Celine's Special News
- Celine Dion, 52, suprised her fans this week with a newly remastered HD-version of her hit album, Falling Into You.
- Since losing husband René Angélil to throat cancer in 2016, Dion has continued to honor his memory and continue on with her career; René battled throat cancer twice and treated it with surgery.
- Losing a spouse to cancer can be devastating, but the grief journey is made easier with the help of resources like therapy.
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René’s Throat Cancer
Celine’s husband René received his first throat cancer diagnosis in 1998, and following treatment, his disease went into remission. Decades later, in 2014, his throat cancer returned after doctors found a lump in his throat.
In 2014, the husband, father, and music producer underwent surgery to treat his throat cancer. As a result of his surgery, parts of René’s tongue were removed. He passed away from throat cancer in 2016 at age 73.
Related: Having Oral Sex With Multiple Partners Can Increase Risk for Throat Cancer, Says New Study
We don't know the cause of René's throat cancer, but we do know that throat cancer can be connected to HPV. Dr. Jessica Geiger, a medical oncologist at Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center, explains in a previous interview the link between throat cancer and HPV. "Right now there are no screening guidelines to screen for throat cancer, unlike cervical cancer with pap smears. And there are no standard tests to determine if you harbor the virus,” she says. “However, there is no concern that you're going to spread this cancer to your partner or to anyone else, because at this point your partner has already been exposed to the virus and likely cleared it."
Get the Facts: What Do We Know About HPV-Linked Throat Cancer?
Coping with Losing a Spouse to Cancer
Losing a spouse or partner to cancer, as Dion has, is never easy. It’s a grief-filled process that requires time and space for continued healing. Many people find comfort and support in resources like therapy, support groups and faith.
Camila Legaspi was in high school when she lost her mother to breast cancer, and turned to therapy to help manage the emotions around her mom’s death. In an earlier interview, Legaspi says of that time, “Therapy saved my life. I was dealing with some really intense anxiety and depression at that point. It just changed my life, because I was so drained by all the negativity that was going on.”
“Going to a therapist helped me realize that there was still so much out there for me, that I still had my family, that I still had my siblings,” she says. “The reality is, is when you lose someone, it’s really, really, really hard. And it’s totally OK to talk to someone. And I’m so happy that I talked to my therapist. Keep your chin up, and it’s going to be OK.”
"Therapy Saved My Life": After Losing A Loved One, Don't Be Afraid To Ask For Help
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