Living with Cancer
- Country star Coffey Anderon’s wife Criscilla Anderson, 42, said she was sick from chemotherapy just days before she performed with Dolly Parton at the Academy of Country Music Awards.
- She highlights that cancer warriors do not have to give up their passion or work just because they are battling cancer.
- One of our experts says “better quality of life is associated with better outcomes.” She recommends jotting down ten things that make you happy and making the time to do those activities throughout the day.
- Even if you’re working hard to prioritize your mental health by doing activities you love, it can still be quite overwhelming to think of the things you can’t control during a cancer battle.
- That’s why one of our experts says acceptance is an important part of living with cancer. He says you might not have control over many things when it comes to cancer, but you have control over your responses and attitudes.
And from the sheer passion and skill she displayed while dancing on stage, you never would have known it.
Read MoreCirscilla took the stage at the 58th Academy of Country Music Awards as one of Dolly Parton’s backup dancers for her new single, “World on Fire.”
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“To think 4 days ago I was in bed sick from chemo to this moment,” Criscilla wrote under a video of her performance. “God is so dang good.”
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In reflecting on the special moment, Criscilla honored the people who helped her get there. She continued her caption by sharing “some deserved thank you’s.” From her choreographers, to her family, to her manager, the list went on and on.
“I HAVE THE BEST VILLAGE,” she wrote simply.
Living With Cancer Like Criscilla Anderson
It’s important to make time for things that bring you joy when living with cancer. For Criscilla Anderson, that means dancing, making memories with her family and living in the moment.
“Winning at life!” she wrote in another recent Instagram post. “Even through chemo and cancer and all the ugly. God is good!”
Dr. Dana Chase, a gynecologic oncologist at Arizona Oncology, emphasizes the importance of working on your emotional health during a cancer journey.
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“We know from good studies that emotional health is associated with survival, meaning better quality of life is associated with better outcomes,” Dr. Chase told SurvivorNet.
“So working on your emotional health, your physical well-being, your social environment [and] your emotional well-being are important and can impact your survival.”
But how do you know where to start? Dr. Chase recommends jotting down ten things that make you happy and making the time to do those activities throughout the day.
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“Sometimes I will talk to a patient about making [a] list of the top ten things that bring them joy,” Dr. Chase said. “And trying to do those ten things…to make at least 50 percent of their experiences positive throughout the day.”
Even if you’re working hard to prioritize your mental health by doing activities you love, it can still be quite overwhelming to think of the things you can’t control during a cancer battle. That’s why Dr. William Breitbart, the chair of the Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, says acceptance is an important part of living with cancer.
Learning to Accept Yourself — A Huge Part of Living With Cancer
“What the task becomes is having the courage to live in the face of uncertainty, realizing that you cannot necessarily control the uncertainty in life, the suffering that occurs, limitations, challenges both good and bad,” Dr. Breitbart said. “You may not be able to control those but you have control over how you choose to respond to them and the attitudes you take towards them.”
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
If you’re battling cancer and wondering how you can continue to work or participate in your favorite activities, here are some questions to help you get the conversation started with your doctor:
- Am I healthy enough to continue working through treatment?
- Should I take my precautions while working my job?
- Can I participate in other activities while getting treatment?
- Are there local resources available to help me find joy and connection in activities?
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