Challenging Side Effects for Survivors
- Reality star Katie Thurston, at 34 years old, is sharing one of the most challenging aspects of cancer treatment side affects that a woman can go through, medically induced menopause, which she says is making her “tired AF” (as f***).
- The Washington native, who joined The Bachelor’s 25th season in 2021, then went on to star in season 17 of The Bachelorette, which aired the same year, is living with stage 4 breast cancer. Like many survivors, Thurston has used social media as a video diary to convey her day-to-day new normal as she struggles to cope with the disease and its side effects from treatment.
- Yoga, meditation, eating a balanced diet and trying to get enough sleep at night (though for people like Thurston), that is a big part of the problem) can all help reduce these unpleasant symptoms, which can be disruptive to your day-to-day life.
- Navigating the emotional toll of cancer on top can feel extremely overwhelming. Consider seeing a therapist who can help you with talk therapy, as it’s important to learn coping techniques and feel comforted with additional guidance during this highly stressful time.
Like many survivors, Thurston has used social media as a video diary to convey her day-to-day new normal as she struggles to cope with the disease and its side effects from treatment. Her specific type of breast cancer is triple positive, which is a HER2-positive cancer. Breast cancer classified as HER2-positive tends to exhibit faster growth, increased likelihood of spreading (metastasis), and a higher chance of recurrence. Despite its aggressive nature, HER2-positive cancer responds well to treatments that specifically target HER2 proteins.
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Explaining how her medication makes her “so dehydrated,” she showed herself filling a water cup “to the brim” and adding electrolytes for an extra boost.
“My lips have been chapped for what feels like two weeks straight,” she said. “And so it’s this game of, like, catch-up and trying to just make sure I get enough water. Which I was already bad at before medication and now it’s like a true task every day to force myself to consume water. So, good morning!” she added.
Later, Thurston posted her getting ready routine, telling her followers that she has to take a nap mid-way through her primping session.
“So this is the part of the day where I get half ready … nap, then get fully ready,” she captioned a shot of herself in bed wearing a cozy grey robe snuggling a fuzzy white blanket, wearing soft makeup with her bangs swooped out.
The newly-married reality star, who recently moved to New York City from Los Angeles with husband, comedian Jeff Arcuri, 37, disclosed her personal health news on February 15.
“I experienced a range of emotions over the past two weeks,” she wrote on Instagram. “Despair. Anger. Sadness. Denial. And then strength. Purposeful. Ready.”
Further expressing her pain, Thurston said, “I cried a lot. I tried to even make a video instead of this post and couldn’t.”
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Thurston gave an update on her breast cancer stage just a week after tying the knot in New York City, saying that she found out the disease has spread to her liver, though she is “very optimistic” about her upcoming treatment since her medical team caught the spread early.
“After days of waiting, unfortunately, I did find out today that my breast cancer has spread to the liver,” Thurston shared via Instagram video on March 28. “It is fairly small, however it does put me at stage four.”
Despite the tragic news for the newlywed, Thurston said she is “very confident” in her medical team at NYC’s Columbia University and started a new treatment plan, which includes chemo, on April 4.
“I know stage four can sound very scary, and it can be,” shared Thurston. “However, given that I am triple positive and the spot’s on my liver are fairly small and detected early, I feel very optimistic on my outcome.”
Experiencing Early Menopause
When menopause happens naturally, it’s a gradual process in which estrogen production slows over time. By contrast, breast cancer treatment or ovarian cancer surgery can thrust a woman into menopause within a day or two. The suddenness of her transition to menopause caught Araceli Rubi off guard.
Though her doctor had warned her that she would go into early menopause, “I didn’t know what I was expecting,” says the stage I ovarian cancer survivor from Memphis, Tennessee. Her immediate response was, “‘Ok, what’s going on? What’s this?'”
Early Menopause Comes as a Shock to Cancer Survivor Araceli Rubi
When Rubi would wake up in the middle of the night with her pajamas drenched in sweat, she’d call the nurse to ask, “Is this normal?” The nurse would respond that night sweatsfeelings of intense heat accompanied by sweating in the middle of the night are a normal part of surgery-induced menopause.
Relearning Everything
Being thrust into menopause at an early age required Rubi to make some significant life changes very quickly. “I had to relearn how to live everything,” Rubi said. “The way that I eat, what I drink, everything.”
Lifestyle changes may be one way to combat hot flashes and night sweats. For example, avoiding caffeine, alcohol, and spicy foods can help lessen the severity of these occurrences. Keeping the bedroom cool, dressing in light clothing, and exercising have also been shown to help.
“My body had to get adjusted not to have any more hormones.”
That period of time was a difficult one for both Rubi, and her children. She said she was an “emotional train wreck of menopause, of chemo, of everything going on at the same time.”
Rubi realized that her own fragile emotional state was affecting her children, too. She would suddenly come to the realization that, “‘I’m being horrible right now. I need to stop.'”
Fortunately, her kids understood what she was going through, and they supported her all the way. “They knew that that wasn’t me,” Rubi said. “They would be like, ‘We understand you don’t have hormones. It’s okay. We love you.'”
“That’s the kind of support that anyone that’s going through any type of cancer needs,” she added.
Menopause Symptoms
Menopause symptoms, whether medically induced or not, may include the following symptoms, according to Cleveland Clinic:
- Irregular periods, where the flow may be heavier or lighter
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats and/or cold flashes
- Vaginal dryness
- Urinary urgency
- Insomnia
- Emotional changes
- Dry skin, eyes or mouth
- Worsening PMS symptoms
- Breast tenderness
- Weight gain
- Hair loss or thinning
- Changes in sex drive
- Rapid heartbeat
- Difficulty concentrating or memory lapse
- Joint and muscle aches and pains
Easing symptoms
Yoga, meditation, eating a balanced diet and trying to get enough sleep at night (though for many, that is a big part of the problem) can all help reduce these unpleasant symptoms, which can be disruptive to your day-to-day life.
Feel the Fear, and Let it Go — Meditation for Cancer Survivors
Navigating the emotional toll of cancer on top can feel extremely overwhelming. Consider seeing a therapist who can help you with talk therapy, as it’s important to learn coping techniques and feel comforted with additional guidance during this highly stressful time.
What Is ‘HER2-Positive’ Breast Cancer?
The human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is a receptor on the surface of almost all the cells in our body, and it is one of the many receptors responsible for the communication between the cells to promote their growth, division, repair, and survival. In other words, HER2 is one of the many receptors that help cells grow and divide when the timing is right.
Breast cancer classified as HER2-positive tends to exhibit faster growth, increased likelihood of spreading (metastasis), and a higher chance of recurrence. Despite its aggressive nature, HER2-positive cancer responds well to treatments that specifically target HER2 proteins.
Learning About Treatment for HER2-Positive Breast Cancer
All breast cells are examined for an abundance of this protein (HER2). HER2 proteins act as receptors that regulate the growth and division of cells. If there is an excess of HER2 receptors in breast tissue (known as overexpression), it can lead to rapid multiplication of breast cells. This uncontrolled growth may result in the formation of a tumor.
There are no distinct symptoms or specific risk factors associated with HER2-positive breast cancer, although research indicates that this type of cancer may be more prevalent among younger women.
For more information on this type of cancer, SurvivorNet has developed a guide called “Living With HER2-positive Breast Cancer” to help you you through.
Learning About Breast Cancer Treatment
Your doctor has many ways to treat breast cancer, including:
- Surgery
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation
- Hormone therapy
- Targeted therapy
- Immunotherapy
WATCH: Choosing between a lumpectomy or mastectomy.
Surgery
Most women with breast cancer will have surgery at some point in their treatment. Depending on how far your cancer has spread and your personal preferences, you and your doctor may decide to:
- Remove just the cancer and an area of healthy tissue around it (lumpectomy)
- Remove one breast (mastectomy)
- Remove both breasts (double mastectomy)
Removing your breasts can have a dramatic effect on your self-esteem, which is why some women who opt for a mastectomy then choose breast reconstruction surgery. This is a highly personal choice, and there is no “right” answer as to whether or not to reconstruct.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses strong drugs to kill cancer all over the body. You may get this treatment to shrink a tumor before surgery, afterward to get rid of any remaining cancer cells, or on its own if you can’t have surgery.
Whether or not to have chemotherapy can also be a choice, depending on a woman’s age, type of cancer, and stage.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy is the use of high-energy rays to destroy cancer cells and is typically used after surgery to lower the chance that the cancer will come back after treatment. Many women undergo radiation as part of their treatment, especially if they opt for a lumpectomy instead of a mastectomy.
Hormone Therapy
The hormones estrogen and progesterone help some breast cancers grow. Doctors refer to these types of cancers as hormone-receptor-positive breast cancers. Receptors are proteins on the surface of breast cells that receive messages from estrogen, progesterone, or both, telling them to grow. Treatments that block these hormones may help stop the tumor.
Testing the tumor sample from a biopsy helps to determine whether hormone therapies such as tamoxifen (Nolvadex) or anastrozole (Arimidex) might work against the cancer. Women with breast cancer that is fueled by estrogen may take one of these drugs as part of their treatment.
Immunotherapy and Targeted Therapy
Immunotherapy and targeted therapies are newer forms of treatment. Immunotherapy boosts your body’s own immune response to help it stop the cancer.
As their name suggests, targeted therapies target certain substances that help the cancer grow. For example, drugs like trastuzumab (Herceptin) and pertuzumab (Perjeta) treat breast cancers that have too much of a protein called HER2 on their surface.
Coping With a Breast Cancer Diagnosis
If you are facing a breast cancer diagnosis, your emotions are likely to run high, which is completely normal. Psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik says emotions are often fluid when coping with a diagnosis.
“The patient or person going through the stressful event should accept that emotions will be fluid. You may feel fine one day and then feel a massive wave of stress the next. It’s also important for those you look to for support, whether that’s a therapist, friends, family, or both, to understand the fluidity of stress-related emotions,” Dr. Plutchik said.
RELATED: Mental Health and Cancer — The Fight, Flight or Freeze Response
If a stressful event affects how you think and feel, it may be time to seek mental health treatment. This could mean traditional talk therapy, medication, changing lifestyle habits (like exercise and diet), seeking a support group, or many other approaches.
Women needing a little extra help coping with a breast cancer diagnosis should consider the following.
- Let your family and close friends know and let them help. So many cancer survivors tell us they want and need support but are often too preoccupied to make specific requests. Urge those close to you to jump in with whatever practical help they can offer.
- Keep a journal. It can be highly cathartic to let those feelings loose on paper. Grab a pen and a lovely journal and chronicle your thoughts throughout the day.
- Join a cancer support group. Groups are available in nearly every community and offer opportunities to connect with others going through a similar journey. You’ll learn constructive insight from others who can tell you what to expect and how to stay strong on tough days.
- Consider seeing a therapist. Ask your doctor to refer you to a therapist so you can discuss your fears and concerns in a safe space. Often, vocalizing your thoughts and feelings rather than internalizing them can provide relief.
Mental Health & Coping with Emotions
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
If you have been diagnosed with breast cancer, you may have questions about how to keep your strength through treatment. Here are a few questions to help you begin the conversation:
- What treatment will I be receiving?
- What side effects are associated with this treatment?
- Are there steps I can take daily to help minimize these side effects?
- What physical activity routine do you recommend for me during treatment?
- Do you have recommendations for someone who doesn’t particularly enjoy exercise?
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
