The 'Cancer That Whispers'
- Actress Bridgette Wilson, wife of tennis legend Pete Sampras, broke out on the big screen 30 years ago in her beloved Billy Madison role, starring opposite Adam Sandler. Today, she is privately battling advanced stage ovarian cancer: a difficult diagnosis, yet promising advancements have offered more hope to patients than ever before.
- Though the 51-year-old mom of two’s current health status is unclear, Sampras disclosed his family’s personal news in October 2023, expressing how difficult it was to talk about the subject and reach out for help. Though they live the majority of their lives out of the spotlight, fans appreciated Sampras disclosing Wilson’s health news and wished the family peace and healing throughout their difficult time.
- Ovarian cancer is called the “cancer that whispers” because women do not often experience symptoms until their cancer has already reached its late stages, making treatment more difficult. However, when it comes to the standard of care for treating ovarian cancer, surgery is often considered to be the first step.
- After initial treatment, such as surgery and chemotherapy, patients may receive maintenance therapy to help ensure the cancer does not return. PARP inhibitors, which stop rapidly dividing cancer cells and prevent them from replicating, are options for women as maintenance therapy after the first chemotherapy or platinum-sensitive recurrence (when the cancer comes back after initial treatment). To learn more about ovarian cancer, here is SurvivorNet’s comprehensive guide.
While the 51-year-old star has not given many updates on her personal life in recent years, fans still cherish her memorable charm and charisma on-screen in cult classic films decades later. The Oregon native, who shares two sons with Sampras, 53, has also delighted as Jennifer Lopez’s co-star in The Wedding Planner (2001) and once scored a #1 box office hit in House on Haunted Hill (1999).
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“As most have come to know, I am a pretty quiet and private person. However, this past year has been an exceptionally challenging time for my family and I have decided to share what’s been going on,” the seven-time Wimbledon Singles champ began in his statement.
“Last December, my wife, Bridgette, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Since then, she has had major surgery, pushed through chemotherapy and continues with targeted maintenance therapy.”
A message from Pete 🙏 pic.twitter.com/ZReXGOCUQs
— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 29, 2023
Going on to share how understandably “hard” it is “to watch someone you love go through a challenge like this,” Sampras also focused on the “amazing” elements, such as seeing their boys “step up” and “be such strong supporters,” not to mention watching Wilson’s strength amid her “healing journey.”
“An incredible mom and wife through it all, has been inspiring,” the tennis legend added, also acknowledging that it has been “hard” for him to ask for help since his wife’s condition is so difficult for him to talk about.
In well wishes shared by friends, fans and sports industry colleagues, one person revered Wilson as “a wonderful person always has been, hope this fight is won soon,” while another empathized with how tough it must have been for someone who typically likes to keep their personal life a bit more shielded.
“Pete, sending you and Bridgette the very best. Hoping for a full recovery. Knowing just how private you are, It was a gift for you to include us in your quest to see Bridgette well have a full recovery and receive support! Blessings to you both!”
Though it is up to the patient and their family to choose whether or not to disclose a diagnosis, and everyone’s choice should be respected, the family’s courage for coming out with the news rose crucial awareness for the disease.
Treating Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian cancer is called the “cancer that whispers” because women do not often experience symptoms until their cancer has already reached its late stages, making treatment more difficult. However, when it comes to the standard of care for treating ovarian cancer, surgery is often considered to be the first step.
If a doctor is confident that they can remove the ovarian tumor completely without initial cycles of chemotherapy, the doctor will go ahead with a surgical procedure. “If we think we can do that, we do what we call a debulking procedure or cytoreductive surgery,” gynecological oncologist Dr. Rauh-Hain previously explained to SurvivorNet. “That’s usually through an open incision.”
This surgical procedure often does not remove the tumor entirely. Ovarian cancer patients undergoing the debulking procedure usually undergo chemotherapy after the surgery to make sure the cancerous tissue is fully treated in a process called adjuvant chemotherapy. This process treats microscopic diseases that cannot be seen with the eye, which the clinician knows will persist in the body after an optimal surgical cytoreduction.
Additionally, Dr. Dana Chase, gynecologic oncologist at UCLA Health, stated in a prior SurvivorNet interview that “80% of patients” go into remission after chemotherapy for “at least a period of time.”
The standard treatment for ovarian cancer is made up of two drugs working in combination for “initial chemotherapy” — Carboplatin and Paclitaxel. The typical course of chemotherapy is made up of three to six treatment cycles based on what stage of cancer the patient has, but different drugs have different treatment cycles.
After initial treatment, patients may receive maintenance therapy to help ensure the cancer does not return.
“We use some maintenance therapies with chemo and then continue them after chemo, such as Avastin, while others we use after chemo, such as Olaparib,” Dr. Chase said.
WATCH: How PARP inhibitors impact ovarian cancer treatment.
PARP inhibitors are options for women as maintenance therapy after the first chemotherapy or platinum-sensitive recurrence or as a treatment for recurrence. PARP inhibitors stop rapidly dividing cancer cells from repairing their own genetic damage, preventing them from replicating.
The benefit a woman may see from PARP inhibitors varies greatly, with the biggest determinant being the presence of an inherited or tumor mutation in BRCA. BRCA gene mutation increases a woman’s risk of breast and ovarian cancer. Experts tell SurvivorNet that every woman with ovarian cancer should get a genetic test to determine if they have a BRCA gene mutation because the mutation enables PARP inhibitors to function much more powerfully.
Advancements in Ovarian Cancer Treatment
Promising advancements have offered new hope to patients who typically haven’t had many options. Remember, many ovarian cancer patients are diagnosed once the cancer has advanced into later stages. Cancer that has spread to other body parts is more challenging to treat.
MORE: Treating Recurrent Ovarian Cancer
For advanced ovarian cancer that has a tendency to come back and has become resistant to platinum-based chemotherapy, more has to be done during treatment.
Cancer that comes back within six months of treatment with a platinum-based chemotherapy drug is called platinum-resistant. If the cancer returns after six months following platinum-based chemotherapy is finished, it is called platinum-sensitive.
Women with these stubborn tumors have additional treatment options thanks to advancements in ovarian cancer treatment. The cancer drug Elahere (molecular name mirvetuximab soravtansine) was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for certain patients with platinum-resistant disease who had received one to three previous treatments.
Dr. Anna Berkenblit, Chief Medical Officer at ImmunoGen, explained to SurvivorNet what Elahere, an antibody-drug conjugate, did for patients in a pivotal trial called MIRASOL.
“We have longer progression-free survival, which means the patients are living longer without their cancer progressing. And most importantly, we have demonstrated that patients are living longer,” she said.
WATCH: Investigating New Ovarian Cancer Treatments
Elahere targets the folate receptor alpha protein located on the tumor cell’s surface. It offers effective treatment for a large population of women with advanced ovarian cancer.
“It is approved now for patients with high folate receptor alpha level expression, and that’s about 35% to 40% of all ovarian cancer patients,” Dr. Berkenblit explained.
“Available therapies for these (platinum-resistant) patients are typically single-agent chemotherapies. And now we’ve shown that Elahere is better than the available therapies,” Dr. Berkenblit added.
The MIRASOL trial looked at how Elahere performed compared to giving chemotherapy alone in patients with folate receptor alpha-positive platinum-resistant ovarian cancer.
In the trial, more than one-third of patients (36%) receiving Elahere (who had previously been treated with the targeted therapy bevacizumab) experienced improved progression-free survival (how long a patient goes without their disease worsening), and more than one-fourth (26%) experienced improved overall survival (how long the patient lives).
In another, smaller group of patients who had not previously been treated with bevacizumab, progression-free survival was 34% better, and overall survival was 49% better than when patients received standard chemotherapy.
Supporting a Spouse During Cancer
A life-altering diagnosis can impact the patient and their loved ones emotionally and physically.
Research published in The Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine studied the impact of a cancer diagnosis or disease on family members. It found, “Most chronic diseases have similar effects on family members including psychological and emotional functioning, disruption of leisure activities, effect on interpersonal relationships, and financial resources.”
Feelings of “helplessness, lack of control, guilt, anger, embarrassment” are some common emotions parents, siblings, and other relatives within the household of someone battling a health condition may experience, according to researchers.
MacMillan Cancer Support, a charity that advocates for cancer patients, says communication is a vital tool in helping support a partner with cancer, and it could help a couple understand each other better.
“It can help to ask your partner what support they would like and find useful. This makes sure you help where it is most wanted and needed. It can also help you avoid misunderstandings,” the charity said.
Communicating your feelings is something licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Marianna Strongin also believes is vital to helping couples dealing with a cancer diagnosis.
She adds that people faced with cancer should “surround [themselves] with individuals who care and support [them]” throughout treatment while also acknowledging their limits on what they can handle.
“Going through [cancer] treatment is a very vulnerable and emotionally exhausting experience,” Dr. Strongin wrote in a column for SurvivorNet. “Noticing what you have strength for and what is feeling like too much [is] extremely important to pay attention to as you navigate treatment.”
Supporting Your Partner as a Caregiver
Cancer patients need to have a robust support system. Having a partner, friend, or family member to help care for and support you through a health struggle can be advantageous.
Although many partners assume a caregiving role when their loved one is diagnosed with cancer, anyone close to the patient can become a caregiver. It’s prudent that caregivers understand their loved one’s diagnosis and assist them when following cancer-care instructions.
Dr. Jayanthi Lea, a gynecologic oncologist at UT Southwestern Medical Center, previously told SurvivorNet, “I encourage caregivers to come to visits with my patients because, in that way, the caregiver is also listening to the recommendations about what should be done between these visits, any changes in treatment plans, any toxicities [side effects] that we need to look out for, changes in dietary habits, exercise, etc.”
If you are a caregiver of a cancer patient, it is important to maintain your own mental and physical health as well.
“Caregiving is the most important job in the universe because you are there through the highs and lows,” Julie Bulger, manager of patient and family-centered care at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, told SurvivorNet.
“You are there to support your loved one, to manage all of the daily tasks as everything is changing in your life,” Bulger added.
Julie Bulger gives some tips on how caregivers can care for themselves.
Caregivers must also watch out for “caregiver burnout,” where stress, anger, fatigue, and illness emerge from putting another person’s needs ahead of their own.
Caregivers who find themselves struggling to care for a cancer patient should seek out a therapist or a support group of their own, either online or in person.
Contributing by SurvivorNet staff.
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