatever follows. In the meantime, she continues work on her memoir and other projects while focusing on what matters most.

Romano’s openness serves as a reminder that celebrities face the same health uncertainties as everyone else. Her story, like others in recent years, may push more people to schedule screenings they have been putting off.

Hat Tips

Article compiled by Newsroom Staff on February 18, 2026 and was fact-checked by Editorial before publication.





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