Power of Support While Battling Cancer
- Soap opera actor Colin Egglesfield, 52, is now “cancer-free” for the third time and celebrating by praising his doctor for saving his life. He’s also encouraging others to “be brave enough to ask for help” when seeking support throughout a health journey.
- 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 kinds of challenges tap into their support group to help navigate their emotions.
- Support for anyone battling cancer is important during and after treatment. Ask your doctor about community organizations, support groups and other resources to help you connect with others.
- Our mental health can affect how we think, feel, and behave. Certain triggers like stress, traumatic events, or change in your physical health can affect mental health. It’s really important to keep tabs on your mental health and, if necessary, seek treatment. Please check out SurvivorNet’s mental health guide for resources to help you on your way.
Egglesfield, known for his iconic soap opera role as Josh Madden, has now beaten early-stage prostate cancer after undergoing surgery, which followed two successful testicular cancer battles.
Read MoreEgglesfield’s post, which featured a photo of him standing happily alongside his doctor, as well as an image of him holding up a “No Evidence of Disease” sign, began with him praising his doctor for saving his life, explaining, “This is my doctor, Dr. Gellhaus and today I came in for my tests and follow up appointment and he let me know that I am cancer free for the third time.View this post on Instagram
“I can’t begin to say how grateful I am to him, his team and all the incredible staff at @cityofhopephx and the @cityofhopecancerfighters team.”
He then admitted to feeling a whirlwind of emotions, including, “gratitude, disbelief, and numbness” as his cancer journey has been tough to process.
“I have to keep reminding myself that it’s okay to feel scared and anxious and it’s courageous to ask for help when you need it. I’m just so grateful to so many people especially Dr. Gellhaus for helping me feel supported 1000% through all this,” he continued.
“And for anyone else dealing with health issues or life challenges, there is support out there for you but most of the time it’s not just going to magically appear. You have to be brave enough to ask for help when you need it and find the right people who will listen.”
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Egglesfield added, “And what keeps being reinforced to me is that it’s so important to listen to your gut about who you feel safe with and supported by the most. That has made the biggest difference for me.
“And remember, you’re not defined by any of your challenges either. You’re grander than it all. I’m not my fear, my anxiousness or my scars but I embrace it all because the only way to transform it is to own it. And with the support of amazing people such as Dr. Gellhaus and everyone else at @cityofhope, I’ve been able to start to transform my fear and heal from all this not feeling alone.”
View this post on Instagram
Colin Egglesfield’s Prostate & Testicular Cancer Battles
Egglesfield, who successfully battled testicular cancer twice, according to City of Hope, was first diagnosed with the disease in 2006.
Speaking to Fox News during a 2019 interview, recounting what led to his diagnosis, he said, “I just noticed that my left testicle had swelled up, and I went to see the doctor.”
Further testing let him to learn his diagnosis was at an “advanced” stage. And one year after his first diagnosis, he discovered the cancer spread to his other testicle.
He said at the time, “It’s not something that men normally like to talk about, and for the longest time, I didn’t want to talk about it because it’s something very personal.
“I just noticed that my left testicle had swelled up, and I went to see the doctor and he said that we needed to do some tests, ultrasound, a blood test. And they discovered that it was at a pretty advanced stage, and did the surgery and found that some of the cancer cells had gone through the veins and arteries to the kidneys.”
After undergoing surgery to remove the cancer, he learned he had cancer in his other testicle just one year later. He completed further treatment and was ultimately dubbed “cancer-free.”
It’s important to note that a testicular cancer diagnosis is rare, but it is the most common form of cancer diagnosed in young men.
Depending on the stage, the disease is considered extremely treatable. Treatment options can include chemotherapy and radiation, but often the first line of treatment is surgery to remove the testicle which contains the cancerous cells.
RELATED: Dealing With the Shame That May Come With Testicular Cancer
Symptoms of testicular cancer can be subtle. Some people may even confuse the early symptoms such as a small mass in their testicle as an injury. But when these signs are dismissed, the cancer can grow and become worse.
More recently, in January 2025, Egglesfield announced on social media that he was recovering from surgery at the City of Hope Cancer Center after being diagnosed with prostate cancer.
He started his post with the quote, “It’s not the hand that you’ve been dealt because you can’t change that. It’s how you play the cards that counts,” writing, “I found this quote from an interview I did when I was 25 and it has served me well throughout my life including recently.”
Egglesfield then explained how the start of this year was nothing short of easy and insisted he’s choosing to move forward with optimism and resilience in the “face of uncertainty and challenges” after his 3rd cancer diagnosis.
View this post on Instagram
He wrote in his post, “Thankfully, we caught my prostate cancer early and after a year of doing a lot of research and talking to quite a few health care professionals, I elected to be proactive and have surgery.
“I’m so grateful for the amazing support and care I’ve received over the past few months from @cityofhopephx, Dr. Gellhaus and all the nurses, other doctors, and staff that have been instrumental in supporting me through this scary time.”
Coping With a Diagnosis & The Power of Support
Coping with a diagnosis involves a range of emotions from anger to sadness and everything in between.
Sarah Stapleton, a licensed clinical social worker, encourages cancer warriors and their families to be “patient with your emotions.”
It’s also important that you understand how you communicate with your providers, but also with your loved ones,” Stapleton said. “We can’t always assume that people know what we need at a given time, and there are going to be times when you don’t want to speak about your diagnosis and you don’t want to speak about cancer.
Psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik previously explained to SurvivorNet some tips for cancer warriors and their caregivers for managing emotions after a diagnosis. She emphasized getting extra support from loved ones.
“Some people don’t need to go outside of their family and friend circle. They feel like they have enough support there,” Dr. Plutchik said. “But for people who feel like they need a little bit more, it is important to reach out to a mental health professional.”
“Patients who have just been diagnosed with cancer sometimes wonder how they are going to handle the diagnosis of the cancer in social situations,” Dr. Plutchik added. “How much information they should share and with whom they should share the information, everybody is different.”
Ultimately it comes down to what feels right. Loved ones supporting a cancer warrior are encouraged to respect the wishes of the cancer patient when it comes to disclosing their diagnosis.
WATCH: Seeking support after a diagnosis.
Sometimes young family members such as children can be incredible motivators for cancer warriors to keep fighting especially when times get tough. Facing cancer as a parent can be daunting. Fearful thoughts about leaving your children may creep into your mind and add even more to your overflowing plate.
“Cancer patients with children can have increased motivation to endure difficult treatment but may also be concerned about the emotional impact of the illness on their offspring,” Dr. Cindy Moore of Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center previously explained to The ASCO Post, an oncology newspaper.
The Benefit of Support Networks for Cancer Patients
During the difficult moments of explaining cancer to younger children, Dr. Moore recommends cancer patients should discuss some of their biggest concerns with their healthcare teams.
With the help of your healthcare team, you can come up with an effective communication plan to explain your diagnosis to your kids at an age-appropriate level.
Managing Your Mental Health in the Face of a Health Challenge or Major Life Change
It’s only natural for health challenges to have some sort of effect on one’s mental health. Psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik previously told SurvivorNet that 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 advises to 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
Battling cancer comes with a ton of emotions. These can range from “anxiety, depression, financial toxicity, social isolation, and PTSD,” SurvivorNet expert and researcher at Moffitt Cancer Center Dr. Shelly Tworoger says.
Psychologist Dr. Marianna Strongin also shared some simple tips to help you maintain good mental health and reduce stress amid adversity.
When it comes to dealing with anxiety, Dr. Strongin says it’s important to have a healthy relationship with your anxiety and get to know it rather than fear it, avoid it, or push it away.
Dr. Strongin explained, “By learning more about your anxious thoughts and tendencies, one can begin to answer their anxious thoughts even in moments when there aren’t any answers. For cancer patients, the worry thoughts tend to be, ‘Will I survive?’
“It’s important to let those thoughts come in and really be able to tolerate them before answering them. This is a very powerful coping skill.”
Dr. Strongin suggests medications to help with anxiety and depression if other approaches are not as effective. She also urges cancer warriors to explore telemedicine.
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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