Rush's Gratitude
- Radio personality Rush Limbaugh, 69, shared an update with fans as he fights advanced lung cancer, and says he’s grateful for every day.
- In February of this year, Limbaugh receive his diagnosis of advanced lung cancer, which has spread to other parts of his body.
- Keeping a positive attitude and an attitude of gratitude through cancer, as Limbaugh has done, can help ease the journey; he calls being able to do his show “a genuine blessing.”
Rush’s Cancer Battle
In February this year, Rush was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer, which had spread to other parts of his body. Advanced lung cancer is typically treated with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted drug therapy, and immunotherapy. Limbaugh was able to travel to receive treatments during the pandemic, due to his media status, but not everyone is so lucky. Related: Radio Host Rush Limbaugh, 69, Says He Could Travel for Cancer Treatments During COVID-19 Lockdown Because He Was Deemed 'Essential'While traveling for cancer treatments, even when staying local, it’s important to exercise caution to protect yourself during this pandemic time. Many cancer treatments, like the kind Limbaugh may be receiving, can cause the body to be in an immunocompromised state, making a person more susceptible to COVID-19. Follow CDC guidelines, such as wearing a mask and washing your hands, to protect yourself from the virus as you fight your cancer battle, too.
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Keeping a Positive Attitude Through Cancer
Throughout his cancer, Rush has expressed gratitude for listeners, as well as his life, as he did this week. Keeping a positive attitude through the cancer battle can make the journey easier for some.
Related: A Major Step in the Cancer Journey: Learning to Deal With Vulnerability
Dr. Zuri Murrell, Colorectal Surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, told us in a previous interview how impactful a positive attitude can be through cancer. “My patients who thrive, even with stage 4 cancer, from the time that they, about a month after they’re diagnosed, I kind of am pretty good at seeing who is going to be OK,” he said. “Now doesn’t that mean I’m good at saying that the cancer won’t grow.”
Related: The Value of Using a Social Worker During Treatment
Dr. Murrell explained how he’s seen attitude improve a patient’s prognosis. He said, “I’m pretty good at telling what kind of patient are going to still have this attitude and probably going to live the longest, even with bad, bad disease. And those are patients who, they have gratitude in life. My mother, who passed away about a month before I graduated med school, from breast cancer, she lived 10 years, at a time when people weren’t, with mets to her bones and her brain. One of her most amazing characteristics was her attitude.”
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