Mario Lopez Reacts to Dustin Diamond's Cancer Diagnosis: 'God Bless & Prayers Up'

Mario Lopez Reacts to Dustin Diamond's Cancer Diagnosis: 'God Bless & Prayer's Up'

"Although the news of his diagnosis is heartbreaking, we remain positive that he'll overcome this," Mario Lopez said

Mario Lopez is sending some well wishes to Dustin Diamond following his recent cancer diagnosis.

On Thursday evening, the 47-year-old actor commented on a PEOPLE Instagram post about the news of Diamond's health, before he shared his own message about his former Saved by the Bell costar on his respective Instagram account.

"God Bless & Prayers Up!" Lopez first wrote in the comments section of PEOPLE's Instagram post before he later shared a side by side snap of himself and Diamond, 44, featuring a photo from their television sitcom days beside a more recent shot of the two.

"I connected with Dustin earlier this evening and although the news of his diagnosis is heartbreaking, we remain positive that he'll overcome this," Lopez wrote alongside the post. "Praying for him & his family and for a speedy recovery. God Bless."

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PEOPLE Instagram Mario Lopez

Earlier on Thursday, following news of Diamond's hospitalization on Tuesday, the actor's team confirmed his cancer diagnosis in a statement to PEOPLE.

"We can confirm that Dustin does have cancer. It's very serious, though we are still waiting for more details, which we will have shortly," the actor's rep said, before adding, "He's in a lot of pain."

Diamond's rep also told Entertainment Weekly that the star is "undergoing chemo" for cancer and will remain at the hospital for "at least another week and then we will figure out when he gets to come home."

"By next week, we'll have a much better understanding of the severity of his condition and what treatments he will need so that he's comfortable," the rep added, noting that when he first arrived at the hospital, Diamond was "was fading in and out, feeling sleepy and tired."

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Diamond's team previously announced his diagnosis earlier in the day on Thursday with a statement on his Facebook page.

"At this time we can confirm that Dustin does have cancer," the statement said. "Dustin will disclose more information once it is available and a plan moving forward is made."

"We ask everyone to respect Dustin's privacy during this difficult time," his team added. "All positivity and prayers are appreciated."

On Tuesday, PEOPLE confirmed that the actor had been hospitalized with a then-unknown illness. "Dustin is in the hospital and the medical teams are doing tests to find out more," a rep for Diamond said at the time. "Everyone is hoping for a speedy recovery."

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Diamond is best known for playing the role of Screech in the 1990s teen sitcom, which he starred on for several seasons opposite Lopez.

Though the show has made a comeback with the recent reboot on NBC's Peacock, Diamond was not involved in the new series.

The actor, the only one of the six core cast members to not appear in some capacity in the revival, spoke to TMZ about his absence in February.

"It's something we put so much time and effort into," the actor said at the time. "How do you have Saved by the Bell without Screech? Right? I mean, it seems like there's a missed opportunity there."