Navigating an Diagnosis While Trying to Maintain a Sense of Normalcy
- Country blues singer Nat Myers, 35, is living with stage 4 intimal sarcoma, a rare and aggressive soft‑tissue cancer that forms in the inner lining of large arteries; sarcomas develop in connective tissue, and their location determines their specific type.
- Despite his diagnosis, he continues to make music and share his journey openly with fans, even responding to a cruel online comment with defiance, faith, and poetic resilience.
- Myers’ cancer journey began with what he thought was a lung infection, later revealed to be a widespread soft‑tissue sarcoma; despite a difficult prognosis, he remains determined and encouraged by signs that his tumors are responding to chemotherapy treatment, which was a grueling experience for the Kentucky singer.
- Patients almost universally experience fatigue, often alongside gastrointestinal side effects, such as nausea. Doctors have many effective medications to combat chemo-induced nausea. “But mitigating that fatigue often depends on the patient,” says Dr. Renata Urban, a gynecologic oncologist at the University of Washington in Seattle.
- Experts emphasize that when patients share vulnerable moments like Myers’, loved ones can offer meaningful support by acknowledging their experience, staying authentic, and continuing to nurture the relationship in ordinary, grounding ways.
- Oncology nurse Deborah K. Mayer notes that people with cancer often feel a heightened awareness of their own mortality, which can be both clarifying and emotionally heavy, describing it as “a very big burden.”
His treatment for an advanced cancer diagnosis is a constant reminder that his cancer fight is still underway.
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Myers is living with stage 4 intimal sarcoma. According to the peer-reviewed medical journal Modern Pathology, “intimal sarcomas are undifferentiated mesenchymal tumors arising from the inner lining (intima) of large arteries.” This type of sarcoma is considered rare and aggressive. To put it plainly, sarcomas form in connective tissue, and where they develop helps determine their type.
“I have undergone dozens of chemo infusions since I was first diagnosed in 2025, including red devil, ifosfamide, and until recently a combo called gem-tax. I received eleven cycles of gem-tax before fluid buildup in my lungs last month led us to change things up,” Myers described in a GoFundMe post.
Myers previously stated that his tumors have spread into his arms and veins.
The Kentucky-born musician broke into the country blues scene in 2023 and even performed for the Recording Academy that same year. But while he reflects on the joy of time spent with close friends—some now moving away—he also acknowledges the isolation that comes with a years‑long cancer battle.
“Alone in a hospital bed, I think: this is the work,” he wrote, suggesting that enduring treatment is part of the labor of staying alive.
Still, Myers’ spirits remain high. He’s hopeful for better days ahead and grateful for the people who continue to lift him up. In his rhythmic, plainspoken style, he sums up this chapter of his life simply:
“Contrasts, y’all. Life can be a hell of a giddy thing… Alone in a hospital bed, I think: this is the work. The better day ain’t behind you.”
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Myers’ Cancer Journey and His Defiant Spirit
Myers began feeling unwell and initially believed he was battling a stubborn infection. But the truth was far more serious.
“What I thought was a prolonged lung infection turned out to be much more sinister, with growths around my heart and pulmonary artery,” he revealed in a GoFundMe post.
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Doctors diagnosed Myers with stage 4 sarcoma, forcing him to cancel a string of performances and shift his focus to his health. But even as medical professionals gave him a prognosis of mere weeks to live, Myers refused to surrender.
“Doctors of varying humanity have given me days or weeks to live, but I live by my odds and not theirs,” he wrote defiantly.
His resolve is unwavering.
“I am taking things day by day and conserving and building the energy I need to overcome this affliction. I refuse to speak from the past tense, because there is beauty and life in the struggle I am currently fighting, and I will overcome this,” Myers said.
Last September, a glimmer of hope emerged. Myers shared that his tumors were responding to chemotherapy.
“Because my tumors appear to be responding to the chemo, they want me to keep the course as it is with OSU,” he said on Instagram. “But they said that as trials present themselves, & as the tumors shrink, isolated therapies & more options are already in their pipeline, & part of the plan they are mapping out for me.”
At least for the moment, Myers appears to have received a reprieve from the intensity of treatment, although its emotional effects remain everlasting.
“I barely made it through. I have never been so blue, and never been so grateful,” he admitted.
Coping With Grueling Chemotherapy
Myers says, “I was told that chemo does a complete 180 on one’s body chemistry, and I feel the poison and the cure.”
Chemotherapy is a common cancer treatment, and while it can be tremendously effective, getting through it is often easier said than done. It is an effective tool for oncologists to help treat cancer by stopping cancerous cells from growing, dividing, and spreading to other organs. Chemo works by traveling through the bloodstream, killing cancerous cells. However, the process also impacts healthy cells, leading to side effects.
Patients almost universally experience fatigue, often alongside gastrointestinal side effects, such as nausea. Doctors have many effective medications to combat chemo-induced nausea. “But mitigating that fatigue often depends on the patient,” says Dr. Renata Urban, a gynecologic oncologist at the University of Washington in Seattle.
WATCH: What You Think You Know About Chemotherapy Side Effects May Be Wrong
“Neuropathy is probably one of the most challenging side effects,” Dr. Urban says. Neuropathy results from damage to the peripheral nerves. It usually resolves after chemotherapy treatment, but sometimes symptoms can persist. While it’s typically characterized by numbness or a pins-and-needles sensation in the hands and feet, neuropathy can have several different symptoms, including:
- Weakness in the hands or feet
- Stabbing or burning pain in the hands or feet
- Difficulty gripping, such as when holding a fork
- Difficulty with fine motor skills, such as writing or buttoning a shirt
Nausea and vomiting are common side effects of chemotherapy. When chemotherapy affects the rapidly dividing cells in the stomach lining, the resulting cellular havoc in the gastrointestinal tract can lead to side effects such as nausea and vomiting. However, doctors can help patients mitigate the hit with various medications before, during, and after treatment.
“Part of the chemotherapy prescription includes a set regimen of anti-nausea medications,” Dr. Urban says. “We also ensure that patients have medications at home that they can use should they develop nausea after treatment.”
Hair loss is another side effect of chemotherapy.
WATCH: Coping with hair loss.
“For cancer patients, losing one’s hair can be unbelievably stressful. To start with, the dread of losing one’s hair can lead to some sleepless nights and feelings of anxiety,” Dr. Samantha Boardman, a New York-based psychiatrist and author, told SurvivorNet.
Chemotherapy can cause hair loss. It usually begins about three to four weeks after chemotherapy and continues throughout treatment.
It happens because this treatment targets quickly dividing cells throughout the body. That includes cancer cells but also hair cells.
Most patients can expect regrowth four to six weeks after treatment. However, it is possible that when your hair grows back, you may notice some changes in its color and texture.
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Tips for Navigating Chemo Side Effects
Doctors don’t have an arsenal of prescription medications to combat fatigue. However, you can do several things to help minimize the hit and restore your energy.
- Exercise: While it may be counterintuitive, physical activity can help alleviate side effects, especially fatigue. “Although ovarian cancer is not common, we often draw upon the experience of patients with breast cancer and colon cancer, who have shown that physical activity can not only improve quality of life but may also have beneficial impacts on cancer outcomes,” Dr. Urban says.
- Eat well: Even though nausea may interfere with your ability to eat a healthy diet, it’s essential to ensure you’re eating appropriately, getting enough protein, and not losing weight. Not only will nourishing your body support your recovery, but it may also help you feel more energized.
- Sleep: Want to mitigate fatigue? Be sure to maintain your regular sleep-wake cycle while on treatment. Sticking to a set sleep schedule helps reduce fatigue by ensuring enough hours for your body to heal and restore itself each night. It may also help you recover more quickly by keeping energy levels high during the daytime.
Questions for Your Doctor
If you are undergoing chemotherapy and anticipate doing so in the future, you may want to begin conversations with your doctor about how to manage it best. Here are a few questions to help you kickstart your discussion.
- How can I best prepare for chemotherapy to minimize side effects?
- Are there any dietary or lifestyle changes I should make during treatment?
- What symptoms should I watch out for, and when should I contact you if I experience them?
- Are there any medications or supplements that can help manage chemotherapy side effects?
- How often will I need to receive chemotherapy, and how long will the treatment last?
- How will chemotherapy affect my immune system, and what precautions should I take to avoid infections?
- Can you provide resources or referrals to support services, such as counseling or support groups, for coping with the emotional and psychological aspects of chemotherapy?
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