Strength Through Adversity
- “Dance Moms” star Abby Lee Miller, 59, revealed in a recent interview that her “fight” energy in life stems from her beloved dad, who passed away 24 years ago from esophageal cancer, at age 73.
- Miller battled a rare kind of cancer called Burkitt lymphoma in 2018 after experiencing pain in the back of her neck. Burkitt lymphoma, according to the National Cancer Institute, is a type of aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma that often starts in people’s organs. She has been wheelchair-bound since her first spinal cord surgery.
- As for her dad, he fought esophageal cancer, which is a disease that causes cancer cells to form in the tissues of the esophagus, a hollow, muscular tube that food and liquid move through when traveling from the throat to the stomach. The wall of the esophagus is made up of several layers of tissue; cancer begins on the inside lining and spreads to the outer layers of the esophagus as it grows.
- “Esophageal cancer, we know is a tough one,” Dr. Brendon Stiles, a thoracic surgeon at Montefiore Medical Center, previously told SurvivorNet. “It’s one of the cancers with some of the lowest cure rates out there, but like many cancers, if we find it early, we can often treat it effectively, either with surgery, with surgery and chemotherapy, with chemotherapy and radiation.”
- Overcoming adversity can seem daunting but having a plan can make it feel achievable. It’s important to remember know that setting goals and breaking them into smaller steps is key. When going through a difficult time try setting a goal, making a plan, relying on others, and using positive self talk
Speaking to fellow dance enthusiast and famed YouTuber Matt Steffanina in a recent interview, Miller said that her iconic “characteristic and energy” comes from her father, George L. “Salty” Miller, who worked as a dance teacher and studio owner, and died at age 73.
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She told Steffanina, in a video interview shared on YouTube, “My dad told me every day that I was dumb enough to be a twin. Like, I’m so dumb, I’m dumb for two people,” looking back on how her dad would tell her things like, “If I sent you down to the garage to get a hammer, you’d come up with a handful of nails you dummy.”
Miller also recounted her phrases like “ding dong” coming from him as well.
“He was one of six kids. He grew up during the depression, born in 1927. Had to wear cereal box tops in his shoes because the soles would wear out,” she explained.
“They had to ration food stamps for meat. They had to fight at his house for the last pork chop at the dinner table.”
She continued, “And then, when he was a young adult, his buddies and him would go to the bar on a Saturday night … he got into a fight. That was like what you did, it was sport. You came home with a broken nose and a bloody eye. All that stuff you hear about.
“He died of esophageal cancer. Really horrible death. And he fought and did every experimental drug in Pittsburgh, everything that he could do. So, he had to fight his whole life. The fight came from him and the creativity came from my mom.”
In a sweet Father’s Day post from earlier this year, Miller shared a throwback photo of her as a little girl sitting on her father’s lap, writing alongside the sweet memory, “Daddy’s Girl! I had to take my dad off Life Support On Father’s Day, June 2000!
“Not a day goes by that I don’t think of him or speak of him or use one of his one liners!”
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Miller added, “Oh how the trajectory of my life, as well as other’s lives would have been vastly different had you lived a little longer… but you fought the good fight; a human guinea pig, every experimental drug, every form of chemo and radiation available and all the prayers mom could say.
“Miss you every moment!!!”
Abby Lee Miller’s Health Journey
Abby Lee Miller was diagnosed with a rare kind of cancer called Burkitt lymphoma in 2018 after experiencing pain in the back of her neck. Burkitt lymphoma, according to the National Cancer Institute, is a type of aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma that often starts in people’s organs.
What Kind of Lymphoma Do You Have? Why Your Type Matters
Miller has had numerous surgeries and chemotherapy for cancer treatment. She also underwent emergency surgery after shattering her tibia-fibula in a swimming pool and keeps struggling with broken bones after “10 rounds of very invasive chemotherapy” left her bones “very brittle.”
“Sometimes, I feel fabulous, other times I’m in a lot of pain,” she told The U.S. Sun in a 2023 interview. “My back is chronic it hurts constantly where the surgery was.”
In May 2019, it was determined that Miller was cancer-free and she began making good progress in her recovery.
But despite all the hardship, Miller continues working toward her health goals. She; currently in physical and occupational therapy in the hopes of ditching the wheelchair and reverting back to using a walker, which she used prior to her tibia-fibula incident.
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“Even though I’m paraplegic and I’m in the wheelchair, I am not letting it hold me back,” she said.
Life after active treatment for any cancer may look different than it did prior to your diagnosis. In a previous interview with medical oncologist Dr. Michael Jain of the Moffitt Cancer Center, we learned “there are a number of different things that people may experience in the late-term period” after successful treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
“Depending on the age of the patient when they’re diagnosed with their cancer, or the other health issues that are going on, sometimes the functional status, or what people are able to do, is not quite what it was before the cancer,” Dr. Jain explained.
Some survivorship issues can include things like peripheral neuropathy as well as chemo brain or cognitive issues. But, unfortunately, post-treatment concerns don’t stop there.
“One of the things we focus on is trying to prevent secondary cancers,” Dr. Jain said. “Although the chemotherapy often did a very good job in terms of curing the initial cancer, there is sometimes a risk of secondary cancer happening.
“And so patients should be watched for that and also should be aware that other cancers may occur.”
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment and Beyond
That’s why it’s important for cancer survivors to come up with a survivorship plan that includes a schedule for follow-up exams and tests as well as screenings for any new cancers. But, remember, everyone’s case of non-Hodgkin lymphoma is different. There are so many different types of the disease, and one person’s recovery from treatment can look vastly different from another person’s.
“Patients, once they finish their therapy, are often quite well,” Dr. Jain said. “If they have not had too many complications from their therapy, they are often able to go back to many of the same things that they did before they had their diagnosis of cancer and are able to live full and complete lives.”
If you’re struggling with life after cancer treatment, know you’re not alone. Don’t hesitate to talk to doctors, a therapist, family, friends or a support group if you’re struggling with how life has changed since your diagnosis.
Understanding Esophageal Cancer, The Disease Her Late Dad Fought
Esophageal cancer is a disease that causes cancer cells to form in the tissues of the esophagus, a hollow, muscular tube that food and liquid move through when traveling from the throat to the stomach. The wall of the esophagus is made of up several layers of tissue; cancer begins on the inside lining and spreads to the outer layers of the esophagus as it grows.
Expert Resources On Esophageal Cancer
- Esophageal Cancer Surgery: What to Expect
- Esophageal Cancer: Getting Emotional Support
- Esophageal Cancer: Key Terms to Know
- Esophageal Cancer: What to Ask About During Radiation Consultation
- Floss Today to Slash Your Chances of Stomach and Esophageal Cancer Tomorrow
- Immunotherapy For Esophageal Cancer — Has It Worked?
- Radiotherapy Can Be a Great Treatment Option for Esophageal Cancer
- Should I Consider Minimally Invasive Surgery for Esophageal Cancer?
- Nutrition Support for Esophageal Cancer Patients
Several lifestyle factors, like smoking or heavy alcohol use, can increase a person’s risk of developing esophageal cancer. Approximately 22,370 new cases of esophageal cancer are diagnosed in the U.S. every year, according to American Cancer Society estimates, and it is more common among men.
“Esophageal cancer, we know is a tough one,” Dr. Brendon Stiles, a thoracic surgeon at Montefiore Medical Center, previously told SurvivorNet.
“It’s one of the cancers with some of the lowest cure rates out there, but like many cancers, if we find it early, we can often treat it effectively, either with surgery, with surgery and chemotherapy, with chemotherapy and radiation.”
Dr. Sofya Pintova explains how esophageal cancer is diagnosed.
Dr. Stiles recommends that patients report any symptoms that may indicate esophageal cancer to their doctors right away, since there are more treatment options when the cancer is caught early.
The Importance of a Good Support System Amid Esophageal Cancer
Getting the news that you have cancer, especially a disease that is known for being difficult to treat like esophageal cancer, can be a very traumatic experience. When it comes to treating cancer, making sure the patient feels healthy mentally is part of the process as well and that may look different from patient to patient.
Esophageal cancer is more commonly diagnosed in men, who stereotypically have a more difficult time asking for help when they are struggling mentally.
“The esophageal cancer population is a unique population,” Dr. Raja Flores, a thoracic surgeon with Mount Sinai Health System, told SurvivorNet.
“Many of the people who develop esophageal cancer are men who are taking care of their families, who are proud, who are strong, who are self-reliant. So when they get faced with this diagnosis and this real vulnerability, they get depressed in a way that can make them crawl up in bed and not want to get out and that’s when the family comes into play.”
WATCH: Esophageal Cancer: Getting Emotional Support
Dr. Flores stressed the importance of having a good support system in place. Having close friends or family members there to rally for you when you feel the lowest can make a huge difference in how a patient handles treatment.
He also stressed the importance of having a solid doctor-patient relationship. Patients should feel comfortable bringing their concerns about their disease and treatment to their doctors, and that includes struggles they may be going through mentally.
Esophageal Cancer Early Detection and First Steps
“There’s a lot more connected with this disease than just your body getting harmed,” there’s your soul, your emotions. There’s a lot that goes with it,” Dr. Flores said.
“I think it’s very important to understand that about your patients so you can treat them appropriately. Once they know you see them and where they’re coming from, that’s when you get the, ‘Doc, I’ll do whatever you say, whatever you tell me.’ That’s when you can really get them to the best treatment that they need.”
There are also plenty of resources available for people living with cancer who feel like they’re struggling mentally, from traditional therapy to support groups to integrative medicine that may include treatment approaches like acupuncture or meditation. Check out SurvivorNet’s resources on mental health for cancer survivors.
Moving Through Grief & Resilience Through Adversity
Grief is a difficult, truly personal process, something the Braxton family has shown. Some find solace in vulnerability and sharing how they feel with others.
While working through grief and vulnerable tackling of the emotions that accompany it, some find tools like therapy to be helpful. Support groups can also be a benefit for those who are feeling isolated in their feelings of grief, as can turning to faith.
Whichever methods of support you look for after cancer loss, you should know that there is no correct way to grieve. There is no perfect timeline for grieving, either.
Meanwhile, SurvivorNet specializes in covering the lives of people who overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Often, seeing the positive helps them maintain their resilience.
Dr. Zuri Murrell, an oncologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, spoke to SurvivorNet about the role of a positive outlook on survival rates: “I’m pretty good at telling what kind of patient are going to still have this attitude and probably going to live the longest, even with bad, bad disease. And those are patients who, they have gratitude in life.”
Resilience: Staying Positive Despite Adversity
Meanwhile, resilience is an important trait, but not the easiest to build. When building resilience, the ultimate goal is not to avoid tough times, but to be able to bounce back from them. And yet, when they are faced with an overwhelming, life-changing situation, how do people shift their view? How do they learn to see the problem as temporary, rather than permanent, and figure out a solution?
It’s complicated, because building resilience is more about your mental and emotional fortitude than anything else. According to the American Psychological Association, “the resources and skills associated with more positive adaptation (i.e., greater resilience) can be cultivated and practiced.” In other words, resilience is not something you’re born with, which should be encouraging. Instead, after every challenge in your life, you build more and more resilience to those hard times.
Building resilience is down in the same way you build muscle, through patience and steady exercise of the skill.
Some lessons learned from other cancer warriors SurvivorNet has covered include being willing to learn, spending time with people who inspire you, allowing yourself to grieve, being flexible, and leaning in to your community for support.
Dr. Samantha Boardman, a psychiatrist and author, previously told SurvivorNet that one “coping strategy that can be productive is reaching out and talking to others. Having support we know is really critical in the healing process.”
She further explained that “positive emotions have unique benefits above and beyond managing negative emotions.”
Facing Cancer: How to Turn Stress into Strength
If you’ve been through a difficult health challenge or any type of adversity throughout your live, Dr. Boardman told SurvivorNet in an earlier interview that one way to get your mental health back in check after a diagnosis is to try to play up your strengths.
“I sometimes will ask patients, tell me about yourself when you were at your best,” she explained. “Using that story, trying to figure out what strengths come to mind. Is it patience? Is it appreciation of beauty? It is perseverance? [Then we can] use those strengths in constructive ways to navigate their cancer journey.”
Dr. Boardman says another way to approach harnessing the strength you already have is by tapping into your values. This could be family, close friendships, spirituality, or commitment to a healthy lifestyle.
Reminding yourself of what your values are and how you are living accordingly is another way to unleash that inner strength.
Lastly, patients shouldn’t underestimate the value of simply opening up, Dr. Boardman says. This could mean speaking to a close family member or friend, or it could mean seeking support in other ways by finding a therapist that meets your needs or looking into joining a support group.
Contributing: SurvivorNet
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