Football Shark
- Washington’s coach Ron Rivera, 58, was surprised with a very special gift from United Airlines after being declared “cancer free.”
- Rivera was diagnosed with a common skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma; other forms of the disease can include melanoma and basal cell carcinoma.
- Experts recommend those facing cancer try to do activities that make them happy; studies prove that patients who are able to stay positive typically see better treatment outcomes.
Rivera recently shared a photo of a special surprise waiting for him on a flight. Turns out, the plane ride involved more than just ginger ale and peanuts. According to Rivera, a flight attendant who works for United Airlines surprised him with a cutout figure of Baby Shark a hit children’s song that made waves among both kids (and their parents) when it was released in 2016.
Read MoreSo a @United flight attendant heard about the young cancer patient I spoke abt being serenaded to Baby Shark on the way to ringing the bell. So she saw this & thought of me since I too rang the bell! #cancerfighter pic.twitter.com/OHjQPv7Q9k
— Ron Rivera (@RiverboatRonHC) November 14, 2020
For those of you who may be scratching your heads in confusion, this present actually has a very special story. While Rivera was going through treatment for skin cancer in October, Rivera shared a special story about a young boy he met who was also going through a cancer fight at Inova Schar Cancer Institute in Annandale, Virginia. To lift his spirits, the staff decided to perform a special performance of “Baby Shark.” Rivera wasn’t able to be there to enjoy the performance in-person, but it’s still a moment he recalls fondly.
“All the doctors and nurses and all the helpers were rehearsing ‘Baby Shark,’ because when that young person was going to come out of their treatment, they were going to do the song for him,” Rivera told NBC Sports. “You draw from things like that, you do.”
Navigating Skin Cancer
Rivera was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma in August, which is a common form of skin cancer. There are other forms of the disease, which involves basal cell carcinoma (most common) and melanoma (aggressive). The leading cause of skin cancer is sun exposure, and often the disease will present itself on sun-exposed areas of skin, like the face, neck, arms, and legs. However, they can also show up in unassuming areas such as the under your nails, on the eyes and mouth, or on the palm of your hands.
The best way to prevent a possible skin cancer diagnosis is to regularly apply sunscreen. By protecting your skin, this can stop unnecessary sunburns which are often linked to many skin cancer diagnoses. However, it’s worth noting that sunscreen isn’t just a summer staple you also need to be applying it during the winter.
Related: Which Sunscreen Should I Choose To Prevent Cancer?
“It's a common misconception that people think they only have to protect their skin when they're in the bright, warm sunshine," Dr. Dendy Engelman, a dermatologist and Mohs surgeon who practices in New York, told SurvivorNet in a previous interview. "But the reality is, we can get sun damage at any time throughout the year … even in the cold, wintry months. If we're unprotected for even fifteen minutes a day. If we think about the cumulative effects that has on our skin over a lifetime, it's very real."
Dr. Dendy Engelman explains why we need to protect our skin year-round
Finding Moments of Joy
Studies prove that staying positive during treatment can help those battling cancer see more successful treatment outcomes. That’s why trying to lift people’s spirits can be so important. For this little boy, blasting out “Baby Shark” tunes may be the perfect way to throw a dance party and laugh a little. For Rivera, perhaps it’s taking the field during a football game. No matter what your moment of joy is, an expert recommends taking some time out of your day to do something that makes you genuinely happy.
Related: Sometimes Bad Things Happen Enjoying Life, Even With Cancer
“We know from good studies that emotional health [and] quality of life is associated with survival, meaning better quality of life is associated with better survival outcomes,” Dr. Dana Chase, a gynecologic oncologist at Arizona Oncology, told SurvivorNet in a previous interview. “So definitely, working on your emotional health, your physical well-being, your social environment, [and] your emotional well-being are important and can impact your survival. If that’s related to what activities you do that bring you joy, then you should try to do more of those activities.”
Dr. Dana Chase says it’s important those facing cancer find moments of joy
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
