How Loved Ones Can Fuel Your Cancer Journey
- Country music singer Toby Keith's daughter Krystal Keith, 37, shares what it's like growing up with a famous father. She said he was often present and stressed education even ahead of her own music ambitions early on.
- Keith, 61, was diagnosed with stomach cancer in the fall of 2021. He said he underwent six months of chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery to help treat his cancer. He recently revealed he’s feeling pretty good and nearing the end of cancer treatments.
- Stomach cancer or gastric cancer happens when cancer cells begin in the inner lining of the stomach.
- Sometimes cancer patients can find the strength to endure the rigors of treatment through their loved ones, especially children.
Country singer Toby Keith, 61, is "a lot more normal than people expect" according to his daughter Krystal Keith, 37, who shared what it's like growing up with a legendary music star as her dad.
Krystal Keith and her "Red Solo Cup" father are "pretty close" she revealed during a podcast interview. Unlike many children of celebrities who often see more of their famous parents on television rather than at home, Krystal said Toby made sure to be present for his three children.
"He's a lot more normal than people expect him to be. He's exactly what you get of him in interviews and things like that," she said.
Sometimes it's hard for children of successful parents to avoid following in their footsteps. For Krystal, that was the case. As she grew older, she wanted to launch her own music-singing career. However, her wise father cautioned her of the risks.
"He didn't want the industry to beat me up on being young and inexperienced. His example was LeAnn Rimes. When she came out, she was so young and had this big, huge voice that was amazing…but then as she grew up, people still saw her as a kid," Krystal Keith said.
Instead, she said her father stressed the importance of education.
"He always said, 'I earned all of this money and my kids have every opportunity to go to college," Krystal said.
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She ended up graduating from the University of Oklahoma before taking her music career to new heights. She stepped into the limelight herself when she joined her dad on stage to sing "Mockingbird" at the 2004 Country Music Awards. Her song "Daddy Dance with Me" is one of her most popular hits. According to Closer Weekly, the song was written with her famous father in mind.
Keith has always been known for his compassion for military service men and women and their families. He's also been known to graciously support pediatric cancer through his foundation.
Krystal is now a parent herself and dedicates most of her social media posts to her beautiful children.
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Perhaps her knack for love and determination comes from her dad. Those are qualities Toby Keith may have tapped into while battling cancer.
Keith has been battling stomach cancer since he was diagnosed in 2021. Stomach or gastric cancer "starts in the cells lining the stomach," the National Cancer Institute explains. Symptoms may include indigestion and stomach pain.
Learning About Stomach Cancer
Keith's treatment involved several months of chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. During these treatments, chemotherapy drugs are given to try and kill off the cancer cells. Radiation therapy attempts to do the same except it uses high-energy beams such as X-rays to target the cancer cells. While we don't know the exact kind of surgery Keith underwent to help treat his stomach cancer, it is a common treatment method for this type of cancer.
Keith previously described his cancer journey as "pretty debilitating" in an interview last year with Page Six. However, more recently he said his cancer journey is on the upswing as treatments are winding down.
Keith's most recent performance follows an increasing number of public appearances by the famous country music star. Keith recently shared his stomach cancer treatment is going well, claiming he's "feeling pretty good" in an interview with Country Now.
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How Parents Find Strength in Children During Cancer Battle
When Toby Keith began his stomach cancer journey, he had the support of his family, especially his kids.
Facing cancer as a parent can be incredibly daunting. Fearful thoughts about leaving your children and grandchildren may creep into your mind and add even more to your overflowing plate. However, children no matter their age can serve as big motivators during cancer treatment.
"Cancer patients with children can have increased motivation to endure difficult treatment but may also be concerned about the emotional impact of the illness on their offspring," Dr. Cindy Moore of Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center explained to The ASCO Post, an oncology newspaper.
Dr. Moore said cancer patients with children should discuss their biggest concerns with their healthcare teams so an effective communication plan can be created to explain their diagnosis to their loved ones.
WATCH: Treating depression after a cancer diagnosis.
Widower John Duberstein previously explained with SurvivorNet how he and his wife diagnosed with breast cancer discussed her cancer with their children.
"I think it's really important to be open with the kids as much as you can, as much as you feel like they can handle," Duberstein explained.
WATCH: How parents explained their cancer to younger children?
"When Nina started to look less like a cancer patient, the kids started to make unspoken assumptions about where Nina stood."
He explained he and his wife had to counter false narratives, which developed in their children's heads about their mother's prognosis. They had to gently remind them her cancer was not going away.
"It was hard for them to hear even though they'd already been prepared," he further explained.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
While we don't know much about the beginnings of Keith's stomach cancer journey, we do know he appears to be doing well now. After all, the "Should've Been A Cowboy" singer said himself he's preparing for a possible Fall tour. However, battling cancer can be quite an emotional journey impacting your mental health.
SurvivorNet expert Dr. Shelly Tworoger says emotions that impact cancer patients may include "anxiety, depression, financial toxicity, social isolation, and PTSD."
If you find yourself struggling emotionally to cope with your diagnosis, consider the following questions for your doctor or care team to help.
- 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?
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
