The Cost of Fame as a Cancer Survivor
- Actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus, 63, says fans of celebrities can become seemingly too familiar with their on-screen personas. She revealed that while giving birth to her oldest child, the nurse referred to her as her “Seinfeld” character, Elaine, which she found unnerving.
- Louis-Dreyfus is a mother of two and once struggled with infertility before managing to conceive her kids years later. She was also diagnosed with breast cancer. Her treatment involved six grueling weeks of chemotherapy and a double mastectomy (removal of both breasts) for treatment to help her reach remission.
- When you are diagnosed with cancer, your emotions are likely to be fluid, and that’s normal. Psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik recommends people faced with a significant health crisis, including a cancer diagnosis, lean into their support system, which can be comprised of loved ones. Sometimes, a mental health professional is needed for additional help.
- According to SurvivorNet experts, acknowledging these emotions that come with a diagnosis can be therapeutic and important to the healing process.
- Dr. Dana Chase, a gynecologic oncologist at UCLA Health, suggests patients focus on the positive and occupy their minds with things that bring them joy—such as laughter—to get through treatment.
“Seinfeld” actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus, 63, helped bring her on-screen character Elaine Benes to life and connect with millions of show fans. The adored actress recently revealed she was known as Elaine while giving birth to her oldest child, which made for an unnerving experience.
“I was standing there, and my water broke, and all of a sudden, a nurse came into the room, and I went, ‘My water broke!’” Louis-Dreyfus told her nurse while recounting the experience with People Magazine.
“There is a downside to it, though,” she added.
Louis-Dreyfus and her husband, Brad Hall, have two sons, Charlie and Henry, who are now both adults. During the late 1980s, she and Brad dealt with a stint of infertility.
“When I was about 28, I got pregnant for the first time, and I was crazy happy,” Louis-Dreyfus said during her “Wiser than Me” podcast.
“I got pregnant easily. I felt very fertile, very womanly. Then, quite late in the pregnancy, my husband, Brad, and I discovered that this little fetus was not going to live,” she continued.
“That was emotionally devastating, as you can imagine, but it got worse because I developed an infection that landed me in the hospital,” the “Veep” star added.
Continual support from her mom and husband helped her through the emotional time. She conceived her children a few years later to become a proud mom.
Helping Patients Cope with a Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Julia’s Breast Cancer Revelation
Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ cancer journey helped her build resilience. She learned she was facing cancer on one of the biggest nights in her career in 2017.
“I started laughing. Well, the night before, I had won an Emmy. And so, I came downstairs, and…the Emmy was there. It was like on the dining room table. I’m coming down to get coffee. My cell phone rings, and it’s my doctor saying, ‘Guess what, you have cancer,’” Louis-Dreyfus said, according to People.
Dreyfus was stunned by the news she had stage 2 breast cancer.
“Of course, I did laugh, and then I became hysterical, crying, because I was terrified, as most people are, or as all people are, if they get a diagnosis like that,” she said.
Stage 2 breast cancers are either larger than stage 1 tumors or have moved to a few nearby lymph nodes. Treatment will likely be some combination of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. If chemotherapy is also needed after surgery, the radiation is delayed until the chemo is done. The same approach is taken to hormone receptor and HER2 positive as stage 1.
After her diagnosis, she shared the news publicly on her social media channels to an outpouring of support.
As Louis-Dreyfus bravely fought her breast cancer head-on, she underwent six rounds of chemotherapy and a double mastectomy during her treatment. Chemotherapy can cause several side effects, including nausea, vomiting, and hair loss. Your doctor can help you manage some of these side effects. Fortunately for hair loss, while it usually begins about three to four weeks after starting chemotherapy and continues throughout treatment, it usually regrows after treatment concludes.
WATCH: Helping You Better Understand a Double Mastectomy procedure.
She also underwent a double mastectomy during treatment. During this procedure, both breasts are removed to get rid of cancer. The procedure may also be a preventative measure for women at high risk of developing breast cancer. Afterward, some women decide to have their breasts reconstructed and have implants put in, while others don’t have reconstruction at all.
RELATED: What Happens During a Double Mastectomy?
“A double mastectomy typically takes about two hours for the cancer part of the operation, the removing of the tissue,” Dr. Elisa Port, Chief of Breast Surgery at Mount Sinai Health System, tells SurvivorNet.
By October 2018, Louis-Dreyfus announced that she was “cancer-free.” Remarkably, the brave actress is nearing the notable milestone of five years in remission.
Tips to Cope: Helping You Cope With Your Diagnosis
Facing a new cancer diagnosis can be stressful and scary — but it’s important to remember that you are not alone and there are many directions you can turn to for support. Experts recommend the following:
- Let your family and close friends know and let them help. So many cancer survivors tell us they want and need support but are often too preoccupied to make specific requests. Urge those close to you to jump in with whatever practical help they can offer.
- Keep a journal. It can be highly cathartic to let those feelings loose on paper. Grab a pen and a lovely journal and chronicle your thoughts throughout the day.
- Join a cancer support group. Groups in nearly every community offer opportunities to connect with others going through a similar journey. You’ll learn constructive insight from others who can tell you what to expect and how to stay strong on tough days.
- Consider seeing a therapist. Ask your doctor to refer you to a therapist so you can discuss your fears and concerns in a safe space. Often, vocalizing your thoughts and feelings rather than internalizing them can provide relief.
WATCH: Managing your mental health after a diagnosis.
What To Ask Your Doctor
If you have been diagnosed with breast cancer, you may have questions about keeping 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 daily 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?
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