Eric Dane, who shared his ALS diagnosis in April, has opened up about the first signs he noticed nearly a year and a half ago.

“I initially felt some weakness in my right hand, but I didn’t think much of it at first,” the 52-year-old actor told Diane Sawyer on “Good Morning America”.

He explained he thought it was just fatigue from texting, but over the following weeks, the weakness worsened. He sought help from multiple specialists and neurologists, and after numerous appointments, he received a serious diagnosis.

Since then, his dominant right arm has fully ceased functioning, and he’s noticing deterioration in his left arm as well. Dane fears his legs may be next.

He described a recent experience where he couldn’t swim back to the boat after jumping into the ocean during a trip with his daughter, which left him emotionally overwhelmed.

Despite the progression, Dane remains hopeful, emphasizing he does not see this as “the end” of his journey. According to the ALS Association, ALS is a neurodegenerative disease that destroys nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, ultimately impairing muscle control, speech, and breathing, with no known cure.

He expressed feelings of anger, rooted in losing loved ones early in life and fearing the possibility of leaving his daughters young, as his father died by suicide when Dane was just 7.

As he fights the disease, Dane plans to spend quality time with his family and continue working if possible.