Finding Support Amid Health Challenges
- “Real Housewives of Atlanta” star Cynthia Bailey, 56, lends her support for the wife of actor Terry Crews, Rebecca, 57, by wearing a tuxedo sport coat she designed in a new photoshoot.
- The two women also share unique experiences with breast cancer. Crews was diagnosed in 2020 but has since beat the disease. Bailey’s mom was diagnosed last year and has also been declared “cancer-free” following treatment.
- Terry Crews was the first person Rebecca told after a mammogram revealed the disease. He took his wife’s diagnosis as an opportunity to step up and provide her with all the support she needed while she underwent treatment.
- Having support amid a cancer battle is hugely beneficial. According to New York-based psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik, receiving the diagnosis “can be a very overwhelming experience” that requires finding support among loved ones and sometimes outside of your usual circles.
“Real Housewives” star Cynthia Bailey, 56, shows her support for actor Terry Crews’ wife, Rebecca, in a new photoshoot by wearing a tuxedo-themed sport coat she designed. The two women share more in common than delighting supportive fans amid glitz and glam, both are breast cancer survivors.
View this post on InstagramRead More“Thank you,” Crews said in an Instagram post.Bailey gave credit to Crews’ wardrobe design in a post of her own. The photoshoot radiates confidence and style with a hint of film noir as Bailey poses in a dimly lit black and white photo while holding a cigarette.
View this post on Instagram
The two women were diagnosed with breast cancer just a couple of years apart. Crews was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020. Meanwhile, just a couple of years later, Bailey’s mom Barbara Morris was also diagnosed with the disease. Both diagnoses brought on a mix of emotions for the women and their loved ones which is normal according to SurvivorNet experts. To help you cope with a diagnosis, leaning on your loved ones in your support group can make a huge difference.
More on Breast Cancer
For Crews, the mother of five, admitted after her diagnosis, she was “overwhelmed with fear” and her husband Terry was the first person she shared the emotional news with.
“I actually felt a mild panic attack,” Terry told SurvivorNet. “The only way I can describe it is that I felt like my insides were melting,” he continued.
Rebecca was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer following a mammogram and ultrasound. A mammogram is a breast cancer screening method that examines breast tissues for any abnormalities.
WATCH: Actor Terry Crews and his wife share a personal experience regarding racial disparities in healthcare.
Terry staunchly supported his wife throughout her cancer journey.
“We made it. You get a new appreciation for what life is. We’ve been through everything, but we have never faced a problem like this. It’s a whole new challenge, and I was proud of how she became a warrior. My wife is 100% cancer-free. This is a win,” Terry told SurvivorNet.
“Our love right now is the strongest it’s ever been because we survived,” Terry added.
View this post on Instagram
Bailey, who stars on “Real Housewives of Atlanta,” helped her mother cope with her breast cancer diagnosis last summer.
“She didn’t feel anything, but it showed up on her most recent mammogram,” Bailey wrote in an Instagram post revealing the diagnosis.
Bailey added, “With surgery to remove the cancer and radiation she is going to be fine.”
View this post on Instagram
Morris underwent a lumpectomy which is a surgery to remove a cancer or abnormal tissue from the breast.
“For a patient that needs a lumpectomy, it’s an outpatient procedure, meaning that they’re going to come in and go home the same day,” Dr. Sarah Cate, a breast surgeon at Mount Sinai, explains to SurvivorNet.
The procedure may or may not involve radiology and typically lasts about an hour to complete.
WATCH: Recovering from a lumpectomy.
RELATED: Should I Have a Lumpectomy or Mastectomy?
While we don’t know the exact type of breast cancer Barbara Morris was diagnosed with, after a couple of months of treatment, she was able to beat it.
Just before Thanksgiving last year, Bailey shared that her beloved mom is “cancer-free.”
Why Support Matters?
If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, having family and friend support is hugely beneficial. According to New York-based psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik, receiving the diagnosis “can be a very overwhelming experience” that requires finding support outside of your usual circles.
WATCH: What to do after a cancer diagnosis?
“Some people don’t need to go outside of their family and friends circle. They feel like they have enough support there,” Plutchik previously told SurvivorNet.
“But for people who feel like they need a little bit more, it is important to reach out to a mental health professional.”
Dr. Plutchik recommends the following three steps for anyone who just found out they had cancer.
- Seek additional support if you need it. This might mean speaking to a mental health professional or finding a support group to join.
- If needed, find a mental health professional who has experience helping people dealing with things like cancer.
- Make sure your care team stays connected. Your care team may include your friends, loved ones, therapists, and doctors.
What To Ask Your Doctor
If you have been diagnosed with breast cancer, you may have questions about how to keep your strength through treatment. Here are a few questions to help you begin the conversation with your doctor:
- What treatment will I be receiving?
- What side effects are associated with this treatment?
- Are there steps I can take in my daily life to help minimize these side effects?
- What physical activity routine do you recommend for me during treatment?
- Do you have recommendations for someone who doesn’t particularly enjoy exercise?
- Can you recommend a dietician who can help me with healthy eating tips and maintaining a healthy weight?
- I’ve been having trouble sleeping, do you have any treatment recommendations?
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
