A Survivor's Experience
- Two-time cancer survivor Roslyn Singleton says she was shamed on an airplane due to a sweatshirt she was wearing containing an expletive towards cancer.
- Coping and expressing emotions after a cancer battle is an extremely important step in reclaiming your future and health.
- Experts tell SurvivorNet that one of the best ways to cope during and after a cancer battle is to make sure you have a strong support system around you.
According to Singleton, she was boarding a flight on American Airlines when an employee of the airline approached her and asked her to cover the sweatshirt she was wearing which read “F**k Cancer.” Singleton initially asked to review the airline’s policy to see if she was actually violating any guidelines, but agreed to cover up her sweatshirt with her jacket. However, she says the sweatshirt represents her feelings towards the disease as a two-time cancer survivor.
Read More“The first thing she said to me — she didn't say hello, she didn't say ma'am, she didn't say anything — she said, 'I was made aware that there was an issue,’" Singleton explained. "I literally just took my jacket off. I ripped the sweatshirt off my body and I just walked away and stood in line and felt humiliated because she literally pointed me out like a child after I complied with what they asked me to do."
Now Singleton is speaking out against the airline. She says that her problem with the experience wasn’t being told to cover her sweatshirt, but the way she was treated. According to American Airlines’ statement about the incident, their airline prohibits offensive language on passengers’ clothing, but they have reached out to Singleton to apologize for their behavior.
Oncology social worker Sarah Kelly explains the connection between mental health and cancer
Coping During & After Cancer
Whether you’re currently battling cancer, or have beaten the disease, coping with your emotions is a critical step in prioritizing your mental health. Once faced with cancer, it’s common for people to experience a range of emotions such as anger, anxiety, or depression. However, it’s important to find a way to cope with those emotions especially since studies have shown patients who are able to stay positive typically see better treatment outcomes.
One of the best resources for those facing cancer is ensuring you have a strong support system surrounding you. A support system can be a great way to have a shoulder to cry on, or simply a person to vent all your frustrations to. However, in order to feel that your support system is truly there for you, it’s important to recognize who your true friends are as opposed to those who may ghost you later. Your support system will never be able to understand what you’re going through, but having people cheer you on can make a world of difference.
Related: Man Walks Out On Wife After Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis; Know Your REAL Support System
“I think the most important advice I would give to someone who has just received a cancer diagnosis is to find people whom they find as a source of support,” Dr. Susan Parsons, director of The Center for Health Solutions at the Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies at Tufts Medical Center, told SurvivorNet in a previous interview. “To allow themselves to go through all of the different emotional reactions to that news. The anger, the frustration, the fear. The disappointment. Whatever those emotions are, figure out what’s important to you and find those people that can help you realize that.”
Dr. Susan Parsons explains why coping with your emotions is so important during a cancer fight
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