Actress Kathy Griffin, 62, is making a triumphant return to the comedy stage after undergoing vocal cord surgery to reclaim her famous voice, which was impacted by her lung cancer treatment.
Griffin was diagnosed with stage 1 lung cancer in 2021.
Despite her cancer and struggles with mental health, Griffin has shown that she works to find the joy amid challenges.
Cancer patients who work on their emotional health tend to have better outcomes related to their prognosis, two physicians tell SurvivorNet.
New York-based psychologist Dr. Marianna Strongin says people can work through negative feelings, like anxiety, by having a healthy relationship with it. She says get to know it rather than fear it, avoid it, or push it away.
Just days after comedian Kathy Griffin had surgery on her vocal cords to repair damage done during her lung cancer treatment, the 62-year-old is happy to be returning to the comedy stage with a new voice. And as she’s also been working hard to overcome mental health challenges, it’s great to see her finally getting back to doing what she loves and performing for fans.
"You guys, I can't tell you how excited I am to be back doing what I do!" Griffin said in an Instagram post.
In Griffin's video post, she's all smiles while sitting in a makeup chair getting glammed up for the Center Stage Comedy show in Las Vegas.
"Let's get to werk! See you in Vegas, this Saturday," she added on her social media post.
While the actress has made a few performances since battling lung cancer in 2021, the Las Vegas show will be her first since undergoing vocal cord surgery earlier this month.
Immediately after the procedure, Griffin said she felt "a little scratchy" but claimed to be in "good shape" otherwise.
Griffin's vocal cord surgery stemmed from her battle with lung cancer. She was diagnosed with stage 1 lung cancer and underwent surgery to have half of her left lung removed. The use of a breathing tube during the surgery impacted her voice.
She previously described her voice sounded like "Minnie Mouse meets Marilyn Monroe."
Last year, Griffin visited a laryngeal surgeon who left her with the idea her voice would never be the same. However, Griffin didn't take "no" for an answer and she continued trying to find a way to heal her voice.
The determined actress eventually found a different surgeon who was able to give her hope for getting her familiar voice back.
While Griffin recovered from lung cancer and dealt with distortion of her voice, she also revealed that she has been suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). According to the National Institute of Mental Health, PTSD is “a disorder that develops in some people who have experienced a shocking, scary, or dangerous event.”
"I've been telling you guys about my struggle with anxiety and PTSD. Well, I had about an eight-hour-long episode yesterday during the day," she wrote in an Instagram post this past April.
In a TikTok post, she revealed she had an "extreme case." She shared with her followers how she copes with her feelings and emotions, such as taking a walk by the beach or gathering with loved ones.
Despite her hardships, her cancer journey hasn't taken away the quick-tongued sense of humor she's known for. She also never lost her thirst for joy and now she's reclaiming it before a host of fans.
Managing Your Mental Health and Finding Joy
It's apparent Griffin loves performing and making people laugh. Even during some of her toughest moments throughout her cancer journey, her social media suggests she finds joy in bringing levity to life's challenges.
This positive attitude has undoubtedly helped her through times of adversity.
MIRAMAR, CA – DECEMBER 03: Comedian Kathy Griffin performs onstage during “VH1 Divas Salute the Troops” presented by the USO at the MCAS Miramar on December 3, 2010, in Miramar, California. “VH1 Divas Salute the Troops” concert event will be televised on Sunday, December 5 at 9:00 PM ET/PT on VH1. (Photo by Michael Caulfield/Getty Images for VH1)
"A positive attitude is really important," says Dr. Zuri Murrell, a colorectal surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Dr. Murrell tells SurvivorNet he often sees the connection that a positive attitude can help with a patient's resiliency in the face of some tough challenges, like cancer.
"I'm pretty good at telling what kind of patient is going to still have this attitude and probably going to live the longest, even with a bad, bad disease," Dr. Murrell added.
Dr. Dana Chase, a gynecologic oncologist at UCLA Health, echoes the sentiments of Dr. Murrell.
"Working on your emotional health, your physical well-being, your social environment, your emotional well-being, definitely working on those things and making them better are important and can impact your survival," Dr. Chase told SurvivorNet.
WATCH: How To Manage Anxiety During Stressful Times?
New York-based psychologist Dr. Marianna Strongin has some helpful tips to help you maintain good mental health and reduce stress if you find yourself facing adversity like Griffin.
Dr. Strongin says it's important to have a healthy relationship with your anxiety and get to know it rather than fear it, avoid it, or push it away.
"By learning more about your anxious thoughts and tendencies, one can begin to answer their anxious thoughts even in moments when there aren't any answers. For cancer patients, the worry thoughts tend to be, "Will I survive?" It's important to let those thoughts come in and really be able to tolerate them before answering them. This is a very powerful coping skill," Dr. Strongin explained.
Dr. Strongin also recommends medications to help with anxiety and depression if other approaches are not as effective. You should talk with your doctor about what options may be the best fit for you.
Questions for Your Doctor
If you find yourself facing cancer and need help with your emotional health, ask your doctor the following questions:
If I have moments where I feel overwhelmed and anxious, are there any therapists I can call?
Are there any support groups you recommend I consider joining to help me when I need someone like-minded to talk to?
Are there any medications you can prescribe to help ease my anxiety or possible depression?
When do you suspect my emotions will subside to levels near where they were before my diagnosis?
