Lauren Tom, the actress who portrayed Ross Geller’s girlfriend Julie in Friends, has revealed that her 25-year-old daughter Ellie is battling osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer.
The 64-year-old star shared the diagnosis on Sunday in an emotional Instagram post featuring a carousel of photographs of her daughter.
“I wanted to share some tough news today,” Ms Tom began.
“This is my beautiful daughter, Ellie. She is currently battling osteosarcoma (bone cancer) and my family and I are doing everything we can to aid in her healing.”
Lauren Tom made her Friends debut in the 1990s
| GETTY
Osteosarcoma typically develops in the arms or legs and is treated with a combination of surgery and chemotherapy, with amputation sometimes necessary in more advanced cases.
Ms Tom did not share specifics about her daughter’s prognosis.
Acknowledging the difficult path that lies ahead, Ms Tom wrote: “We have a long journey ahead of us.
“I am reminded of the Fred Rogers quote, ‘When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping’,” she shared.
Ms Tom also expressed her thanks to those who have supported her family during this period.
“I’d like to thank our friends and family, and the incredible doctors and nurses at Cedars-Sinai for their ongoing boundless support, love, and care,” she wrote.
“It is truly humbling to see how willing people are to reach out and help.”
In her post, Ms Tom paid a heartfelt tribute to her daughter. “Ellie is an amazing, deep, sensitive, wise, strong, brave, intelligent, and funny soul. Beautiful inside and out,” she wrote.
Lauren Tom has gone on to enjoy a career on the big and small screen
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She also appealed directly to followers, asking them to keep Ellie in their prayers for a full recovery and to leave encouraging messages either on her post or on Ellie’s own Instagram page.
Ms Tom was the first to leave a comment on her daughter’s account, writing: “You are strong, brave and will recover from this completely to live a beautiful, meaningful life. You are so loved, Ellie, by everyone who knows you.”
Ms Tom first appeared in Friends during the final episode of series one, when her character Julie stepped off a plane alongside David Schwimmer’s Ross.
Her introduction coincided with Jennifer Aniston’s Rachel gearing up to confess her feelings for Ross.
Lauren Tom as Julie opposite David Schwimmer’s Ross
| NBC
Ms Tom went on to feature in seven episodes across the first two series before Ross and Rachel finally got together.
Beyond the sitcom, Ms Tom starred in the acclaimed 1993 film The Joy Luck Club and has built a wide-ranging career spanning television, film and voice acting, with credits including Grace Under Fire, Men in Trees and Supernatural.
Lauren Tom took to social media to share the news about her daughter
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Since the post went live, fellow actors have rallied around the family. Kurtwood Smith of That ’70s Show wrote: “There is a place for you both in my heart Lauren and Ellie, please stay!”
The Hangover’s Ken Jeong added: “Sending all our love and prayers for Ellie.”
