How Finding Joy Can Help Your Cancer Journey
- Original MTV VJ Martha Quinn, 64, was diagnosed with endometrial cancer this past May. She's making the best of her cancer journey with the support of her husband.
- Endometrial cancer begins when cancerous cells form in the tissues of the endometrium or lining of the uterus. Symptoms typically associated with this type of cancer include vaginal bleeding and pelvic pain.
- Quinn is choosing to focus on what brings her joy in life to help her endure the ups and downs of her cancer journey. She revealed spending time with her husband and children contribute to her overall joy and emotional well-being.
- Experts tell SurvivorNet that emotional health is associated with survival, meaning better quality of life is associated with better outcomes. Sometimes your favorite activities bring you the joy you need to boost emotional health and help improve your overall prognosis.
One of MTV's original VJs, Martha Quinn, 64, is giving fans a life update after revealing she’s battling endometrial cancer, a type of cancer of the ueterus.
Quinn said in a blog post for iHeart radio, where she now works, that she’s coping with her new reality by focusing on things that bring her joy.
However, this past spring Quinn's life took a turn when she was diagnosed with cancer.
"In May, I was diagnosed with endometrial cancer, a cancer that develops in the uterus. Very soon after my diagnosis, I underwent a hysterectomy," Quinn wrote in her blog post.
A hysterectomy is the surgical removal of part or all of the uterus (or womb), often along with the cervix.
"I was very relieved to learn after the surgery I was Stage 1, meaning no cancer spread to my lymph nodes or surrounding areas, but chemotherapy plus radiation has been recommended to make sure no undetected cells start new colonies anywhere," she continued.
Quinn said she’s embarked on her cancer journey with the support of her loving husband.
"One way my husband Jordan and I are getting through this stressful time is we're placing a high priority on finding joy every day. We start in the morning by declaring, 'Today is going to be a great day,' and then look for ways that prediction is coming true," Quinn said.
Some of the activities the couple does together that bring them joy include spending time with their kids and enjoying beautiful sunsets.
Quinn's adoption of a positive mindset focused on joy is a useful trick many experts SurvivorNet has interviewed also encourage. Many tell us that living in gratitude and focusing on the joys in life can boost your overall outcome.
Understanding Endometrial Cancer
Endometrial cancer begins when cancerous cells form in the tissues of the endometrium, or lining of the uterus, according to the National Cancer Institute.
After a woman has been diagnosed with endometrial cancer, her doctor will stage the cancer based on its spread within the body. A pelvic exam and imaging tests help your doctor learn if the cancer has spread, or metastasized.
Some common risk factors for endometrial cancer include:
- Obesity
- Taking estrogen-only hormone replacement therapy after menopause
- Having never given birth or starting menstruation at an early age
- Having a family history of endometrial cancer
In her blog post, Quinn highlighted some of the important signs and symptoms women may experience with endometrial cancer. These include:
- Vaginal bleeding
- Finding it difficult or painful to urinate
- Experiencing pain during sexual intercourse
- Experiencing pain in the pelvic area
Treatment for endometrial cancer includes surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and targeted therapy. Surgery is the most common treatment method.
During radiation therapy, high-energy beams such as X-rays are aimed at cancer cells to kill them. Chemotherapy kills cancer cells by using drugs designed to stop the cancer cells from growing. Chemo drugs are usually taken orally or intravenously.
Treating endometrial cancer with hormone therapy involves removing hormones or blocking their ability to help cancer cells grow. Targeted therapy treatment uses drugs designed to target specific cancer cells.
Each of these treatment methods can come with side effects. Depending on the treatment type, the impact on the body may differ. If you are moving toward treating endometrial cancer, talking with your doctor about potential side effects and how to minimize their impact is important.
Coping With a Diagnosis
- Cancer Support Groups Aren’t for Everyone — We All Have Our Own Way of Coping
- Coping With Chemo-Induced Depression: Survivor Kate Hunt’s Story
- Coping with Anxiety after an Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis
- Coping with Hair Loss During Ovarian Cancer Treatment
- Living With Cancer: Coping With Hair Loss & the Anxiety it Brings
Treatment Advancements for Endometrial Cancer
Advancements in treatment for endometrial cancer are also giving patients more hope.
A combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy could help slow disease progression compared to chemo alone, new studies support, opening the door for a possible new treatment path for women with later stages of the disease.
Immunotherapy is a common cancer treatment method that uses the body’s immune system to target cancer cells.
Two recent studies, both published in the New England Journal of Medicine and presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology, showed a significant increase in progression-free survival in certain people with advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer when they were given immunotherapy and chemotherapy at the same time, instead of just chemotherapy.
Immunotherapy is currently only approved to treat endometrial cancer after chemo, as a second-line treatment.
One study combined the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab (also known by its brand name Keytruda) with chemotherapies paclitaxel (brand name Abraxane) and carboplatin injections. The chemotherapy combination is the current standard of care.
The second study combined the immunotherapy drug dostarlimab (brand name Jemperli) with the standard chemo treatment and found similar "significantly increased progression-free survival among patients with primary advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer, with a substantial benefit" for certain patients.
Finding Joy Amid Cancer
Martha Quinn's choice to battle her cancer with the support of her husband and focus on things that bring happiness and joy positively impacts her emotional health.
Dr. Dana Chase, a gynecologic oncologist at UCLA Health, says that maintaining good emotional health and quality of life is associated with better survival and better outcomes for patients. She encourages cancer patients to prioritize their emotional health for this reason.
"So definitely working on your emotional health, your physical well-being, your social environment, your emotional well-being, definitely working on those things and making them better are important and can impact your survival," Dr. Chase told SurvivorNet.
WATCH: How emotional health plays a role in the cancer journey.
Dr. Chase suggests tapping into your support network, which includes loved ones like friends and family. It can also be a patient advocate or a support group in-person or virtual that shares your cancer or disease.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
If you're battling cancer or on the other side of it, and you're struggling with your outlook on life, here are some questions you may consider asking your doctor to get the conversation started:
- What can I do if I'm struggling to be thankful for what I have in my life?
- Are there local resources for people wishing to improve their mental health?
- What else can I do to help reduce my stress level during my cancer journey?
- It's difficult for me to find happiness and joy. How can I find help?
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