Healing Through Art & Positivity
- After facing breast cancer, actress Danielle Fishel found renewed purpose on “Dancing With the Stars,” calling her recent contemporary routine to Aerosmith’s “Dream On” a “big gift.”
- Her performance comes about one year after the “Boy Meets World” legend was diagnosed with stage zero breast cancer after undergoing a routine mammogram.
- Stage zero breast cancer or ductal carcinoma in situ are abnormal cells that line the ducts in the breast. This type of cancer is non-invasive and is highly treatable if caught in its early stages.
- Positive psychology is a different approach to mental well-being that focuses on a person’s strengths rather than illness & standard treatment. This approach can be really helpful for people living with illnesses like cancer.
- Reaching milestones during or after a cancer battle is huge. These events – like finishing chemotherapy treatment, birthday, or challenging your body to perform a dance, may mean even more than they did previously, so it’s important to take them all in and celebrate all that you’ve overcome.
Fishel danced to Aerosmith’s first major hit song before getting voted off of season 34 of the ABC series “Dancing With the Stars” on Tuesday night, a little more than a year after receiving her diagnosis of high-grade DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ). The mom of two, best known for her breakout role as Topanga Lawrence, underwent surgery to remove the cancer and received follow-up treatment last year.
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Despite an incredible performance, which prompted fans to praise Fishel for her beauty and “amazing” work, she was ultimately eliminated from the show.
After learning she wouldn’t be moving on, she told the show’s co-hosts that “DWTS” was “life-changing” for her, noting that “every single moment, including this one, has been joyous.”
Fans, however, weren’t happy with the judges decision to have Fishel go home.
One commented on an Instagram post recapping the night, “Danielle being on DWTS is what brought me back to watching the show for the first time in almost a decade!”
Another wrote, “They totally did this woman dirty from the word GO. @daniellefishel YOU ARE A ROCKSTAR!!”
“Danielle , you are a 10 in my eyes. Beautiful dance tonight. The pod meets world fans are gutted,” commented a third.
Others commented saying, “Dance IS therapy!” and “Winner in my heart.”
According to TV Insider, while Fishel commented on being eliminated, she said, referring to the “Team Chicago” dance, “What a high note to go out on. It was also not just the performance went well. It was that we got to rehearse it.
“We actually only had about seven hours, but every moment in rehearsal was just fun. As we were doing it, we were aware that we were making great memories and putting together a great dance. When it landed and we finished, it was excitement like I’d never felt before.”
@officialdwts Team Chicago with Alfonso Ribeiro perform to “25 or 6 to 4” by Chicago!
Fishel’s Stage Zero Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Speaking on an earlier episode of the Pod Meets World podcast, which Fishel co-hosts with her “Boy Meets World” co-stars Rider Strong and Will Friedle, the actress revealed, “I was diagnosed with high-grade DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ) with micro-invasion.”
Fishel said she underwent surgery to remove the cancer and received follow-up treatment.
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Following her diagnosis, Fishel felt increasingly empowered to share her cancer journey, explaining further, “What I realized is the more people I talk to, the more people have had their own experiences, either themselves being diagnosed with cancer or a family member who’s been diagnosed with cancer.”
She expressed deep gratitude that her annual mammogram allowed her to detect the cancer before it had a chance to develop further.
Fishel hopes that by sharing her experience, others will be inspired to take control of their own health and prioritize regular screenings.
“If it’s time for your appointment, if you’ve never had an appointment before, get in there. If you have to find out that you have cancer, find out when it’s at stage zero, if possible,” Fishel added.
WATCH: I Have Stage Zero Breast Cancer.
Stage zero breast cancer or ductal carcinoma in situ are abnormal cells that line the ducts in the breast. A normal breast comprises many ducts carrying milk to the nipple in a lactating woman. This type of breast cancer is not invasive, meaning it has not spread outside the milk duct and can’t invade other parts of the breast.
Some oncologists approach stage zero breast cancer with a watch-and-wait approach, meaning no invasive procedure happens immediately. Other oncologists may opt to perform surgery followed by possible radiation.
SurvivorNet experts say if DCIS is left untreated, it may develop into more advanced breast cancer.
Expert Body Positivity Resources
- These Intimate, Sexy Photographs Show Scars and More — a Powerful Message About Femininity and Beauty
- Breast Cancer Survivor Meghan Koziel on Improving Your Sexuality & Confidence After Cancer
- SurvivorNetTV Presents: ‘SN & You – Body Image: Embracing Your Body’
- SurvivorNetTV Presents: Maintaining a Positive Headspace
- Brave, Bold, and Beautiful in the Face of Cancer — Reclaiming Confidence Through Makeup And Skincare
Learning About Positive Psychology
Another way to cope with body image and mental health is through positive psychology, an approach to mental well-being that focuses more on a person’s strengths and how they can help themselves rather than just trying to curb individual symptoms and/or diagnose a disorder.
“It is a fundamental sort of different way of thinking about patients, thinking about their experience,” Dr. Samantha Boardman, a New York-based psychiatrist and author, told SurvivorNet. “It’s not just focusing on what’s the matter. It’s also asking them, what matters to you?”
Dr. Boardman noted that positive psychology is a reimagined approach to dealing with mental struggles. “Making people feel less bad is not the same as making them feel good,” she said, referring to how this new approach encourages people to try to find happiness rather than just try to stop sadness.
This approach can be a major benefit to people who are dealing with an illness like cancer because it focuses on finding those great parts of life.
What is Positive Psychology & How Can it Help Cancer Survivors?
“Positive emotions have unique benefits above and beyond managing negative emotions,” Dr. Boardman explained.
“Sometimes you can treat a patient and get rid of some of their symptoms, and it’s not necessarily then that you find a flourishing patient you might even get an empty patient. So, really tapping into those resources where do they find positive emotions? What provides a sense of engagement for them? How can you promote positive relationships?”
If you happen to be struggling with body image during a health struggle, it’s important to know you’re not alone if you’re having a hard time with how you view your body after receiving a diagnosis or going through treatment.
Celebrity stylist Ann Caruso, for instance, previously opened up to SurvivorNet about how she was never the same after her 12 breast cancer surgeries.
Celebrity Stylist Ann Caruso on Beauty and Femininity After Cancer
“You’re not the same carefree person that you once were, and it was very hard for me to look at myself every day,” Caruso said. “It was like I was a totally different person and didn’t fit into any of my clothes for so long.”
But as time went on, Caruso said the experience helped her redefine femininity and body image as she knew it.
“Femininity is a state of mind,” Caruso said. “And I think that’s something that we have to remind ourselves.”
Tips On 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, focus on the following steps to make meaningful change.
“Adversity And The Art of Happiness:” How Hardship Makes You Even Stronger
- 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.
- 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.
- Rely on others. Spend time with people who show you unconditional support and encouragement. They will ease your stress and help you remember that you’re not alone in this! Dr. Samantha Boardman, a psychiatrist and author, tells SurvivorNet that one “coping strategy that can be productive is reaching out, talking to others. Having support we know is really critical in the healing process.”
- Use positive self-talk. Leave messages with affirmations in places you frequent. Put notes around your mirror or your 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 explains to SurvivorNet that “Positive emotions have unique benefits above and beyond managing negative emotions.”
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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