Coping With an Unexpected Diagnosis
- In a teaser for an upcoming episode of “The Kardashians” season five, Kris Jenner revealed she’s coping with a health scare after her doctor told her she had “a cyst and a little tumor.”
- However, Jenner didn’t specify where the growths were found and whether or not they were determined to be cancerous, something a critics has pointed out could be misleading.
- And although hope for nothing but the best when it comes to Kris Jenner’s health, it’s important to understand what tumors and cysts are, and that the discover of one or the other doesn’t necessarily mean cancer.
- A cancer scare, whether it winds up being cancer or not, can be very difficult to manage, and there are coping skills to help navigate through anxiety or depression affecting your daily life activities. Check out SurvivorNet’s mental guide HERE for resources to help between appointments.
The show trailer ultimately teased that Jenner’s doctor discovered “a cyst and a little tumor” and the momager wasn’t shy to express her overwhelming emotions to her loved ones—something that may be a triggering to those battling cancer.
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Jenner is briefly seen sitting in an exam room with her doctor, appearing worried before later revealing to her family, leading to her daughter Kylie to shed some tears.
Helping Patients Cope With a Health Scare or Cancer Diagnosis
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However, the media personality and socialite didn’t say exactly where the growths were found and whether or not they were determined to be cancerous, something critics has pointed out could be misleading.
One critic, who claims to work in the medical field, commented on a video clip of the teaser footage shared on YouTube by Entertainment Tonight, wrote, “I’m surprised why everyone is calling a tumor a cancer…as a medic, is irritating.
“Tumor is any swelling found in or on the body in simple terms…tumor is not equal to cancer….tumor can be benign (which do not need any medical intervention unless the client request for it to be medically treated or surgically be excised) or malignant (cancer: which may need a medical intervention urgently to prevent spreading into other parts).”
“Risk of most tumors increases with age, genetics and what the body had been exposed to over the years … please let’s get some facts right,” the critic concluded.
Another person wrote, “Good grief! Needed to find something to keep show going? Wait until you find out if it’s malignant before you start telling the world.”
“I might be biased [because] I find the Kardashians irritating but Kris has to be milking it hard. Who hasn’t dealt with a cyst?” a third viewer commented.
A fourth person who saw the episode promo added, “If we hear next that she miraculously healed of that tumor then sorry but I would think and believe they are just playing with the people’s sympathies and making so much publicity so they will watch their show.”
“It’s time for them to cancel these shows & take time to heal from mental & physical trauma. Health is no joke,” a fifth viewer stated in the comments section.
Cysts Vs. Tumors
We certainly wish Kris Jenner well, regardless of whether her health discover turns out to be benign or cancerous, however, it’s important to understand what tumors and cysts are, and that the discover of one or the other doesn’t necessarily mean cancer.
As per the National Cancer Institute (NCI), a solid tumor is “an abnormal mass of tissue that usually does not contain cysts or liquid areas.”
The NCI adds, “Solid tumors may be benign (not cancer), or malignant (cancer). Different types of solid tumors are named for the type of cells that form them. Examples of solid tumors are sarcomas, carcinomas, and lymphomas. Leukemias (cancers of the blood) generally do not form solid tumors.”
Meanwhile, a cyst is described by the NCI as “a closed, sac-like pocket of tissue that can form anywhere in the body,” which “may be filled with fluid, air, pus, or other material.”
Additionally, the institute advises that most cysts are not cancerous (benign).
Although tumors have n increased chance of being cancerous, most tumors also end up being benign.
Cancer or Cyst? How to Tell the Difference?
The Mayo Clinic also describes tumors and cysts “two distinct entities.”
Coping With a Cancer Diagnosis or Scare
Anxiety and fear are completely normal emotions to feel if you learn that you learn you have cancer, or are experiencing a health scare, like Kris Jenner. It’s important to understand that acknowledging these emotions can be therapeutic and important to the healing process.
After you’ve learned you have a tumor, cysts, or a disease like cancer, how do you confront your fears without letting them take over entirely? SurvivorNet has some tips to help you cope.
1. Let your family and close friends know and let them help. So many cancer survivors tell us they want and need support but are often too preoccupied to make specific requests. Urge those close to you to jump in with whatever help they can offer.
RELATED: Why Me? Dealing With the Inevitable Questions That Come After a Cancer Diagnosis
2. Keep a journal. It can be extremely cathartic to let those feelings loose on paper. Grab a pen and a nice journal and chronicle your different thoughts throughout the day.
3. Join a cancer support group. There are support groups in nearly every community offering opportunities to connect with others going through a similar journey. You’ll learn incredibly helpful insight from others who can tell you about what to expect and how to stay strong on tough days.
4. Consider seeing a therapist. Ask your doctor to refer you to a therapist so you can discuss your fears and concerns in a safe space. Often, vocalizing your thoughts and feelings rather than internalizing them can provide relief.
Above all, just know that there are countless resources and support here for you whenever you need it.
Handling a Diagnosis
Coping with a diagnosis, whether it turns out to be cancer or just a scare, can be one of the toughest moments a person can experience.
Dr. Shelly Tworoger, a researcher at Moffitt Cancer Center, previously told SurvivorNet that “there’s a number of common things cancer patients can experience, such as anxiety, depression, financial toxicity, social isolation.”
Cancer can weigh heavily emotionally just as much as the disease impacts the body physically. Fortunately, your care team can help you navigate your emotional health by turning you to resources to help you along your cancer journey and beyond.
Managing Mental Health Amid Cancer
Our mental health affects how we think, feel, and behave. Certain triggers like stress, traumatic events, or change in your physical health can affect mental health.
A cancer diagnosis often impacts your mental health so if you find yourself in this situation keeping tabs on your mental health is important.
Psychologist Dr. Samantha Board discusses managing mental health long-term.
“For long-term mental health and living with cancer, flexibility is really at the core of how to manage long-term mental health,” says New York-based psychologist Dr. Samantha Boardman.
Dr. Boardman suggests asking yourself some questions about how you deal with stressful situations to see if they’re working or need adjusting.
“Are your coping strategies in the way that you’re using them now are they as effective as they were in the past? Take a look at your beliefs, do you have any fixed beliefs that are counterproductive that are impeding you from taking positive steps?” Dr. Boardman said.
In order to keep your mental health in check, it’s important to be aware of signs which can be subtle that something is affecting your mind. These signs include:
- A change in eating or sleeping habits
- Losing interest in people or usual activities
- Experiencing little or no energy
- Numb and/or hopeless feelings
- Turning to drink or drugs more than usual
- Non-typical angry, upset, or on-edge feelings
- Yelling/fighting with loved ones
- Experiencing mood swings
- Intrusive thoughts
- Trouble getting through daily tasks
If you find yourself struggling in any of these areas, talk to your doctor or a mental health professional to begin your emotional journey alongside your other cancer treatment.
“Depression and stress make it harder to treat cancer [and] make it harder to tolerate the treatments,” Dr. Scott Irwin, director of supportive care services at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, previously told SurvivorNet.
“There’s data that if you have extra stress or depression that you may not recover or you have a higher risk of recurrence, so in treating the depression, we’re actually impacting the cancer care outcomes,” Dr. Irwin added.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
If you find yourself struggling with a diagnosis or helping a loved one cope with their emotions, consider asking your doctor the following questions:
- How can I go about improving my outlook/mental health?
- Are there any activities I can do to encourage positive feelings?
- When should I seek other interventions if I’m still struggling?
- What are the steps to finding a different therapist if the one I’m using is not working out?
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.