Luke Bryan Supports a Fan
- Jen Reeves, who shared a touching moment with country star Luke Bryan, is asking for help as she battles a rare bone cancer.
- Reeves has been going through chemotherapy treatments, but the disease has progressed to her lungs, liver, and spleen.
- When going through cancer, a positive mindset is critical in order to see better treatment results
Jen Reeves, a resident of New Jersey, attended a Luke Bryan concert earlier this week just before she was to begin chemotherapy for a rare bone cancer. The concert was a gift from her boyfriend, who bought tickets a month after Reeves was diagnosed. During the concert, Reeves held up a sign which read “Fighting Cancer & Loving Luke,” and it caught the attention of Bryan. He then urged her to come to the front of the stage, where he gave her a huge hug and told her to keep fighting and don’t give up.
Read MoreAccording to Reeves, the chemotherapy treatments haven’t been working as well as previously hoped for, and the disease has spread to her lungs, liver, and spleen. She’ll continue chemotherapy, but is asking for help from the public in terms of support so she can keep fighting.
Symptoms of Bone Cancer
Bone cancer is caused when an unusual amount of cells grow within the bone. In 2021, approximately 3,610 new cases of bone cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S., resulting in about 2,060 deaths from the disease, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). The disease is treated with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Signs of bone cancer can include a variety of symptoms. Symptoms can include pain, lumps or swelling, bone fractures, numbness, tingling, and weakness in the body. Other symptoms may include weight loss, fatigue, coughing and trouble breathing.
Never Stop Fighting
The touching moment with Bryan might have been the push Reeves needed to keep her motivated through treatment. When going through cancer, mindset is critical in order to see better treatment results. Plus, receiving help and support is a great way to stay positive during dark times. In fact, experts say that a strong and positive mindset can help guide patients to more successful treatment outcomes, and also help them recover more easily.
"We call it 'eye of the tiger,'" Dr. Sid Ganguly, deputy director of hematologic malignancies and cellular therapeutics at the University of Kansas Medical Center, previously told SurvivorNet. "You have to have the eye of the tiger to go through this grueling process that is necessary these days to get rid of these virulent and aggressive cancers."
This 'eye of the tiger' mentality not only refers to someone's attitude; it also includes diet and exercise. By incorporating all three of these factors, it can help patients keep up their health. "A good positive mind increases our interleukins, our immune system," Dr. Ganguly says. "There have been many researches that already have proved that depression is associated with decreased immune system, increased chance of infection. Seasonal affective disorders during winter has been associated with increased respiratory illnesses as well."
Dr. Sid Ganguly explains how the "eye of the tiger" mindset helps both patients and survivors
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