Strength Through Cancer & Divorce
- Kathy Griffin, who was diagnosed with stage 1 lung cancer in 2021 and declared “cancer-free” after surgery, previously dealt with an addiction to pills, divorce, and suicidal thoughts—all of which have helped fuel her jokes. The 65-year-old comedian recently admitted that her divorce was “harder” than her cancer journey.
- Psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik previously told SurvivorNet that emotions will be fluid when battling cancer. SurvivorNet has other great mental health resources for you, as well as films that will inspire you.
- Cancer patients oftentimes find themselves navigating a wide range of emotions that impact their mental health. When it comes to dealing with anxiety and stress, psychologist Dr. Marianna 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.
- The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration says if you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Just call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.
Griffin—who has faced struggles with pill addiction, suicidal thoughts, and a early-stage lung cancer diagnosis—told Interview Magazine in a recent discussion that her comedy material naturally arises from whatever she’s living through.
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The Illinois-born actress continued, “I was down for the count, and yet I was thinking, ‘Well, I’m also going through something everyone has gone through at some point in their lives: having their heart broken and all that goes with that.’ And there are things that are humorous now that I’m single that I do that I didn’t do before—something around the house, or how I conduct myself out with people or whatever.
“So immediately I started thinking, ‘There is certainly nothing funny about this to me right now, but just keep it all up here and get ready to make it funny when you have a little distance.”
Expert Resources On Coping With Emotions
Reflecting on the backlash she faced after posting a satirical image portraying herself alongside Donald Trump, Griffin said “my whole life changed.”
Griffin, who has also coped with the death of her beloved mom Maggie Griffin, prior to getting a vocal cord implant, explained further, “And then a series of other things happened that I knew would only have value if I could turn them into something funny.
“Hence, the current special, My Life on the PTSD-List, which deals with suicide ideation, addiction, divorce. I just thought, ‘Well, that’s what I do.’ It’s a reflection of whatever is in my zeitgeist. And comedy is the prism it gets put through.”
As for what makes her laugh these days, Griffin said it’s “real stuff, real people.”
“I like stuff that’s legit. I tend to not make fun of people that already have a great sense of humor about themselves, because there’s nothing there. And I admit, I do willingly throw myself into situations where I could end up with material, like joining dating apps,” she said.
“I mean, that’s ridiculous—Kathy Griffin on a dating app. The guy can find out anything about me online, and I know nothing about this guy. I’m just meeting him somewhere for a Diet Coke and hoping he doesn’t kill me. Did I do that to get material? Yes. Would I have liked to fall in love? Sure, of course. But I will put myself in those situations hoping I find some funny stuff, and usually I do.”
Griffin then noted how she’s no longer interested in dating and is now focused on herself.
Her conversation with Interview Magazine comes shortly after her 65th birthday, which she took to Instagram to commemorate, writing, “Tomorrow I turned 65. I can’t believe it.
“My problem is I still feel like I’m 25. Today I taped two of my YouTube shows and my friend Mandy took me out to dinner and took this picture.”
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She concluded, “”Last night there was an almost surprise may as well have been a surprise birthday party flash mob party for me given by my pal, the one and only Emmy award-winning all around baddie @nancyleegrahn. More to come on that tomorrow.
“OK, I’m going to bed early with my four doggies and I’m going back to my book. Right now I’m on “1776” by David McCullough. Excellent birthday so far. Oh and tomorrow/Tuesday, November 4, my actual birthday, I am a guest on @sherrieshepherd Can’t wait!”
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration says if you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Just call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.
Kathy Griffin’s Cancer Battle
In 2021, after Griffin was diagnosed with lung cancer, she chose to share her journey publicly and has been open about the experience ever since. Griffin, a lifelong non-smoker, was diagnosed with stage 1 lung cancer, meaning the disease had not spread to her lymph nodes or any other organs.
The comic revealed her cancer diagnosis via social media in Aug. 2021. Thankfully, the cancer seemed to be contained to one part of her lung, so she underwent surgery to have half of her left lung removed shortly after sharing the news.
She then revealed she was cancer-free in December 2021, but she still had a lot of recovering to do. After the surgery, her voice was temporarily altered by an intubation tube giving her a “Minnie Mouse meets Marilyn Monroe” type of voice.
After sharing that her six-month check up scans were clear in February 2022, she later told fans she was concerned about the way that her doctor handled her initial treatments.
Griffin has since been seen by a doctor who made her feel heard (something our experts recommend if you feel your concerned aren’t being addressed appropriately), and she continues to make strides in her recovery.
It’s unclear exactly what procedure she had done, but a post from December 2022 revealed Griffin was having another surgery to address her voice.
Early-Stage Lung Cancer Surgery & The Healing Process
There are several types of surgery that can remove lung cancer, including segmentectomy (removal of a small segment of the lung), lobectomy (removal of a lobe of the lung) or pneumonectomy (removal of the entire lung). The decision is largely based on the size of the tumor and where in your lung it is located.
In Diagnosing Lung Cancer, The Symptoms Often Come Late
Before surgery, your oncologist must make sure you are in otherwise good health. This involves a thorough preoperative physical examination. Smoking is the main cause of lung cancer, and it is also linked to heart and other arterial diseases, which means that you need an all-clear to be considered a surgical candidate for stage one lung cancer.
For anyone fortunate enough to be able to have surgery, like Griffin, managing pain after the operation can be difficult once you get home.
SurvivorNet previously spoke with Melissa Culligan, Director of Clinical Research – Division of Thoracic Surgery at University of Maryland Medical Center, who has been taking care of lung cancer patients for more than 30 years. Culligan expressed how crucial it is to stay in touch with your medical team.
“It’s important that you stay connected and as things change that maybe don’t feel right, that you connect with your care team and make sure that either they do something to make you feel better or that they reassure you that this is to be expected,” she said, “because your pain will change in location and nature,” Culligan added.
Managing discomfort after lung cancer surgery
As you become more active, Culligan says your pain “may increase a little bit,” as it did for Griffin, who would have days out at lunch and events feeling great, but then be stuck in bed shortly after.
Advancements In Lung Cancer Treatment
Lung cancer treatment is still evolving, offering the promise of hope for people living with this type of cancer. Research presented at the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) showed that (generic name: durvalumab) (brand name: Imfinzi), a type of immunotherapy drug, could reduce the risk of death for patients with limited-stage small cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC) by 27-percent.
The study demonstrated that the use of Imfinzi improved overall survival and progression-free survival (the time a patient lives without their disease getting worse) in patients.
“SCLC is one of the most aggressive types of lung cancer. The ADRIATIC trial is a landmark study and provides a new standard of care with the addition of immunotherapy for patients with early-stage SCLC who are being treated with the goal of curing their cancer,” said Dr. Lauren Byers, thoracic section chief in the Department of Thoracic-Head & Neck Medical Oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.
Dr. Byers pointed out that Imfinzi helped patients live for years compared to many other treatment approaches where the benefits were measured in months.
WATCH: Understanding Immunotherapy in Lung Cancer.
Another treatment option that has shown great promise is the drug Rybrevant, which is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for non-small lung cancer (NSCLC) and has a specific genetic mutation your doctor can identify through testing.
“When a patient comes in, we immediately sequence the tumor. We are doing panels that might include three, four, or 500 genes, the ones that are most likely. Some sort of next-generation approach is the best standard of care these days – it has to be done,” Dr. Herbst explains.
The active ingredient in Rybrevant is amivantamab-vmjw. It belongs to a class of drugs known as biologics, which are made from living cells.
The drug works like a guided missile, finding and sticking to the bad cancer cells. It targets and attaches to two specific proteins in cancer cells, disrupting their growth signals and activating the immune system to fight the cancer.
Once it finds its target, it blocks signals the cells need to grow and spread. This stops the cancer from worsening and helps patients feel better for longer.
Rybrevant is different from older cancer treatments because it is a targeted drug therapy. It doesn’t just attack all rapidly dividing cells like traditional chemotherapy does. Instead, it goes after the cancer cells with the mutation it was designed to treat while avoiding the healthy surrounding cells. This means it can be more effective and might have fewer side effects than other treatments.
WATCH: Imfinzi offering hope to patients.
Lorlatinib and crizotinib are other lung cancer treatments known as tyrosine kinase inhibitors. These drugs target ALK, a signaling protein inappropriately present in the tumors of about five percent of patients with NCSLC.
“It is encouraging that the upfront benefits of lorlatinib over crizotinib continue for several years in more than half the patients. It also is encouraging that patients receiving lorlatinib had much fewer incidences of brain metastasis, which can be devastating,” Dr. Leslie Busby, an oncologist at Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers, told SurvivorNet.
Five-year PFS, or the percentage of patients who lived five years without any evidence of cancer growth or death, was 60% among patients who received lorlatinib compared to only 8% among patients who received crizotinib—an absolute difference greater than 50%.
Managing Your Mental Health in the Face of a Health Challenge or Major Life Change
It’s only natural for health challenges and divorce have some sort of effect on one’s mental health. It’s important to note that the diagnosis of a cancer or disease or some external stressor like a troubled relationship can offset your mental health in ways you least expect.
RELATED: “Therapy Saved My Life”: After Losing A Loved One, Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For Help
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.
How to Navigate Relationships When Depression Hits – A Survivor’s Guide
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.
How to Support a Partner with Cancer
Feelings of “helplessness, lack of control, guilt, anger, embarrassment” are some common emotions parents, siblings, and other relatives within the household of someone battling a health condition may experience, according to researchers.
MacMillan Cancer Support, a charity that advocates for cancer patients, says communication is a vital tool in helping support a partner with cancer, and it could help a couple understand each other better.
“It can help to ask your partner what support they would like and find useful. This makes sure you help where it is most wanted and needed. It can also help you avoid misunderstandings,” the charity said.
Communicating your feelings is something licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Marianna Strongin also believes is vital to helping couples dealing with a cancer diagnosis.
Dr. Strongin adds that people faced with cancer should “surround [themselves] with individuals who care and support [them]” throughout treatment while also acknowledging their limits on what they can handle.
“Going through [cancer] treatment is a very vulnerable and emotionally exhausting experience,” Dr. Strongin wrote in a column for SurvivorNet. “Noticing what you have strength for and what is feeling like too much [is] extremely important to pay attention to as you navigate treatment.”
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
If you find yourself struggling with a diagnosis or helping a loved one cope with their emotions, consider asking your doctor the following questions:
- How can I go about improving my outlook/mental health?
- Are there any activities I can do to encourage positive feelings?
- When should I seek other interventions if I’m still struggling?
- What are the steps to finding a different therapist if the one I’m using is not working out?
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
