Funnyman Mel Brooks Battles Grief
- In a new interview, comedian Mel Brooks reminisces about his late friend, actor Carl Reiner, who died last year; Brooks shares that he’s missing his best friend.
- Coping with grief after the loss of a loved one takes time; grief typically comes in stages and waves.
- Brooks’ longtime love, The Graduate actress Anne Bancroft, passed from uterine cancer in 2005.
Brooks, who’s the mastermind behind comedy films such as Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, Space Balls, and The Producers, enjoyed a beautiful friendship with actor Reiner, known for his work in The Jerk, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Ocean’s 12, and many more.
Read More
Coping with Grief
Grief is known to “come in waves,” and never fully leave you, after a loved one has died. To grieve is to have fully loved someone, and that’s a beautiful thing but the process of grief, as Brooks’ experience shows, can be fulling of missing, longing, and sadness.
Coping with grief after the loss of a loved one, or after a diagnosis of a disease like cancer, can be helped by seeing a psychiatrist, counselor, or oncological social worker. You don’t have to suffer through your grief alone. Seek outside support when you’ve lost someone close to you.
Dealing With Grief After a Cancer Diagnosis
Brooks’ Earlier Cancer Loss; Wife Anne Bancroft Dies of Uterine Cancer in 2005
Brooks’ longtime love, The Graduate actress Anne Bancroft, passed from uterine cancer in 2005.
Uterine cancer occurs when cancer cells develop in the lining of a person's uterus. This year, approximately 66,570 people will be diagnosed with this type of cancer, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).
In an earlier interview, Stanford Gynecologic Oncologist Dr. Diana English explains there are several conditions that may predispose someone to getting uterine cancer. "These patients might not be thinking about this, their primary care providers may not be speaking to them about this," says Dr. English. Those conditions are:
- Hypertension
- Diabetes
- Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (which is marked by the absence of regular periods)
- Obesity
- Hyperandrogenism (elevated male sex hormones)
- Lynch Syndrome
Understanding the Risks and Symptoms of Uterine Cancer
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
