Navigating Relationships While Living With a Chronic Disease
TLC Reality TV star Shauna Rae, 25, lives with dwarfism, which is a byproduct of a brain tumor she dealt with as an infant.
Rae was diagnosed with a brain tumor at six months old. She underwent brain cancer surgery and chemotherapy to enter remission. A side effect of treatment at such a young age was pituitary dwarfism, which is caused by insufficient human growth hormones in the body as a result of the treatment she received for brain cancer as a child.
Finding love and navigating relationships while living with a chronic disease or cancer can be complicated. It’s important to lean into your support system to help elevate your self-confidence.
It’s important to understand your diagnosis will be part of the relationship, and find someone who’s willing to journey with you towards healing.
TLC Reality TV star and cancer survivor Shauna Rae, 25, has been weighing her future, from finding love to motherhood, in recent months. Earlier this year, she openly shared the challenges she faces if she were to become pregnant. More recently, she’s explored a long-term relationship with a man she’s known for a while and, at least for now, is good friends with.
Entrepreneur and fellow reality TV star Dan Swygart says he and Rae are friends. He’s made a few appearances on her show, “I Am Shauna Rae.”
Rae was the star of her TLC reality TV show “I Am Shauna Rae.” It chronicled her day-to-day life as a 3-foot, 10-inch adult. As a young child, she was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer, and although she entered remission, a side effect of her diagnosis caused her to stop growing.
Her condition is known as pituitary dwarfism, caused by insufficient human growth hormones in the body as a result of the treatment she received for brain cancer as a child.
Swygart acknowledged the relationship rumors between him and Rae on social media. Yahoo News captured his Instagram story, where he said, “Literally every single time I go on Facebook or YouTube, all I see are videos about me and Shauna,” Swygart wrote.
Swygart added that the two are “still good friends getting to know each other.”
Swygart and Rae have been photographed numerous times doing various activities together, including a “water date” in which the duo stands atop paddleboards.
While fans are interested in whether Rae and Swygart are dating, they remain supportive. Instagram user Rick Torres commented, “You’re an adult! It’s no one’s business who you date. Just do you. Congratulations!”
Finding love and dating can be a complicated, frustrating, and emotionally draining experience for cancer patients and others living with a chronic disease. SurvivorNet contributor Marisa Sullivan is a breast cancer survivor who shared some guidance for survivors looking to get back into dating. She was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer, an aggressive form of breast cancer.
WATCH: Understanding triple-negative breast cancer
Triple-negative breast cancer means your cancer is not fueled by any of the three main types of receptors — estrogen, progesterone, or the HER2 protein. Because of this, the cancer won’t respond to certain targeted therapies, including hormone therapy or HER2-targeted agents like Herceptin. Chemotherapy is typically the treatment, and there are several options.
Sullivan’s advice for survivors looking to re-enter the dating pool includes:
Deciding if you’re ready to explore a romantic relationship with someone else, as some people may think they are ready when, in reality, they’re not.
Being honest with your potential new partner about your cancer diagnosis, as ongoing treatment will have an impact on them, too.
Knowing it’s okay to have fun. If you aren’t looking for anything series, be honest with potential partners about your background and note you want to keep things casual.
Knowing it’s okay to be vulnerable. Getting through cancer treatment is no easy feat, and it doesn’t just go away in an instant. You may have down days or feel overly emotional, but it is okay to let your emotions out.
Treating yourself. Cancer patients may face some insecurities, especially related to their bodies after treatment, so it’s important to your physical and mental health to indulge in some self-care from time to time to make yourself feel good.
Understanding Shauna’s Diagnosis
When Rae was six months old, she was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor. Rae’s cancer journey lasted for more than three years, and included brain cancer surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible.
However, often, surgeons cannot get all of the cancer cells during surgery, so follow-up chemotherapy is usually recommended to get the remaining cancer cells. Her procedure helped her reach remission. Although she’s been in remission for years, there’s always a chance of her brain cancer returning.
(@thereal_shaunarae99/Instagram)
During a 2022 episode of “I Am Shauna Rae,” she explained to her doctor that she frequently experienced migraines, which could be a symptom of a brain tumor. Her mom said at the time, doctors told her the cancer could always come back.
After undergoing brain cancer treatment, Rae’s mom noticed her daughter wasn’t growing, leading to her pituitary dwarfism diagnosis.
Research published in the New England Journal of Medicine says pituitary dwarfism derives from a “deficiency of growth hormone or lack of peripheral action of growth hormone.”
Research published in the medical journal Pituitary, which focuses on clinical aspects of the pituitary gland, says, “Poor longitudinal growth and growth hormone deficiency (GHD) is often a consequence of cancer treatment during childhood.”
Understanding Brain Tumors
Brain tumors impact a person’s brain function and overall health, depending on their size, type, and location within the brain. Tumors that grow big enough and disrupt normal central nervous system functioning can press on nearby nerves, blood vessels, or other tissues. The disrupted central nervous system can present in various ways, making walking or maintaining balance difficult.
Brain tumors may be benign (non-cancerous) and malignant (cancerous). There are various types of brain tumors, with gliomas being the most common cancerous type of aggressive primary brain tumors.
Glioblastoma is considered a central nervous system (CNS) tumor, which means her brain tumor “grows and spreads very quickly,” according to the National Cancer Institute.
According to the National Cancer Institute, the average survival rate is 15 months with treatment and less than six if left untreated. While there is a five-year survival rate averaging 6 percent, those individuals will never be cancer-free. They must continue receiving radiation and chemotherapy for the rest of their lives.
Glioblastomas are tricky to treat and manage because their cells are heterogeneous, meaning each must be individually targeted to slow tumor growth. Surgery cannot remove all the cancer because the tumor burrows into the brain, so the tumor starts to grow again immediately after surgery.
WATCH: Hope for Glioblastoma Research
Treating Brain Tumors
Treatment options for brain cancer depend on a variety of factors, including the size and type of the tumor as well as the grade of the tumor.
Surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy are options doctors use to treat brain tumors. Cancer warriors are encouraged to talk to their doctor about their situation and the best treatment options.
The prognosis for brain cancer, or how likely it is to be cured, depends on a few things:
The type of brain tumor
How fast the brain tumor is growing
The tumor’s location
If there are DNA changes in the cells of the brain tumor
If the entire tumor can be removed with surgery
Your overall health
Your doctor will be able to help you understand your specific and unique circumstances and how they relate to your prognosis.
