Finding the Holiday Spirit After Cancer
- As Kate Middleton, 42, slowly steps back into the spotlight after taking time out of the public eye for her health, fans are taking notice and, naturally, using the princess’ fashion choices as inspiration for their holiday wear.
- Middleton, a long-time fashion icon, was diagnosed with cancer after undergoing abdominal surgery earlier this year.
- The mother of three received chemotherapy for treatment and many are curious how the princess, who normally spends so much time in the public eye, would cope with a common chemotherapy symptom — hair loss.
- Fortunately, in the ever-evolving world of cancer therapies, there are steps patients can take to avoid hair loss or seriously reduce it.
- When announcing she had finished chemotherapy earlier this year, Middleton said, “my path to healing and full recovery is long, and I must continue to take each day as it comes.”
As Middleton slowly steps back into the spotlight after taking time out of the public eye for her health, fans are taking notice and, naturally, using the princess’ fashion choices as inspiration for their holiday wear. In fact, Yahoo! recently published an article where fans can find a nearly identical version of a stunning holiday sweater the princess recently wore on Amazon (for a much cheaper ticket price, of course).
Middleton’s Shocking Cancer Diagnosis
Read More“For cancer patients, losing one’s hair can be unbelievably stressful. To start with, the dread of losing one’s hair can lead to some sleepless nights and feelings of anxiety,” psychiatrist Dr. Samantha Boardman tells SurvivorNet.
Middleton completed chemo this past September and resumed her royal duties.
Living With Cancer: Coping With Hair Loss & the Anxiety it Brings
Middleton hasn’t specified the exact type of cancer she was diagnosed with.
“Doing what I can to stay cancer-free is now the focus. Although I have finished chemotherapy, my path to healing and full recovery is long, and I must continue to take each day as it comes,” Middleton wrote in an Instagram post earlier this year.
RELATED: 7 Helpful Tips to Help Your Loved One Battling Cancer During the Holidays
Helping You Cope During the Holidays
Licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Marianna Strongin ,the founder of Strong In Therapy Psychology, shared some helpful tips for optimistic patients about the holiday season.
As a cancer patient, how do you navigate when your loved one wants to talk about your cancer? For loved ones, how do you know when the person with cancer wants to discuss their diagnosis or not?
“When talking to loved ones about your preferences and discussing your cancer journey during the holidays, it’s important that you be your authentic self,” Dr. Strongin said.
“So, rather than telling people exactly what you want, it’s important to share why you want that,” Strongin added.
“When we are our most authentic selves and disclose our true feelings, the people around us feel us. So, if you aren’t feeling comfortable talking about your cancer and you don’t want it to be a part of the holiday season, tell them why that is. Tell them why talking about it would be so distressing for you.”
Everyone deals with their diagnosis differently. Some people want to discuss it, while others don’t, and the decision should be respected.
As noted earlier, Middleton is trying to be more optimistic this holiday season. However, keeping a positive mind may not come easily for patients still getting used to their diagnosis.
“For patients going through a difficult moment, it becomes a real lens into what’s happening for them because they can remember the holidays the year before or even the year before,” Dr. Strongin said.
“It becomes a sense of reality when they know that this is going to be the year that’s marked by this (a cancer battle or diagnosis),” Strongin continued.
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