Although I do not follow Hank Green on his YouTube channel (my son does, obsessively), I have read his novels (they’re very good) and I do listen to his podcast with brother John Green, Dear Hank and John. Hearing Hank Green, who is only 43, announce that he has cancer was a stomach punch.

The good news is: Because of his health history, he was at risk for Hodgkin’s lymphoma, so he anticipated that it would be a possibility. The prognosis is also good. No one wants to get cancer. Ever. But Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a type of blood cancer, is one of the more treatable cancers. In fact, I followed someone diagnosed with it around the same time that my son was diagnosed with leukemia (also a blood cancer), and she is doing very well today.

It does not make it any less scary for Hank Green.

Green will be taking a break from his regularly scheduled content-creation for the time being as he undergoes chemotherapy. He will, however, be writing about his cancer journey in a newsletter. He’s also looking for movie and television recommendations that will not make him cry. My advice: It’s a very good time to cry. It helps bleed out some of the anxiety. Also, Shrinking, the first two seasons of Ted Lasso, Trying, Mrs. Davis and Friday Night Lights. Feel-good shows are the best, even if they do elicit tears. Or rather, because they do.