- Mac Sinise died on January 5th this year after years of cancer treatment
- He had worked with his father at the Gary Sinise Foundation
- Mac also supported his father in the Lt. Dan Band on drums
Gary Sinise has shared the heartbreaking news that his son Mac Sinise has died aged 33.
The 68-year-old Forrest Gump actor announced Tuesday in a post on the Gary Sinise Foundation website that his son died on Jan. 5 after a years-long battle with the rare spinal cancer chordoma.
Mac had worked with the foundation and the Lt. Dan supported his father's band on drums until repeated spinal surgeries and the progression of his cancer forced him to retire in recent years.
In a lengthy tribute to his son, Sinise recalled the twin tragedies of 2018, when his wife Moria was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer in June before Mac received a chordoma diagnosis in August.
While Moira eventually entered remission after successful surgery to remove lymph nodes, followed by chemotherapy and radiation, her son was less fortunate.
Gary Sinise has shared the heartbreaking news that his son Mac Sinise died on January 5th at the age of 33
Mac Sinise battled rare spinal cancer chordoma in recent years, but continued to work for his father's foundation until a few months before his death
WHAT IS CHORDOMA?
Chordoma is a rare type of cancer of the skull and spinal bones.
It belongs to a family of cancers called sarcomas, which include cancers of the bones, cartilage, muscles, and other connective tissues.
Chordomas generally grow slowly but are relentless and tend to recur after treatment.
Because of their proximity to critical structures such as the spinal cord, brainstem, nerves and arteries, they are difficult to treat and require highly specialized care.
1 in 125,000 people live with chordoma, and it mostly occurs in older people. There are no approved medications for treatment.
Source: Chordoma Foundation