Comforting Words on Cancer
- First Lady Jill Biden, 69, has experienced a huge amount of loss to cancer. She’s lost her step-son, her parents, and her four best friends to the disease, and has shared a promise to keep fighting for the cancer community in a touching Instagram post.
- Jill Biden’s step-son Beau, who died from brain cancer, survived a fatal car crash that took his mother and 1-year-old sister’s lives when he was a toddler.
- If you have cancer in your family, you should consider genetic testing. Read cancer survivor Amy Armstrong’s brave story.
Jill shared a touching message for the entire cancer community on her @FLOTUS Instagram page. “Cancer can be such a lonely, difficult journey for patients, loved ones who care for them, and the providers and researchers who work hard for them, she wrote. “On #WorldCancerDay, I want you to know Joe and I are here for you and will never stop fighting for you.” Joe Biden was just sworn in as 46th President of the United States.
Read MoreCancer is Universal
In her Instagram video, Dr. Biden spoke about the challenge that so many of us unfortunately face. “There is one challenge that unites us all. One thread of pain that runs through every community … and that is cancer.”As a 2019 guest columnist for The Gazette, the New Jersey native wrote about being affected by breast cancer. “I've seen its destruction up close: In one year, four of my friends were diagnosed with breast cancer, and one of those friends didn't survive. Despite the progress we've made on breast and other cancers, ‘malignant’ remains one of the most frightening words in the English language.”
View this post on Instagram
A Tragic Family Past
Jill posted a heartfelt video late last year that showed old footage of her husband with his two young boys, Beau and Hunter. “Joe was a single father when I met him.” Joe Biden’s first wife Neilia had died in a tragic car accident with their 1-year-old daughter Naomi back in 1972. Sons Hunter and Beau, 3 and 4 at the time, survived. Jill and Joe share a daughter together, Ashley, 39. The Bidens have been blessed with seven grand-children, one named Naomi after Joe’s late daughter.
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
Cancer in the Family
If there is cancer in your family, genetic testing can be crucial to stay ahead of the game and help you be more proactive. Amy Louise Armstrong, a breast cancer survivor, was also challenged with stomach cancer, and shared her journey with SurvivorNet.
Armstrong’s family decided to do genetic testing and her mother found out that she had a very rare stomach cancer gene called CDH1. “If you have this gene, not only is it incredibly rare, but you’re also confronted to making a pretty big decision to avoid getting stomach cancer,” she said. “You have to have a prophylactic gastrectomy,” which is removal of the stomach. “When my mom found out that she had the gene, it had a domino effect for, not only her siblings to be tested for the gene, but also her children. And three out of four of us, my siblings, tested positive for the gene.”
Armstrong went on to explain that CDH1 is a dominant gene, which means every single person has a 50-50 shot of having it. “When I found out about having the gene, I was angry, terrified. At 35 years old, I didn’t think that I would have to be confronted with something such as a great decision to get your stomach removed.” Armstrong happily reported that she wound up doing great two years later, and she’s feeling “fabulous” both mentally and physically.
When Cancer Runs in the Family: Survivor Amy Armstrong On The Importance of Genetic Testing
Keeping A Positive Outlook
“Stay positive” is one of the top phrases in the cancer community. TikTok user Nika Stewart, a breast cancer survivor, uses humor in a video compilation to inspire cancer survivors to do just that. From making fun of her bald head, to showing off a room full of fun wigs of every color, she uses her platform to keep her 110,000 followersand fellow survivors inspired.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
