HGTV star Tarek El Moussa, 42, says his mental health took a hit while battling two different cancers.
In 2013, El Moussa was diagnosed with thyroid cancer after a watchful viewer on his TV show noticed a lump on his neck. A few years later, he dealt with testicular cancer, which typically has symptoms like swelling or discomfort in the scrotum. El Moussa had a testicle removed amid treatment.
A cancer diagnosis can have a profound impact on mental health, affecting patients, survivors, and their loved ones in a variety of ways. Some ways a diagnosis can reveal itself in your mental health can be through added stress and anxiety, mood swings, depression, and social isolation.
Coping with a diagnosis or some other stressor in your life can be an emotional experience that affects your mental health. Psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik suggests people facing these challenges tap into their support group to help navigate their emotions.
HGTV star Tarek El Moussa, 42, renowned for his expertise in selling and flipping houses, reveals the toll his cancer battles took on his mental health. Amidst treatment, he grappled with the impact of his medication and coping with depression, exacerbating an already tumultuous period in his life.
“When you’re going through, you know, multiple cancers back-to-back, and your hormones are off, and you’re in surgeries, and you have no thyroid, you do things you normally wouldn’t do. Not that it’s an excuse. But, I wasn’t the best guy during those years,” El Mousa said to People Magazine while promoting his memoir.
— The Jennifer Hudson Show (@JHudShow) April 3, 2024 A cancer diagnosis can have a profound impact on mental health, affecting patients, survivors, and their loved ones in a variety of ways. Some ways a diagnosis can reveal itself in your mental health can be through added stress and anxiety, mood swings, depression, and social isolation. Existing relationships with family and friends may also become strained while coping with cancer.
Cancer patients, survivors, and their loved ones need to prioritize their mental health and seek support when needed. Counseling, support groups, mindfulness practices, and holistic approaches to wellness can all play a vital role in promoting emotional well-being and resilience throughout the cancer journey.
El Moussa recently journeyed the media circuit to promote his memoir “Flip or Flop.” While doing so, he opened up about his health, which included two different cancer battles and undergoing back surgery.
As he was working through the ups and downs of his diagnosis, he admitted his mental health was not at its best. While coping with cancer, he was going through a public divorce, which only made matters worse. Admittedly, he called this period of his life a “low point” where he lacked a regular appetite, drank heavily, and suffered from depression.
He now considers himself a renewed man from that dark period and uses his memoir to make amends to his loved ones.
“In a lot of ways, it was an apology to my family, to my ex-wife, to my children, to my mom, to my dad, kind of to everybody,” El Moussa said, according to TV Insider.
Expert Resources on Coping with a Diagnosis and Mental Health
El Moussa first noticed a lump on his neck that led to an eventual thyroid cancer diagnosis in 2013. From there, a series of events unraveled the reality TV star’s life.
“I was diagnosed with two different cancers and going through a very public divorce,” he said.
He and Hall married in 2009 and had two kids together before they separated in 2016. He was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2013, meaning strife with his marriage coincided with his cancer journey. According to the National Cancer Institute, thyroid cancer occurs when cancer cells form in the tissues of the thyroid gland. The thyroid is located at the base of the neck and produces hormones that regulate your heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and weight. A lump or swelling in the neck is a common symptom of this type of cancer.
“From 2013 to 2016, it was hell,” El Moussa told Fox News Digital during an interview.
“You know, hitting rock bottom in 2016, when my ex-wife decided that she wanted to end things, you know, that’s when I had to dig deep and really figure out who I was and who I wanted to be, where I wanted to go, and how I was going to get there. So, I did a lot of work on myself to get to where I am today,” El Moussa said.
He was hit with another cancer diagnosis, testicular cancer, in 2017. Symptoms for this type of cancer may include “swelling or discomfort in the scrotum,” according to the National Cancer Institute. El Moussa worried that the cancer would impact his fertility since he had one of his testicles removed during treatment. Testicular cancer survivors may encounter fertility issues after overcoming the disease, but this is not always the case.
SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 07: (L-R) Tarek El Moussa and Heather Rae El Moussa attend the 47th Annual People’s Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on December 07, 2021 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
Removing one testicle may not always affect fertility for men, according to the Moffitt Cancer Center. Men may be able to maintain their fertility after. However, if both testicles are removed, the man will not preserve their fertility.
“Testicular cancer commonly occurs from ages 20-45, but it can occur at any age,” Dana-Farber medical oncologist Dr. Bradley McGregor previously told SurvivorNet.
Meanwhile, other cancer treatments like chemotherapy can damage sperm in men, and hormone therapy can decrease sperm production, according to the National Cancer Institute. Radiation to the reproductive organs or nearby areas can potentially lower sperm count and testosterone levels, causing infertility.
El Moussa noted how he would feel tired more frequently, leading him down a path of consequential treatment.
“I was tired, and my thyroid levels – I thought it was from my thyroid, or I thought it was from my testicular cancer, so I went to this Botox doctor, a hormone clinic that my ex said to go check out and next thing I know I’m shoving a needle in my a—and I’m taking steroids…It was awful…way too much testosterone,” El Mousa told Fox News Digital.
El Moussa’s candid recounting of the last few years of his life is part of his journey to reclaiming his sense of self and good mental health.
Managing Your Mental Health
A diagnosis of cancer or disease or some external stressor like a troubled relationship can offset your mental health in ways you least expect.
Psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik says your emotions will be fluid when facing a diagnosis. SurvivorNet has some tips to help keep your mental and emotional health in a good space if you find yourself coping with a stressful situation.
The National Institute of Mental Health says you should seek professional help if you are experiencing severe or distressing symptoms that have lasted two weeks or more, such as:
Trouble sleeping
Changes in appetite
Struggling to leave bed in the morning because of your mood
Trouble concentrating
Loss of interest in things you usually enjoy
Inability to perform normal daily functions and responsibilities
Equally as important is recognizing the value of self-care. The National Institute of Mental Health offers practical guidance on how to boost your weekly self-care routine.
Regularly exercising
Eating healthy, regular meals
Staying hydrated
Prioritizing sleep
Exploring relaxation programs or techniques
Setting goals/priorities
Staying positive
Connecting with others
WATCH: How genetic testing can help improve your mental health.
Genetic testing can also help people wrestling with their mental health. It has been shown to match people with the best medication for mental health treatment. While genetic testing has helped make treatment plans for other diseases, such as certain types of cancer, the ability to use it to help people suffering from anxiety and depression is relatively new.
“Doing the genetic testing has absolutely transformed the landscape of psycho-pharmacology,” psychiatrist Dr. Plutchik tells SurvivorNet.
“It’s something that I highly recommend for anybody that is taking medication, whether they are being treated for cancer or not … I recommend it for children who are taking medication. I recommend it for elderly people. Anybody who is taking medication, I think, can greatly benefit from genetic testing,” Dr. Plutchik added.
