Using Humor To Cope With Challenges
- Michael Strahan’s daughter Isabella Strahan is coping through her intensive chemo treatments for brain cancer with a light-hearted attitude, as she recently took to social media to joke about about her “brain” likely being the most expensive thing she’s wearing.
- Isabella was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor earlier this year. She first underwent emergency surgery to remove most of the mass in her brain earlier this year. Additional treatment includes radiation therapy, followed by chemotherapy, to try and get any remaining cancer cells left behind.
- According to the National Library of Medicine, research has shown that the amount of pain medication needed for patients is reduced after they watch funny movies.
- Licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Marianna Strongin previously wrote in column for SurvivorNet, “Going through [cancer] treatment is a very vulnerable and emotionally exhausting experience. Noticing what you have strength for and what is feeling like too much [is] extremely important to pay attention to as you navigate treatment.”
- It’s important to know that if you do find yourself separating from a partner amid a cancer fight, you’re not alone.
Isabella, who went public with her malignant brain tumor diagnosis earlier this year, took to TikTok last month to make the best of her situation and joke that her brain has made her the “most expensive child” in her family.
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Isabella’s post was flooded with support from fans, with one writing, “The most expensive thing you’re wearing is your face and it’s priceless, beautiful girl. I love the days when u feel like dancing – the JOY in your face!”
Another fan wrote, “You win,” referring the the TikTok challenge where many social media users reveal the most expensive clothing article or accessory.
While others said, “I love how u make the best of everything,” and, “Keep your head up beautiful Sending you love, strength and positivity.”
It’s heartbreaking to see Isabella having to battle brain cancer, more specifically, a type of disease called medulloblastoma, which is a rare primary central nervous system tumor, the National Cancer Institute explains. This type of brain tumor is cancerous and grows quickly, making it more likely to spread to other parts of the body.
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We’re delighted to see Isabella trying to make the most of her battle with cancer despite the tough times that have been thrown her way, and the constant pain she’s bee dealing with, something she spoke about in a recent video clip shared on her YouTube page.
Referring to her third and most recent craniotomy, Isabella sadly admitted, “It’s not as bad as the first time but I;m really in pain. They do give me pain medicine. They don’t work that well on me. So I’m in a lot of pain.
“My head really really hurts right now. Not gonna lie, I’ve been crying a lot. I’m in a lot of pain. It’s not as bad as last time… my face isn’t as puffy but it literally hurts to do anything.”
She explained, noting how it hurts to move her body, “I have two IVs, a picc line, and my port. So I have so many things to access me … as in my blood, giving me stuff [medication].
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“I haven’t really eaten much in the past three or four days, kind of nothing. It’s really bad but I just can’t really eat and I’m also not hungry,” Isabella said. “There’s ups and downs to this because I was eating so much a week ago and now I can’t eat anything. I’m in a down right now.”
After noting that she only had one more round of chemotherapy left, she said, “I just want it to be June already. That’s the thing, I just wait around for the next time I get chemo and I’m kind of scared once I’m done, how I’m gonna go back to normal life.
“Because I feel like there’s always gonna be another treatment or something I have to do. But that’s a later problem.Otherwise, I’m doing good.”
Isabella, who has had an immense amount of support through her cancer journey from her friends, fans, and loved ones, first underwent emergency surgery to remove most of the mass in her brain earlier this year. Additional treatment includes radiation therapy, followed by chemotherapy, to try and get any remaining cancer cells left behind.
It’s important to note that common symptoms for this type of tumor may include:
- Difficulty walking or balancing
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Difficulty with vision
- Seizures
Isabella’s brain cancer journey began last Fall when she started getting headaches and nausea and had trouble walking. When she would wake up, there were times when she would throw up blood.
She’s been undergoing an intensive chemotherapy treatment since and had openly cried while coping with the side effects of chemo.
However, now that she knows her chemo treatment is soon ending, Isabella is looking forward to enjoying her summer and growing her hair back, she said in another YouTube video she shared in April.
Coping With Intensive Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is an effective tool for oncologists to help treat cancer by stopping cancerous cells from growing, dividing, and spreading to other organs. Chemo works by traveling through the bloodstream, killing cancerous cells. However, the process also impacts healthy cells, leading to side effects.
Patients almost universally experience fatigue, often alongside gastrointestinal side effects, such as nausea. Doctors have many effective medications to combat chemo-induced nausea. “But mitigating that fatigue often depends on the patient,” says Dr. Renata Urban, a gynecologic oncologist at the University of Washington in Seattle.
WATCH: What You Think You Know About Chemotherapy Side Effects May Be Wrong
“Neuropathy is probably one of the most challenging side effects,” says Dr. Renata Urban, a gynecologic oncologist at the University of Washington in Seattle. Neuropathy results from damage to the peripheral nerves. It usually resolves after chemotherapy treatment, but sometimes symptoms can persist. While it’s typically characterized by numbness or a pins-and-needles sensation in the hands and feet, neuropathy can have several different symptoms, including:
- Weakness in the hands or feet
- Stabbing or burning pain in the hands or feet
- Difficulty gripping, such as when holding a fork
- Difficulty with fine motor skills, such as writing or buttoning a shirt
- Nausea and vomiting are common side effects of chemotherapy. When chemotherapy affects the rapidly dividing cells in the stomach lining, the resulting cellular havoc in the gastrointestinal tract can lead to side effects such as nausea and vomiting. However, doctors can help patients mitigate the hit with various medications before, during, and after treatment.
“Part of the chemotherapy prescription includes a set regimen of anti-nausea medications,” says Dr. Renata Urban, a gynecologic oncologist at the University of Washington in Seattle. “We also ensure that patients have medications at home that they can use should they develop nausea after treatment.”
Hair loss is another side effect of chemotherapy.
WATCH: Coping with hair loss.
“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,” Dr. Samantha Boardman, a New York-based psychiatrist and author, told SurvivorNet.
Chemotherapy can cause hair loss. It usually begins about three to four weeks after chemotherapy and continues throughout treatment.
It happens because this treatment targets quickly dividing cells throughout the body. That includes cancer cells but also hair cells.
Most patients can expect regrowth four to six weeks after treatment. However, it is possible when your hair grows back, you may notice some changes in its color and texture.
Managing Chemotherapy Side Effects
Tips to Navigating Chemo Side Effects
Doctors don’t have an arsenal of prescription medications to combat fatigue. However, you can do several things to help minimize the hit and restore your energy.
- Exercise: While it may be counterintuitive, physical activity can help alleviate side effects, especially fatigue. “Although ovarian cancer is not common, we often draw upon the experience of patients with breast cancer and colon cancer that have shown that physical activity can not only improve quality of life but may also have beneficial impacts on cancer outcomes,” Dr. Urban says.
- Eat well: Even though nausea may interfere with your ability to eat a healthy diet, it’s essential to ensure you’re eating appropriately, getting enough protein, and not losing weight. Not only will nourishing your body support your recovery, but it may also help you feel more energized.
- Sleep: Want to mitigate fatigue? Be sure to maintain your regular sleep-wake cycle while on treatment. Sticking to a set sleep schedule helps reduce fatigue by ensuring enough hours for your body to heal and restore itself each night. It may also help you recover more quickly by keeping energy levels high during the daytime.
‘How Much Will It Cost?’: A Guide to Coping With the Cost of Cancer Treatment
The Importance of Laughter & Positivity
Isabella Strahan is a perfect example of someone who uses laughter and positivity during tough times. Of course, Isabella isn’t shy to cry when she needs to, but overall she often looks forward to the future and happily accepts the support of her loved ones amid her cancer treatment.
It’s also interesting to note, that according to the National Library of Medicine, research has shown that the amount of pain medication needed for patients is reduced after they watch funny movies.
And perhaps laughter, like Isabella tries to maintain in her life, even if it’s by sharing TikTok videos or creating YouTube clips, could also help when someone is dealing with the pain that comes amid a health challenge, whether it’s any sort of health battle, like brain cancer.
The importance of positivity amid tough times has been seen through stand-up comedian Jesus Trejo in Long Beach, California.
Trejo became a caregiver for both of his parents after his mother was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor and his father was later faced with colon cancer. But instead of panicking and focusing on the devastating nature of the situation, the only child stepped up to care for his parents with love and laughter.
In a previous interview with SurvivorNet, Trejo opened up about how he put his career aside to care for his parents in their time of need while making time to smile along the way.
Stand-Up Comedian & Cancer Caregiver, Jesus Trejo Reminds Us That “Laughter is a Game-Changer”
“The only advice I have for anyone watching this is laugh, and laugh often, laugh at yourself. Don’t take yourself seriously. Things are already bad. Because once you do that, it’s a game-changer,”Trejo told SurvivorNet.
He also says the laughter itself might be brief, but “the effects of it just reverberate through your body, and can change an already bad situation into a better one.”
Focusing on hope, and maintaining a positive attitude amid a health battle can always be helpful.
Anecdotal evidence from SurvivorNet experts points to how a positive mindset can impact a cancer prognosis.
Dr. Zuri Murrell, of Cedars-Sinai told SurvivorNet in an earlier interview, “My patients who thrive, even with stage 4 cancer, from the time that they, about a month after they’re diagnosed, I kind of am pretty good at seeing who is going to be OK. Now doesn’t that mean I’m good at saying that the cancer won’t grow.”
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“But I’m pretty good at telling what kind of patient are going to still have this attitude and probably going to live the longest, even with bad, bad disease. And those are patients who have gratitude in life.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Dana Chase, a Gynecologic Oncologist at UCLA Health, also says it’s important to try to focus on the good, stay positive, and do things that bring you joy to the degree you’re able to do so amid battling a disease like cancer.
“We know, actually from good studies, that emotional health, quality of life is associated with survival, meaning better quality of life is associated with better survival, better outcomes,” Dr. Chase said in an earlier interview.
SurvivorNetTV Presents: Maintaining a Positive Headspace
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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