Nicole Eggert's Breast Cancer Battle
- “Baywatch” star Nicole Eggert—who underwent radiation, chemotherapy, a mastectomy, and is prepared to be medically induced into menopause amid her stage 2 breast cancer battle—has admitted that her daughters have “saved” her by keeping her determined to power through adversity.
- 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.
- Support through life’s challenges, even cancer treatment, can make the world of a difference, whether it’s support from friends, family, spouses, fellow cancer fighters or those with a disability in a support group.
- Licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Marianna Strongin previously wrote for SurvivorNet, that it’s “important that you surround yourself with individuals who care and support you throughout your treatment,” which she said can be an “arduous chapter.”
- SurvivorNet has a helpful guide for cancer caregivers that you can check out HERE.
Eggert, who has two daughters, 27-year-old Dilyn Elizabeth Eggert and 13-year-old Keegan Eggert, took to Instagram over the weekend to share a sweet statement on how her children have helped her through adversity.
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When a fan commented, “Which one?” Eggert replied with, “[You] obviously didn’t read my caption!”
Others wrote how they, too, have had loved ones inspire them to keep fighting, with one writing, “So relatable! In my case, one son and 2 daughters.”
A third commented, “When I was diagnosed Stage IV my first thought was my 3 kids and they gave me the strength to fight to stay alive. I’m ‘cancer free’ 1 year now and so unbelievably grateful.”
“Same here. My kids keep me going and wanting to keep fighting until I’m cancer free,” a fourth said.
“Aw sweet! I’m sure your daughters love you very much!! Always keep going for them. Hope you felt the love from fans as well! We love you so much,” another fan commented.
In an earlier post, featuring a selfie of Eggert and one of her daughters, she wrote, “Resilience is not just about withstanding the storm but also about learning to dance in the rain.”
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Nicole Eggert’s Cancer Journey
Nicole Eggert was diagnosed in December 2023 with stage 2 cribriform carcinoma breast cancer after discovering a lump in her breast while performing a self-breast exam.
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.
A self-breast exam is an easy way to keep watch for anything abnormal regarding your breasts. It involves feeling the breast for any swelling, bulging, or changes in the shape of the breast or nipple. Checking for signs of redness, rashes, or discharge is also part of this exam. If anything is found to be concerning, you should contact your doctor. It’s important to note that self-exams should be done with regular mammograms.
RELATED: ‘Baywatch’ Star Nicole Eggert Goes Bald For Cancer Treatment amid Breast Cancer Journey
Eggert said she initially started experiencing “terrible pain” and rapid weight gain that she first dismissed for signs of menopause. However, after she discovered a lump during a self-exam, a mammogram and multiple biopsies confirmed that she had breast cancer.
The rare type of breast cancer Eggert has is often slow-growing and low-grade, according to Breast Cancer Now.
“I can definitely feel it. It’s there. It needs to be taken out. So it’s just a matter of do I have to do treatment before the surgery or can they perform the surgery and then I do the treatment after,” Eggert told People last year.
Eggert’s treatment plan included eight rounds of chemotherapy over the course of six months, and was followed by surgery to remove the cancer via a mastectomy.
She also underwent 18 rounds of radiation treatment within four weeks. Now she’s set to be “medically induced into menopause” by taking pills Letrozole (Femara) and Kisqali (ribociclib), as well as Zoladex (goserelin), an injection, likely to reduce recurrence risk.
In postmenopausal women, there is still some production of the hormone estrogen even though the ovaries have largely shut down. Drugs called aromatase inhibitors, like one of the ones Eggert is taking, are used to block the activity of the aromatase enzyme and, therefore, stop the production of estrogen. This helps slow down the growth of tumor cells that are sensitive to estrogen.
Hormone Therapies for Breast Cancer: Aromatase Inhibitor
In most premenopausal women, the ovaries produce too much aromatase for these inhibitors to work effectively. However there is some evidence of benefit of these drugs in premenopausal women if their risk of recurrence is high enough that they’re also getting chemotherapy, but the evidence is not strong, so you should discuss this question with your doctor.
Examples of aromatase inhibitors include anastrozole (Arimidex), letrozole (Femara), and exemestane (Aromasin). All of these are in the form of pills that are taken once a day
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Advice For Caregivers
Remember, when you suddenly find yourself acting as a caregiver, the lifestyle adjustment can be jarring. Many people welcome the role of cancer caregiver and the opportunity to help out someone they care about deeply but that doesn’t mean it’s easy.
Expert Resources On Caregiving
- Caregiving: An Opportunity for Healing
- How to Handle the Emotional Toll of Caring for a Loved One With Cancer: Prioritizing Your Mental Health
- SN & You Presents Mental Health: Coping With Emotions
- The First Steps to Take as a Caregiver When a Loved One is Diagnosed With Cancer
- Patrick Dempsey’s Advice to Cancer Caregivers: Take Care of Yourself, Too
Filling a caregiver role can be extremely stressful and caregivers often neglect their own needs, which can create a host of additional problems. Experts stress that you will be a better caregiver if you also prioritize caring for yourself. Taking care of your health whether that be with diet, exercise, or making time for activities you enjoy is still crucial.
Julie Bulger gives some tips on how caregivers can care for themselves.
“It is important to have some things that you can do that’s kind of outside of the focus of caring for somebody that you love with cancer,” Julie Bulger, manager of patient and family-centered care at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville, previously told SurvivorNet. Bulger suggested caregivers find some activities that help them relax like taking a walk or going for a massage.
“There’s a lot of opportunities for support virtually through educational resources, support communities,” she added. “You can talk to somebody. You can get therapy virtually now.”
Finding Support Through Adversity
Feeling support from a significant other, like how Eggert has with her daughters, friends or a coworkers who has become like family, can help you express your feelings and maintain a positive attitude during a health battle.
Licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Marianna Strongin previously wrote for SurvivorNet, that it’s “important that you surround yourself with individuals who care and support you throughout your treatment,” which she said can be an “arduous chapter.”
Your Support System Matters Jill Kargman on Getting Through Cancer With Support from Friends
That being said, it’s very important to know your limits on what you can handle amid treatment for cancer or struggling with a disability.
“Going through treatment is a very vulnerable and emotionally exhausting experience,” she wrote. “Noticing what you have strength for and what is feeling like too much extremely important to pay attention to as you navigate treatment.”
It is important that anyone in the midst of a health battle to have a strong support system. So how can you support a loved on in your life who is fighting cancer, is disabled, or battling a rare disease? SurvivorNet suggests multiple ways you can do so.
Dr. Shelly Tworoger, a researcher at Moffitt Cancer Center told SurvivorNet that “there’s a number of common things cancer patients can experience, such as anxiety, depression, financial toxicity, social isolation and sometimes even PTSD.” So helping to ease those feelings is a great way to support your loved one.
A Cancer Survivor’s Ode To Friends and Family: “My Support System Helped Me Heal
You can help complete household chores or running errands during the day, which your loved one may not have the time or energy to do. Or, you can simply lend an ear so patients can talk through their feelings, which can help them cope with what they are experiencing during this difficult time.
Overcoming Adversity
Overcoming adversity can seem daunting. Many people think reciting upbeat mottos or pretending to be cheerful will help, but these solutions can make someone feel even more dejected than before. Instead, pay attention to the following steps to make meaningful change.
- Set a goal. No matter what the situation, create a new goal for yourself. If you have just been diagnosed with cancer or a chronic illness, perhaps one goal would be to educate yourself about the disease and the possible treatments as much as possible.
Adversity And The Art of Happiness: How Hardship Makes You Even Stronger
2. Make a plan. How will you achieve this goal? Your plan will help you focus on that goal. Dr. Siddhartha Ganguly refers to this determined, focused mindset as “the eye of the tiger,” which can help people dealing with health problems, such as lymphoma and other cancers. “You have to have the eye of the tiger to go through this grueling process that is necessary these days to get rid of these virulent and aggressive cancers,” Dr. Ganguly, a cancer specialist at Houston Methodist, told SurvivorNet in an earlier interview.
3. Rely on others. Spend time with people who show you unconditional support and encouragement. They will alleviate your stress and help you remember that you’re not alone in this! Dr. Samantha Boardman, a psychiatrist and author, previously told SurvivorNet that one “coping strategy that can be productive is reaching out and talking to others. Having support we know is really critical in the healing process.”
4. Use positive self-talk. Leave messages with affirmations in places you frequent. Put notes around your mirror or the computer screen that say “You got this! or “Keep going!” Cut out inspirational quotes from people you admire and surround yourself with their words. Dr. Boardman explained to SurvivorNet that “Positive emotions have unique benefits above and beyond managing negative emotions.”
Facing Cancer: How to Turn Stress into Strength
If you’ve been through a difficult health challenge or any type of adversity throughout your live, Dr. Boardman told SurvivorNet in an earlier interview that one way to get your mental health back in check after a diagnosis is to try to play up your strengths.
“I sometimes will ask patients, tell me about yourself when you were at your best,” she explained. “Using that story, trying to figure out what strengths come to mind. Is it patience? Is it appreciation of beauty? It is perseverance? [Then we can] use those strengths in constructive ways to navigate their cancer journey.”
Dr. Boardman says another way to approach harnessing the strength you already have is by tapping into your values. This could be family, close friendships, spirituality, or commitment to a healthy lifestyle.
Reminding yourself of what your values are and how you are living accordingly is another way to unleash that inner strength.
Lastly, patients shouldn’t underestimate the value of simply opening up, Dr. Boardman says. This could mean speaking to a close family member or friend, or it could mean seeking support in other ways by finding a therapist that meets your needs or looking into joining a support group.
Having negative feelings throughout your cancer journey is to be expected, however, doctors will tell you that people who find a way to work through the emotions and stay positive tend to have better outcomes.
“A positive attitude is really important,” says Dr. Zuri Murrell, a colorectal surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
“I’m pretty good at telling what kind of patients are going to still have this attitude and probably going to live the longest, even with bad, bad disease. And those are patients who, they have gratitude in life.”
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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