Every Grey’s Anatomy fan has a storyline that hits them right in the feels, and for many, it was when Izzie Stevens, the ever-sunny blonde played by Katherine Heigl, was hit with a cancer diagnosis. Izzie, one of the original five surgical interns, was beloved for her bubbly personality and her complicated relationship with Alex Karev. But over time, life at Grey Sloan Memorial took a toll on the original group. One left the country, one tragically passed away, two stayed on, and then there was Izzie. She was fired from the hospital and left abruptly, leaving Alex behind. It was a shock to the system for fans who had grown so attached to her journey.
Amelia Shepherd's Brain Tumor Brings Back Memories of Izzie's Battle
Fast forward to last week, and viewers were hit with another gut punch. In the Season 14 premiere, we learned that Amelia Shepherd, Meredith Grey’s sister, has a brain tumor. Now, if that storyline feels eerily familiar, you're not alone. That's because Izzie almost lost her life to brain cancer during her time on the show. The parallels between these two storylines are hard to ignore, even if the circumstances are different.
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Similar Symptoms, Different Diagnoses
Now, here’s the twist that’s making fans sit up and take notice. Although it was revealed in the third episode that Amelia’s tumor is benign and not cancerous, the similarities between her and Izzie's experiences are undeniable. Amelia’s cognitive functions, including decision-making, planning, and impulse control, have been affected by the tumor. Izzie, too, faced mental challenges due to her cancer, which eventually spread to her brain. She experienced hallucinations for several episodes before realizing what was happening to her. Her world was turned upside down, just as Amelia's is now.
Izzie eventually started treatment and underwent surgeries to fight the cancer. Along the way, she tied the knot with Alex, beat the disease, and became cancer-free. But then, in a shocking twist, she decided to leave the show. Her character was fired from the hospital, and as the Grey's Anatomy cast revealed, Katherine Heigl's departure wasn't exactly amicable.
Ellen Pompeo, who plays Meredith Grey, opened up about Katherine’s exit. "When Katie left, it was tough. You could understand why she wanted to go — when you’re offered $12 million a movie and you’re only 26," Ellen explained. "But Katie’s problem is that she should not have renewed her contract. She re-upped, took a big raise, and then tried to get off the show. And then her movie career didn’t take off." Oof, that’s a burn. It seems unlikely we’ll see Izzie return anytime soon, but hey, we’re keeping our fingers crossed for Amelia.
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