Living with Lung Cancer
- Escape to the Country TV star Johnnie Irwin has had advanced-stage lung cancer since 2020, but didn’t publicly share about his disease until 2022.
- The husband and father of three, who has been benefitting from palliative care since his diagnosis, says he has been suffering from insomnia as he awaits his latest MRI.
- Whether it’s due to medical treatment side effects or stress and anxiety, insomnia can be a common side effect for people living with cancer.
- Palliative care is all about trying to improve the quality of life for a patient and family by providing relief from the symptoms and stress of cancer.
“This is look of a man who’s not slept for 6 nights and awaiting a full body MRI scan of at least an hour,” Irwin, 50, wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of himself at his medical facility. “If you haven’t had one, they’re claustrophobic and omit loud random noises.”
Read More“Jonny you’re amazing! Keep going fella, you’re an inspiration to so many 👏,” one follower wrote, while another joked, “❤️🤞🏽Brother.You’ve woken up in stranger places! x.”
View this post on Instagram
Waiting to undergo an MRI, which stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging and helps doctors detect cancer in the body, can be extremely stressful, especially for those who are advanced stage waiting for their latest prognosis. People with claustrophobia have an even tougher time, and/or those who are sensitive to sound or beeping noises.
Whether it’s the result of medical treatment or due to stress or anxiety, insomnia can be a common side effect for people living with cancer. The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute suggests letting your oncologist know of any sleep issues you may be having, as “it’s important they are aware of any medical or psychiatric side effects of your treatment,” the site says.
Irwin’s Advanced Stage Diagnosis
Irwin, a husband and father of three young boys, was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in 2020 and went public with his news two years later in November 2022, sharing that his cancer had spread to his brain.
Since first learning about his advanced stage diagnosis, Irwin said he has been dedicating as much time as he can to his sons, vowing to create as many lasting memories he can.
“I want to make memories and capture these moments with my family because the reality is, my boys are going to grow up not knowing their dad and that breaks my heart,” Jonnie told Hello Magazine in June.
Ever since he was diagnosed, he has tried to incorporate a glass-half-full outlook.
“I don’t know how long I have left, but I try to stay positive and my attitude is that I’m living with cancer, not dying from it.”
The Benefits of Palliative Care
Palliative care is all about trying to improve the quality of life for a patient and family by providing relief from the symptoms and stress of cancer.
“The unit of care is really the person who has cancer rather than the disease,” says Dr. Elizabeth Kvale, director of the Supportive Care and Survivorship Program and medical director of the cancer treatment program at LIVESTRONG Cancer Institutes at UT Health Austin.
RELATED: Clearing Up Misconceptions About Palliative Care
Irwin said he has been in hospice care since day one to help him cope with his cancer. Though he is determined to keep fighting, he also wants to be protective of his children.
“I remove myself on a number of occasions because I’m not good to be around when I’m in pain,” Irwin said. “I’m like a bear with a sore head and I don’t want them to be around that.”
Palliative Cancer Care is Different for Everyone
Describing his experience with hospice, “It’s a delight, actually,” Irwin shared on BBC Morning Live in July. “My perception of the hospice was very much a boiling hot room full of people that looked frail and towards the end of their days. This is nothing of the sort. It’s spacious, energized, comfortable. I mean, it’s even got a jacuzzi bath, en suite room and the staff are just amazing. So I’ve had a really, really good experience at my hospice.”
Lung Cancer Is Rarely Caught Early
One of the most problematic parts of lung cancer is its lack of symptoms until the cancer has already spread, says Thoracic Surgeon-in-Chief from Temple University Health System Dr. Joseph Friedberg. However, once a person suspected of having lung cancer experiences symptoms, their doctor can further investigate the cause with an X-ray to look for anything unusual.
RELATED: Lung Cancer Screening Has Come a Long Way, But Only 10% of Eligible People Take Advantage
“The question is, ‘What stage is it?’ And so, at this point, the entire workup is an effort to try and determine, ‘Do we think that the cancer has spread anywhere?’ And the things that you would ask for about lung cancer– specifically, ‘Any change in your breathing? Do you have a cough? Have you lost any weight? Do you have any pain anywhere?’ All of these things start to tick off in your head whether they have other potential problems,” Dr. Friedberg said.
Lung Cancer Staging: An Overview
Some people with lung cancer may experience symptoms like:
- A cough that doesn’t go away, that gets worse, or that brings up bloody phlegm
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Chest pain
- Hoarse voice
- Appetite loss
- Weight loss
It is always important to alert your medical team when any lingering symptoms occur. In addition, be sure to discuss any health risks and family history of cancer so your doctor can advise you on what medical screenings you may need.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.