Kim's Dad Meant the World to Her
- Kim Kardashian’s childhood nanny says that Kim’s father, Robert, would have approved of her divorcing Kanye West, 43, had he still been alive today.
- Robert Kardashian passed away in 2003 from esophageal cancer, a disease that sometimes doesn’t present until the cancer has advanced and spread.
- Coping with the loss of a parent can be helped with tools like therapy and support groups.
Read More“I know that he would not want her to be unhappy and he would want the best for her happiness and wellbeing, for Kim and her kids.”
Robert Kardashian’s Cancer Battle
Robert Kardashian passed away in 2003, a mere two months after being diagnosed with esophageal cancer. Oftentimes, the symptoms of esophageal cancer don’t present until the cancer is advanced and has spread. This limits treatment options for those like Kardashian, who get a diagnosis of esophageal cancer.
The five-year survival rate for those diagnosed with esophageal cancer is just under 20%. Treatment for this disease includes surgery and chemotherapy. Esophageal cancer has a high rate of recurrence, and treatment developments have been limited over the years.
Coping with Loss of a Loved One to Cancer
Losing a parent or loved one to cancer is gut-wrenching, and leads to a great deal of grief, and the complex emotions that accompany the grieving state.
Related: A Major Step in the Cancer Journey: Learning to Deal With Vulnerability
Following a cancer loss, it’s important to arm yourself with the needed support and tools to help make a difficult process a bit easier. Camila Legaspi was in high school when she lost her mom to breast cancer, and she credits therapy with helping her through that difficult period. In a previous interview, Legaspi said, “Therapy saved my life. I was dealing with some really intense anxiety and depression at that point. It just changed my life, because I was so drained by all the negativity that was going on.”
Related: 'I Wanted to Keep Things with My Kids as Normal as Possible' Lisa Schaible Survivor Story
She credits therapy with helping her keep things in perspective. ” Going to a therapist helped me realize that there was still so much out there for me, that I still had my family, that I still had my siblings,” said Legaspi. “The reality is, is when you lose someone, it’s really, really, really hard. And it’s totally OK to talk to someone. And I’m so happy that I talked to my therapist. Keep your chin up, and it’s going to be OK.”
"Therapy Saved My Life": After Losing A Loved One, Don't Be Afraid To Ask For Help
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