Actress Chrishell Stause has already lost one parent to cancer, and now the star ofSelling Sunset is telling fans that her mother has been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. Like so many families dealing with cancer, due to COVID-19 precautions, Stause cannot visit her mom.
Stause, 38, spoke to US Weekly about her mother’s cancer diagnosis, and how she hasn’t been able to see her due to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s recommendation of social distancing. Stause’s mother was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in February, and in April her father passed away from the same disease. Despite not being able to see each other, Stause said that her and her mother talk on the phone every day and their bond has gotten even stronger through the challenges.
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Treatment For Late Stage Lung Cancer
For patients facing a late stage lung cancer diagnosis, there are still treatment options available. Clinical trials help researchers identify new and potentially more effective cancer therapies and drugs, which can be extremely helpful for individuals with late stage cancers who have not had success with other more conventional therapies.
Additionally, immunotherapy has proven to be a very successful treatment option for people battling late stage lung cancer. Immunotherapy harnesses the power of a person's own immune system to recognize and kill cancer cells, and the new class of immunotherapy drugs, also known as checkpoint inhibitors, have had encouraging survival rates when used by lung cancer patients.
Related: Lung Cancer Drug Tabrecta Approved By The FDA New Hope For People With a Specific Biomarker
“Immunotherapy is here to stay,” says Dr. Brendon Stiles, a thoracic surgeon at Weill Cornell Medical Center. “It’s really changed the face of lung cancer, just like targeted therapies. It’s amazing to me now that you can have Stage IV lung cancer and actually not even need chemotherapy.”
Dr. Brendon Stiles explains how immunotherapy has revolutionized treatment for lung cancer
The Importance Of Support While Battling Stage 4 Lung Cancer
Battling late stage lung cancer can be a difficult process for many patients, but SurvivorNet has talked to survivors in order to share some hope and positivity. Millie Torchia battled stage 4 lung cancer while raising three young daughters, and even though she initially didn’t want to share her diagnosis with her children, she found strength in their support.
Related: An 89-Year-Old Survivor On Why Lung Cancer Doesn't Have to Bring You Down
“I feel so relieved sharing,” Torchia told SurvivorNet. “I felt more comfortable because sometimes I would just sit at home and, you know, cry for no reason, but they will come and comfort me. You know, they would come and give me a hug. So I tried to focus, and I get my strength from looking at my girls, and I never hid anything from them, and I told them. They know about my diagnosis, and what it can lead to. I really felt relief when I told them.”
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