Battling Cancer in Private
- Beloved actress Farrah Forke, best known for role in the 1990s sitcom Wings, died last week after a hard-fought and private battle with cancer.
- A "close friend of the actress" confirmed her death to People on Wednesday, adding that she died at her home in Texas. She passed away on Friday, Feb 25, at age 54. The type of cancer she was battling has not been shared with the public.
- Battling cancer is a personal experience, and so is choosing who to tell about your diagnosis. For some people, it's a no-brainer to share their struggle and absorb as much support as possible, while for others, sharing the news isn't so casual.
- But remember, there's no right way to accept your diagnosis. There's no handbook, there's no wrong way, either. Regardless of what you decide, "everyone should focus on what makes them feel good," Dr. Marianna Strongin told us.
A "close friend of the actress" confirmed her death to People on Wednesday, adding that she died at her home in Texas. The mom of twins passed away on Friday, Feb 25, at age 54. The type of cancer she was battling has not been shared with the public.
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Outpouring of Love
Upon learning of Farrah Forke's death, friends and former co-workers began paying tribute to the late star, including Steven Weber, who played one of Forke's love interests on Wings, and Tom Rhodes, star of NBC's short-lived sitcom Mr. Rhodes.
"Farrah Forke has passed," Weber posted to Instagram on Wednesday night. "She was every bit as tough, fun, beautiful and grounded as her character 'Alex' on Wings."
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Rhodes also posted a tribute to Forke on Wednesday night, writing: "I'm very sorry to hear that #farrahforke has died."
"She worked her ass off on all 19 episodes (of Mr. Rhodes) we filmed together to make them a success & for this I am eternally grateful to her. She was a powerhouse actress who left her mark on the world of entertainment & for this I applaud her. My love, Sympathy & respect to her friends & loved ones. We had some great laughs together while making the Mr. Rhodes show & I'm grateful to her for these memories."
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Farrah Forke's Private Cancer Battle
It's been reported that Farrah Forke was privately battling cancer. The stage and type of her cancer remain unknown, as well as how long she was battling the disease for.
Battling cancer is an extremely personal experience, and so is choosing who to tell about your diagnosis. For some people, it's a no-brainer to share their struggle and absorb as much support as possible, while for others, sharing the news isn't so casual.
Dr. Marianna Strongin, a licensed clinical psychologist and founder of Strong In Therapy Psychology, previously told SurvivorNet that whether someone shares this heavy news is their personal preference.
"I recommend sharing, I'm a therapist," Strongin said with a laugh, "but to whom and how many people is up to the person (with cancer)."
Related: Finding Your Support System: Heidi Kugler's Survivor Story
Like Forke, there are plenty of people who have chosen not to share their cancer battle publicly. While Strongin says that she encourages sharing, she also recognizes there's also a personality factor at play when it comes to whether a person shares this deeply personal news; some people are more willing to share, and some are just more private, Strongin added. The difference is in how the information is processed.
But remember, there's no right way to accept your diagnosis. There's no handbook, there's no wrong way, either. So, regardless of what you decide, "everyone should focus on what makes them feel good," Strongin said.
"There's a difference between telling people 'I'm sick' versus 'I was sick, and I think a lot of people want to wait for that moment," Strongin added.
But the caveat in these situations, she said, is that you want to make sure sharing, if you choose to, provides you with support; a strong support system is fundamental when it comes to battling cancer.
"If it creates anxiety and burden and worry, that's something to look at," Strongin said; added anxiety and worry during a cancer battle is the last thing you need.
Do what makes you feel good; it's your fight and only you know the right way to navigate through it.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
