Everyone is Fighting Their Own Battle
- Real Housewives of New York alum, Jill Zarin, 58, has made it known that she does not approve of former castmate Dorinda Medley’s “problematic” drinking habits. Dorinda, 57, says “her words are only hurtful if you care.”
- We hope that Jill’s concernthough she perhaps shouldn’t be airing it publiclycomes from a relatable place. Jill, who lost her husband Bobby to thyroid cancer in 2018, recently got candid about her own mental health.
- It's so important to take care of your mind with the same attention you would your body, particularly if you or your loved one is going through a cancer battle. While drinking alcohol is usually okay in moderation, over-indulging is tied to a slew of health risks, including cancer.
Real Housewives of New York alum, Jill Zarin, 58, has made it known that she does not approve of former castmate Dorinda Medley’s “problem” drinking habits. Dorinda, 57, says “her words are only hurtful if you care.”
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Dorinda also takes the opportunity to point out that she “never says a bad word about anyone” in her interviews.
Playing devil’s advocate, we hope that Jill’s concernthough she perhaps shouldn’t be airing it publiclycomes from a relatable place. After all, people use alcohol to medicate, but the fact that it is a depressant will only bring people down more. Alcohol’s link to cancer and other disease is something else to consider when imbibing. From what she says, it truly does sound like she’s concerned.
"There's a lot of stuff there, but I'm not a doctor, I'm not a therapist, I'm not even a close enough friend to be able to really get to that with Dorinda, but someone needs to get there with her,” Jill told Access Hollywood. “I mean, I don't want anything to happen to her, and I'm worried."
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Jill, who lost her husband Bobby to thyroid cancer in 2018, recently got candid about her own mental health.
"I'm medicated now. I suffer from anxiety and partial depression,” Jill, who has found love with consultant Gary Brody, 55, told PEOPLE. “I didn't realize it before, but I wound up going to doctor and was prescribed medicine for it,” the Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip Ex-Wives Club star added.
Applauded for her transparency, Jill sets an example for people to have more open discussions about mental health. The more we talk about it, the less of a stigma there will be surrounding the topic.
Dorinda also addressed Jill Zarin’s rise in the spotlight.
“This is new for her, and this is her moment,” Medley said. “And I think she’s having a great moment and she should take it, because it’s been a long time for her. You don’t know how long it’s gonna last, so she should just go for it.”
We’re not sure how backhanded this compliment is, but we’ll take it! After all, any form of support between housewives is a start!
Taking Care of Your Mental Health
It's so important to take care of your mind with the same attention you would your body, particularly if you or your loved one is going through a cancer battle.
In an earlier interview, Dr. Scott Irwin, Director, Supportive Care Services at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, speaks about depression in people battling cancer. He says, "Depression is a really interesting topic, because a lot of people assume that, ‘oh, they have cancer. They must be depressed.’ That's actually not true. 85% of patients do not get what would be considered a clinical depression. 15% do."
Dr. Irwin continues, "For prescribing medications for depression in the context of cancer, I often try to choose medications with the lowest side effect profile."
Jill Zarin's Husband's Cancer Journey
Jill Zarin and her late husband Bobby, who married in 2000, were fan favorites on Real Housewives of New York when he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2009. He underwent radioactive iodine treatment and had his thyroid removed.
In 2013, doctors discovered that the cancer had spread to his lungs. He underwent more treatment. In November 2016, Jill revealed Bobby had a cancerous brain tumor.
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"It's been a difficult year since his brain tumor diagnosis but ironically that's not even the issue," Jill told E! News in July 2018. "His papillary thyroid cancer has morphed into something called anaplastic thyroid cancer. It's very, very rare."
Understanding Thyroid Cancer
Thyroid cancer is a malignant tumor of the thyroid, a small butterfly-shaped gland in the throat that regulates hormones to control the body's metabolism. Although thyroid cancer is relatively rare, according to the American Thyroid Association there are four types of the disease:
- Papillary thyroid cancer is the most common type of all thyroid cancers. Papillary thyroid cancer can occur at any age. It tends to grow slowly and spread to lymph nodes in the neck, and generally has an excellent outlook
- Follicular thyroid cancer makes up about 10% of all thyroid cancers. Follicular thyroid cancer can spread to lymph nodes in the neck, but is more likely than papillary cancer to spread to distant organs, particularly the lungs and bones
- Medullary thyroid cancer accounts for approximately 2% of all thyroid cancers. Approximately 25% of all medullary thyroid cancer is inherited, and a test for a genetic mutation in the RET proto-oncogene can lead to an early diagnosis and, thus, to curative surgery.
- Anaplastic thyroid cancer is the most advanced and aggressive form of the disease. Anaplastic thyroid cancer is very rare and is found in less than 2% of patients with thyroid cancer. It most commonly occurs in people over the age of 60 years. In some cases it arises in patients who have been diagnosed with papillary or follicular thyroid cancers. While overall survival statistics are discouraging with an average survival rate of 6 months and approximately 1 in 5 alive after 12 months it is important to note that there are long-term survivors
Signs and Symptoms of Thyroid Cancer
Thyroid cancer can cause any of the following signs or symptoms, according to the American Cancer Society:
- A lump in the neck, sometimes growing quickly
- Swelling in the neck
- Pain in the front of the neck, sometimes going up to the ears
- Hoarseness or other voice changes that do not go away
- Trouble swallowing
- Trouble breathing
- A constant cough that is not due to a cold
Lumps in the thyroid are common and are usually benign. Still, if you have any of these symptoms, it's important to see your doctor so the cause can be found and treated, if needed.
Contributing by SurvivorNet staff.
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