General Hospital
WATCH: GH's Finola Hughes Go Behind The Scenes And Learn About Polycythemia Vera Blood Cancer
Courtesy/ABC
Viewers of ABC General Hospital recently learned that super spy/super agent/super person, Anna Devane may be facing her biggest enemy yet, when she was diagnosed polycythemia vera (PV), a rare blood cancer.
Daytime Emmy winner, Finola Hughes (Anna) is taking on the challenges of incorporating how Anna’s new health condition will impact her life, her future and her career.
Hughes has partnered with Incycte and Voice of MPN to raise awareness and understanding of both PV and myeloproliferative neoplasms. Doing her research ahead of her character’s life changer, finola met with Linda, a woman living with polycythemia vera to better understand the disease.
Now go behind the scenes as Finola preps for her role as someone living with PV after the jump. Then let us know what you think of GH shedding light on this medical issue in the comment section below!
Finola Hughes is one is my main reason for staying with GH thru thick and thin !
She is always a wonder to watch.
100% agree with you! She’s magnificent!
I second this!
I so enjoy Finola Hughes as Anna…I agree, she is a magnificent actress…
Soaps and their in house diagnosis is upsetting and creating Hypochondriac’s! aha!
Hypercondriac is a condition that affects the mind where a person thinks they are ill yet in real sense they are not. ((0oh oh I think I have that, I’m tired and terrible headache too!))
Medical anything does Not belong in soaps..
It is not helpful and written for soap drama.
Anna has become a basket case in many directions and has become FF, for me.
And, that is a shame I use to see her as a strong confident woman, no longer do I 🙁
Valentin has near destroyed her and he hasn’t done anything to her LOL .. crazy stuff..
“Medical anything does not belong in soaps.”
You do realize the show is called General Hospital, right?
Maybe the mob can blowup GH, LOL!
He seems to need to be reminded of that!
I could see Anna having migraines when her repressed memories became part of the Valantin back story. But this new illness? I don’t mean to trivialize it, but I had never heard of it compared to Jess’s heart attack and the “educational” info that went with it. Also, usually am not a fan of Kimberly/Robin dropping in and out of Port Charles. But have to admit in this case she is at the right place at the right time, even though I wish it wasn’t for this particular reason.
Am frustrated by Sam, who I mostly happen to like. For someone who was lucky to have Danny, she should be way more careful about her sleuthing activities this close to due date of her and Jason’s. baby.
A couples things in response to Rose’s post: Headaches are a symptom of polycythemia vera. The writer’s weren’t switching illinesses; they were leading up to it. I think it’s great when soaps try to educate the public about illness, addiction (as we are now seeing with Finn). AMC and other soaps did this. As someone else pointed out, the root of GH is GH, so hitting on health issues makes alot of sense to me. Helps get the focus back to a part of reality that doesn’t include gunfire.
Soaps are fiction and are about drama. Many soap plots are about risk and unexpected dangers. Sam is Julian’s and Alexis’ daughter, her sleuthing here isn’t about P.I. business income, it’s very personal.
Another post referred to Anna as a “basket case”. Try a little empathy in understanding a character’s experience: Anna was told she ordered a hit on Valentin. She has no memory of it whatsoever. If that were you, wouldn’t you be trying to get to the bottom of it? I can easily understand that it would be mind-boggling and shocking. It’s not something a normal person can just walk away from…
Hi Max…I sorry my comment presented a problem for you. It was not my intention to minimize any illness. But I guess when any soap does a psa/informative health story I’m used to something more “common,” for want of a better word, or topical…like Jess’s heart attack on Y&R,,or even Morgan/Sonny’s bi-polar. I had never heard of Anna’s Illness before. And while GH is at the hub of health issues, sometimes lately I wish they could focus more on other Port Charles stories.
As for Anna wanting to find out what’s been “haunting” her, of course I don’t blame her for taking all steps necessary. That’s why she has been going through the hypnosis/regression with the psychiatrist. Just wish they hadn’t turned it into a life threatening illness.
And “yes” Sam’s sleuthing is personal, but it can wait. She isn’t showing common sense right now because she is so close to her due date, and had problems birthing Danny. Frustrating to watch. And I really dislike when any soap has to include the life of a child as part of the “drama.”
u can be physically strong, intellectually sound, and emotionally vulnerable all at once. Anna has never just been a one note character
This must be the most tone deaf post that I’ve ever seen on this site…your ignorance is really quite astonishing.
Finola Hughes is brilliant. Bravo to her and GH for using the show as a platform for educating the public about this terrible disease. I think the show should do more of this very thing. 2 thumbs up, General Hospital!
dear JasonLovesGH.
Not one word was said about the great Finola Hughes ..
It was about the character Anna ..
you continue to make no sense, what are you on? hey i know you love Ron Carlivati work,so i take it you will soon be watching dool, or probably already do, so can you get to it,and finally say goodbye to watching GH, since you seem to hate everything about it so much..
Was I the only one in utter hysterics when Robin babbled on and on the police man who was guarding Anna? Don’t get my wrong, I adore Robin, but she used very scientific medically terminology which only another doctor would understand. She sounded like one of those voice overs on those commercials warning viewers of the side effects of a certain medication. That poor cop looked like he wanted to hail a cab.
Yes, Addy…it was beyond amusing and annoying. It was the same when they mentioned Shriner’s Hospital for Children every other sentence. “Excuse me, I need to use the ladies room and Shriner’s Hospital for Children is where children…”
Of course both are worthy of mention and commendable that they’re being incorporated into a story. But!!! Be subtle…get the word out…without breaking the fourth, fifth and hundreth wall!
Good-looking cop, though!
su0000 – this is called General Hospital. You do know that a hospital is where they discuss medical conditions.
In my experience. though, info about patients is confidential except to attending doctors, nurses and family only…not the beat cop, and certainly in not such detail.
Su…you don’t seem to want emotions on a soap…only adventure. Soaps are supposed to portray life…the human condition in all its twists and turns. Soaps are DRAMA. Yes, at times quirky, funny, mostly-over-the-top..but the common denominator is that they’re about PEOPLE. And people are multi-dimensional. And people…even the strongest…fall. Illness, loss, death, anxiety, depression, addiction…all human…all make up the fabric of our stories…both in fiction and reality.
Anna Devane is the same as she ever was. She’s beautiful, tough, smart, sharp, a fighter. And, now, she gets to use all those attributes in her fight against her disease. This doesn’t lessen the character…only adds another dimension as it did when Robin…also brilliant, strong, driven…was diagnosed with HIV. Or, when Alexis has lung cancer. (which in reality not many survive.) Point is, these characters continue on and forge ahead.
I don’t know where you got the idea that soaps were humorous, action-packed thrillers. They never were. Those aspects were part of the bigger story, not THE story.
Even the mighty fall…Anna will rise again.
A day with Anna Laura and Tracy on our screens is a day in heaven!
hi rebecca1 ,,
soaps have always had emotional stories, I’m more than fine with it.
However I am not fine with how Lame and Sucky the emotional side has become. There really needs to be a lot of improvement, the writing has become weak and lazy and at times disconnected.
I do like the adventure side, the suspense and intruge of soaps are noted as a cornerstone, the on the edge spellbinders that writers can no longer produce as once they were capable of doing.
However I am not fine with how overly lackluster dull the writing has become..
I do like humor is a soap. It is a great balance to level the doom & gloom, it is needed. (not one laugh or chuckle since J&S)
I am a firm believer that medical whatever’s as a PSA do not belong in poorly written stories, not good, nope ..
I’m with you– Anna will rise again (hopefully J&S can accomplish bringing Anna back, I miss her)
Hi Su…thanks for your response. I understand what you’re saying. To be honest, I don’t like watching shows (or films) on ANY disease because it just effects me too much. I need escape…not to be brought down.
With that said, as long as the story doesn’t depress me…as long as I know the character I care for is going to “win” in the end it’s not as much a negative. And I DO expect Anna to come through this…or find out someone’s messing with her and it just appears that she has the condition. (though not sure that would sit well from a moral standpoint…) or…she’ll just go about her life normally at some point and we’ll forget she has it…like we do with Maxie, Alexis, Robin…all who have conditions but it falls to the background. Plus, I do think this story provides an opportunity to open up a lot more stories. I don’t think it’s just about Anna’s new condition.
I disagree with you though. (what a surprise! 🙂 ) I actually think the writing has been good, the stories have been holding my interest and I like that they’ve been incorporating more vets. And I say this in a “as far as daytime soaps” go. I also think there HAS been some humor…Ned, Olivia Falconeri, Franco, Tracy, Scott…even Ava.
I only recently started watching B&B. I find that show to be funny! I know longtime viewers of that show seem a bit fed up with it but I enjoy it. I like the characters…and I think it’s entertaining.
Now…where’s Poldark, Outlanders, How To Get Away With Murder, Scandal, Ray Donovan, The Affair, The Young Pope, etc. etc. There is some great programming out there…
Rebecca1..
You have a good list. I watch those. also;
”Outlanders, How To Get Away With Murder, Scandal, Ray Donovan, The Affair, The Young Pope, etc. etc. There is some great programming out there…”
—
I’ll add–
24 Legacy, Suits, the Blacklist, Designated Survivor, Empire, Big Bang, This is Us, Gotham, Lucifer, Mr Robot, Game of Thrones, Westworld, and of course The Walking Dead ….
and now The Good Fight.. I miss Seinfeld ..
)ooh Netflix- Orange/Black, Narcos, Marco Polo..
And as all our above is what people of all ages watch. The Primetime Series.
And that is why imo the soaps need to step up their game they’re stuck in the 80’s .
Rebecca and Su…mostly like your tv list. I would also add The Catch…clever and good cast. Love Lucifer.
Beginning to think Big Bang has had it’s funnier days. Did see one today I had not seen before with Sheldon’s MeMaw (sp?) making an appearance.
Have liked Blacklist, but like a lot of series (including Arrow), after a few years, they seem to start to lose their mojo. Hope Suits isn’t going this way. And I usually don’t like series extentions like what they are now promoting for Tom/ Blaclklist.
Also am an NCIS fan, mostly when Ziva was on.
And almost anything PBS/Mystery/Masterpiece….currently, The Paradise. Liked Mr. Selfrige…my son was just in London and Berlin on business. He went into Selfridges (with pictures) and said it was elegant and amazing.
Looking forward to new season of Better Call Saul.
Suoo, I thought your favorite shows were reruns of Murder She Wrote, Golden Girls and Matlock.
Addison…you are going to love this. A great fan of the a Golden Girls has opened a restaurant in their name fill with their memorabilia, menus reflecting what the ate, and TV’s playing reruns. Definitely for a special fan, but sounds like fun.
hey Rose ,,
CC and I are luvin Lucifer Morningstar, too !! (I want that umm man lol)
Anyways;
Valentin Cassadine (James Patrick Stuart ) would have been a great soap Mr. Morningstar!!!
WHOA I have loved that!!
and- Addison and Rose.. I watch the Golden Girls on the MeTV channel, really I like them! and- All In The Family, too ..
The reason for Robins running of the mouth to the officer was o Olivia Jerome could here it! Jelly writing at its worst
Hey Rose, Su, Addy…
I love all those shows…LOL…Golden Girls is actually quite funny, too!
I’d add The Vampire Diaries, The Originals, Younger and The Flash to the list. All fantastic.
Ah from y&r we get it you think pencil thin is cool! NOT
As a side note, I think “GH” has been really good for the past two weeks. About time!
Kevin, I wish I could agree. What they’re doing right is tending to Alexis’s alcoholism and Anna’s health issues. For me, these two are the reigning stars of GH–GH’s MVPs for sure. I would put Genie Francis as laura in there except she is not given enough scenes. Genie is an underused resource. I also love the erupting bromance which seems to be transpiring between Jason and Curtis. More please! These two have a great comical chemistry. I also think the characterization of Valentin has been skillfully developed and well written.
Okay, that said, here is what is not working for me: 1. The redundancy of Sonny and Carly. I understand that these two will be renewing their vows and Jimmy crack corn and I don’t care. Sonny and Carly are fast forward material but the EP and head writers do not seem to understand this. 2. Speaking of redundancy, can they please find a decent story line for Michael Eastman which does not involve him writhing around on the floor with a needle in his hand as Roxy the bearded lizard sadly looks on? I cannot believe that I am fast forwarding through this man’s scenes. Hayden is not helping matters either. Frankly, I like Roxy better. 3. Lizzy and Franco finally get together and then they disappear from the canvas. The writers do not seem to know what to do with these two which doesn’t involve Franco trying to redeem himself. 4. Why is Sam so stupid? Why would she get into a car with a strange woman? She told her mother that her AA sponsor made her nervous and so we are to believe this private investigator ignored her instincts and hopped into the car with this odd woman? I realize Sam lying in the ravine next to bridge was supposed to be a cliff hanger, but it left me feeling just bored. 4. I do not understand why Ava Jerome is so set on obtaining GH. I am not understanding the connection and frankly, I don’t care.
Clearly, I can’t count. Of course 5 should come after 4!
And why is 6 afraid of 7? Cause 7 ate 9!!
Harry, we agree!
Finola can handle this and seems to be doing her homework to get this serious and rare illness the attention it needs. Linda, the lady in the videos is very sweet. They should give her a walk on!
General Hospital
Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)
It was just over 13 years ago on General Hospital when Ava Jerome (Maura West) shot and killed Kate Howard/Connie Falconeri (Kelly Sullivan) in an effort to keep her quiet from revealing that Derek Wells was actually Ava’s back-from-the-dead brother, Julian Jerome (William deVry). It’s a crime that somehow Ava never has quite paid for either.
The episode back aired on August 13, 2013 and viewers had to say goodbye to Kelly Sullivan who played Kate and her alter, Connie. In the story, just before she died, Kate/Connie scrawled the letters AJ in her own blood, initially making the PCPD and Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) think that it was AJ Quatermaine (Sean Kanan) who did the deed.
Now, Sullivan recalled sharing scenes with the three-time Daytime Emmy-winning West, during a live conversation on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel. Kelly was the special guest talking about her recent return to the soaps in her new role as The Bold and the Beautiful’s Darcy Dylan.
Photo: JPI
FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF MAURA WEST
Speaking of her final GH scenes and working with Maura West, Sullivan gave her then GH co-star major props. “If you’re going to be shot by somebody (on the soaps), you want to be shot by Maura West, c’mon!”
Maura West debuted back in May 2013 as Ava, and Sullivan remembered when the As the World Turns favorite began on GH. “I remember when Maura West first arrived at GH. She walked in with this cute little bob (hairdo) and she’s just delicious,” shared Sullivan.
A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE
Kelly revealed more about Maura, adding “I think she’s amazing! I remember right before I left the show, someone suggested, and I would still love to do this with her, if she ever want to, but someone suggested that they wanted to direct the stage play A Streetcar Named Desire with Maura and I, where I would play Stella and she would play Blanche! Wouldn’t that be great?”
Speaking of the Ava/Connie showdown scenes, Sullivan expressed, “On television and on General Hospital specifically, Maura West is able to play a character who does the most horrendous things and you still care about her and that’s the mark of a really great actor. In other words, you’re able to be liked in the midst of the most horrendous things, and as a performer not shying away from that, and to just have the courage to do what’s on the page (in the script).”
Photo: JPI
KELLY SULLIVAN PARTING THOUGHTS AS SHE LEFT GENERAL HOSPITAL
Kelly also shared her sentiments when she walked off the set of General Hospital after her run back in August of 2013. “I really was honored. Every day I would go to work and I would say a little prayer, which is I want to do justice for my character, explained Kelly. “It’s between me and my character. I get to walk this path with her and to leave the show on that note, which is, I left every out there. I just gave it my all and again what an honor it was to play Kate/Connie.”
You can catch the full conversation with Kelly where she talks about her time on General Hospital, The Young and the Restless where she played Sage Warner and now The Bold and the Beautiful below.
So, do you remember the Ava and Connie scenes where Ava shot and killed her? What did you think of Kelly Sullivan’s sentiments about Maura West? Share your thoughts via the comment section. But first, watch the reveal where Ava recalls murdering Connie below!
The question of will Steve Burton (Jason Morgan) stay awhile at General Hospital after his recent extended hiatus from the show earlier this year, has reportedly been answered.
TMZ via court documents obtained in Burton’s ongoing legal battle with his ex-wife Sheree Gustin, shared that Steve actually inked a new three year deal with the ABC soap opera back in June.
That is significant because it was June when Burton returned back to work as Jason. In addition, the court filing confirmed that Burton had already moved back to California from Tennessee.
Photo: ABC
STEVE’S HIATUS AND HIS RETURN TO PORT CHARLES
GH fans will recall, it was back in February of 2026, that Burton announced via his Instagram that he was stepping away from his role of Jason Morgan for short break and pointed to wanting to spend quality time with his new wife, Michelle Lundstrom Burton with whom he tied the knot back on May 17, 2025.
Steve expressed at that time, “I’m newly married and looking forward to spending some quality time with my family.” It was back on March 25 that viewers saw Jason carted away by the WSB after taking the fall for Rocco Falconeri (Finn Carr) who shot then WSB Director Ross Cullum (Andrew Hawkes).
Burton returned to work on June 1, and due to General Hospital taping roughly six weeks ahead of air, made his on-screen comeback on the July 13 episode.
GOING FOR GOLD AT THE UPCOMING DAYTIME EMMYS
Then, Steve and his enduring fans got an extra special treat on the same day, when it was revealed on Extra that he was nominated for the upcoming 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Daytime Drama Series category.
Steve previously won in the Supporting Actor category for his work as General Hospital’s Jason in 1998 and as The Young and the Restless’ Dylan McAvoy in 2018.
Now with Jason and Britt’s (Kelly Thiebaud) relationship seemingly hitting the skids, plus Jason’s commitment to staying out of mob life to focus on being present for his son Danny Morgan (Asher Antonyzyn), what does the future hold for the fan favorite character? Stay tuned.
So, happy to hear that Steve Burton signed a new three year deal with General Hospital? Knowing that, what storyline would you like to see Jason get involved and with who? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section.
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason and Britt Reach an Impasse; Is This the End of Their Relationship?
On the Friday, September 11 episode of General Hospital, Jason (Steve Burton) and Britt’s (Kelly Thiebaud) relationship becomes strained to potentially the point of no return.
Things take a turn when an unglued Britt having been traumatized by almost being killed by Anna Devane (Finola Hughes) asks Jason to back her up with the PCPD when she reports Anna for attempted murder.
However, Jason told Britt, he can’t. Jason shares that he does not believe Anna would have gone through with shooting her. Therefore, Britt was not in any real imminent danger. Britt is flabbergasted and hurt that Jason is refusing to tell the police what he actually witnessed for himself on Mount Emerson.
Courtesy/ABC
BRITT WANTS BACK UP FROM JASON
Jason counters that he can’t believe that Britt would want Anna punished. or sent to prison, or a mental facility after the trauma she endured while being locked up and mentally tortured while at Wyndemere.
He asks Britt, “How could you even say that you want her locked up or prosecuted for what she did when you knew she was being held prisoner and you did nothing to save her?” Britt is stunned by Jason’s response.
Coming up, official General Hospital spoilers share that on the upcoming Monday, September 14 episode, Jason confides in Carly (Laura Wright), while Britt is stung. In the video preview that aired at the end of the Friday, September 11 episode for this coming Monday, Britt says to Jason, “You don’t believe me. Do you?”
General Hospital head scribes, Chris Van Etten and Elizabeth Korte previously teased in their fall preview of the soap, “Britt and Jason have come a long way and fought a lot of enemies to be together. But the most stubborn obstacle to their happiness isn’t without, it’s within. Decisions Britt made to stay alive while under Cullum’s thumb will come back to haunt her and may prove too difficult for this unlikely couple to survive.”
So, what do you think will happen? Will Jason and Britt break-up over Britt’s lies and Jason’s unwillingness to report Anna’s crime against her? Do you want Jason and Britt to go their separate ways? If they do, will Britt become romantically involved with Dr. Tristan Roberts (Dean Geyer) ? If so, who do you pair Jason with? Anyone? Weigh-in via the comment section.
Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)
Steve Burton Reportedly Signs Three-Year Contract with ‘General Hospital’
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Steffy Tells Carter She’s Pregnant, But He Has a Way ‘Out of This Situation For All of Us’
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason and Britt Reach an Impasse; Is This the End of Their Relationship?
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Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)
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