Resilience and Reclaiming Life After Cancer
- As a caution to readers, claims about environmental causes for cancer are very hard to verify and this story is no way intended to cause more anxiety about potential cancer causing hazards in the home
- Famed Irish dancer Michael Flatley, who recently beat an undisclosed type of “aggressive” cancer, says he and his family have been living in hotels after some health concerns at their home, Castlehyde, an estate in Cork County, Ireland.
- Despite the setbacks, the legendary performer is staying the course and continuing his passions, which include a continuation of his world-renowned Lord of the Dance tour, which kicks off in July.
- During and after cancer, many find it helpful to have ongoing projects or things to look forward to that are separate from their cancer or other life challenges. Studies show that creative activity can reduce stress and have an overall positive effect on your mental health, especially through difficult times.
In 2016, a fire had broken out at the 18th-century property, and Flatley says they suffered health issues after roughly $30 million in renovations. Last October, Flatley said they were advised to leave the home after experts found unsafe levels of chloride residue and it would cost around the same amount of money to solve the issue.
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Not only is the Chicago-born star continuing to tour, with Lord of the Dance: A Lifetime of Standing Ovations kicking off in July, but he also just completed Dancelord, a six-part docuseries about his life, not to mention finally launching his Flatley Irish Whiskey label last month.
Pushing Forward
“It isn’t how many times you go down, it’s how many you get back up,” he shared. “After the cancer diagnosis, I made a promise to myself: I didn’t want to be lying on my deathbed thinking, ‘I wish I’d tried that or I wish I’d just gone for it.’ ”
“You never regret the things you did, you regret the things you didn’t do.”
With his first touring show, Riverdance, which began in 1994, Flatley was later fired over a contract dispute and was ashamed to face his father, who, along with Flatley’s mother had enrolled their son in Irish dance lessons at age 11. By age 17, he had won the World Irish Dance title. Instead of being disappointed, Flatley’s father simply urged him to just recreate it, thus Lord of the Dance was born.
“God gave me this little bit of talent to share with the world. He challenged me by knocking me off my high horse when I got fired from Riverdance and gave me the chance to come back and do it all again,” Flatley said.
“My reward was my beautiful wife and son. Who could have imagined an Irish jig would outsell the biggest rock bands in the world? I’m proud of that and all the dancers who give everything to help me achieve my dream.”
Michael Flatley’s History of Cancer
Michael Flatley announced his cancer diagnosis via his Lord of the Dance page on X (formerly Twitter), in January 2023.
“Dear friends, we have something personal to share, Michael Flatley has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer,” the post read. “He has undergone surgery and is in the care of an excellent team of doctors.”
RELATED: Legendary Lord of The Dance, Michael Flatley, Wants an Entire County Renamed For Cancer Survivors
“No further comments will be made at this time. We ask only for your prayers and well wishes. Thank you,” the post concluded with a prayer hands emoji and signed, “Teamlord.”
— Lord of the Dance (@lordofthedance) January 11, 2023
The two-time survivor was also previously diagnosed with melanoma, the most aggressive type of skin cancer, in 2003, when an MTV viewer in America noticed a brown spot on his face during one of Flatley’s interviews, and promptly alerted the entertainer’s personal assistant. Luckily catching it just in time, Flatley immediately went into see a doctor and took care of it.
During Difficult Times, Do What Brings You Joy
During and after cancer, many find it helpful to have ongoing projects or things to look forward to that are separate from their cancer or other life challenges.
Whether it’s releasing new music, participating in a book club or practicing your photography skills — or continuing a world-famous Irish dancing tour — there are no right or wrong answers.
What Still Brings You Joy? Your Emotional Health is So Important Through Cancer
Studies prove that patients who are able to maintain a positive outlook often have better treatment outcomes. Experts such as Dr. Dana Chase, a gynecologic oncologist at Arizona Oncology, recommend doing whatever makes you happy.
“We know from good studies that emotional health is associated with survival, meaning better quality of life is associated with better outcomes,” Chase told SurvivorNet in a previous interview.
“So working on your emotional health, your physical well-being, your social environment [and] your emotional well-being are important and can impact your survival. If that’s related to what activities you do that bring you joy, then you should try to do more of those activities.”
Art Through Cancer
Whenever and however you turn to art, its healing benefits in terms of mental health are well-documented and substantiated.
In fact, Very Well Mind reports that a 2016 study published in the Journal of the American Art Therapy Association says that less than an hour of creative activity can reduce stress and have a positive effect on your mental health. And that’s true regardless of artistic experience or talent, the author notes.
Meanwhile, Marianne Cuozzo, a three-time cancer survivor, can also attest to the power of art.
Despite the fact that cancer has essentially been her whole life, Cuozzo has recognized herself as a lot more than a diagnosis by focusing on her life as a mother and an artist.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
