An Important Role
- Indian actor Anupam Kher, 66, recently left his small screen job to take on a bigger role as caregiver to his wife battling cancer.
- Kher, 66, has been married to Kirron Kher, 65, an Indian actress, singer, and Parliament member for over three decades. She was recently diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer.
- A caregiver who lost his wife to cancer tells SurvivorNet some valuable advice for other family members and friends out there who are stepping into this important role for a loved one battling cancer.
Kher, 66, has been married to Kirron Kher, 65, an Indian actress, singer, and Parliament member for more than three decades. She was recently diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer. The actor announced the devastating news in early April, but appears to be staying positive.
Read More“This past year has been difficult for so many people around the world, not least for Dr. Kapoor,” he wrote on Instagram. “It was an incredibly special time for me to be part of this show and one I will never forget. The New Amsterdam family will always hold a special place in my heart. I am grateful to the audience for their love, support and good wishes, particularly for my wife, Kirron, at this time. I hope you all will continue to join me on my journey and future projects.”
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In a recent question-and-answer session on Twitter, Kher was asked what it was like to be married to a politician. “She is not a politician at home, she is a person,” he replied with a smiley face.
He said that her situation was improving but there are “many side effects” from her treatment. “She is in good spirits and hopefully she will come out of it,” he shared. “With prayers from her well-wishers, everything will be fine.”
The Khers married in 1985. Kirron has a son named Sikander from a previous marriage that she and Anupam raised together. Kirron got into politics in 2014 and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
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Dealing with a Multiple Myeloma Diagnosis
There are some highly important things for patientsand caregiversto know about multiple myeloma right off the bat, and how to navigate a diagnosis for this specific type of blood cancer.
Sarah Kelly, an oncology social worker at Cancer Care, tells SurvivorNet multiple myeloma is a “treatable cancer”.
“The thing with multiple myeloma that makes it a very different type of cancer– one, it’s rare, so it is a rare diagnosis,” she says. “It’s also more of a chronic illness. So yes, it is absolutely still cancer. But within that, it is what’s known as a treatable cancer, not a curable cancer.”
Related: Which Triple-Drug Regimen is Better For Your First Multiple Myeloma Treatment?
Kelly says that someone with multiple myeloma “can have a meaningful life, and can live the life to the best of their abilities, but they will always be in treatment in some way, shape, or form.”
She feels that the most important thing to focus on, for caregivers too, is a way to cope with continued treatments, “with the ups and downs of having time when you’re in treatment, having time when you’re not in treatment.”
Related: Multiple Myeloma & Bone Health: What You Need to Know
It is crucial to form a connection with hope.
“It’s still there, so it’s just figuring out how to connect to it. And I think that a lot of the work can be done through support.”
Multiple Myeloma Dealing With the Initial Diagnosis
Advice For Caregivers
Caregiving is not an easy job, but it's a very important one.
Doug Wendt lost his wife of 25 years, Alice, after a battle with ovarian cancer. Wendt was a caregiver. The couple was fortunate that they owned a business together, so they could adjust their schedules to fit Alice's medical needs.
RELATED: ‘Be Proud of What You’re Doing,’ AN ODE TO CANCER CAREGIVERS
"I was able to be there for pretty much every stage of the journey," Doug told SurvivorNet. Tragically, Alice passed away from the disease after two years. But, given their experience, Doug has some advice for other people who may be playing the role of caregiver to a loved one going through cancer.
Related: Actor Kristen Bell Honors Cancer Caregivers: 'I Know What it's Like to Lose Someone'
"Medical professionals love having you involved, and aren't quite sure if they want you involved," Doug said. "It's just the nature of the medical system it's focused on the professionals and the patient. You get a lot of emotional support and positivity for being a caregiver, until you question something. So, it's important to know that you're not always going to be on the same side as the care team, even when they're great people."
Doug urges other caregivers to speak up if they think something is amiss with their loved one's medical care. After all, doctors are only human.
Doug Wendt, Who Lost His Wife To Cancer, Shares An Important Message For Caregivers
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