Family Support During Cancer Journey
- TV host Tarek El Moussa battled both thyroid and testicular cancer, beating the diseases after surgery and other treatment.
- He said his kids were big motivators to bravely fight cancer so he could be around for them.
- El Moussa shared a sweet video of spending quality time with his kids, showing how he prioritizes them after his cancer battle.
- Cancer warriors need to know they have a strong support group, which can be made up of family members young and old.
- Cancer patients with children can have increased motivation to endure difficult treatment, but experts suggest having an effective communication plan about the situation will help ease the emotional impact of the illness on them.
In a new Instagram post, the cancer survivor shows him spending some quality time with his children proving they are indeed the apples of his eye.
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El Moussa's family has always been at the top of his mind, especially when he battled cancer.
Upon announcing he beat cancer in 2019, El Moussa wrote in an Instagram post, "They [his children] are my everything and they need their daddy."
When he is not surrounded by his children and wife, Heather Rae El Moussa, 35, he is focused on his TV shows, which also include “The Flipping El Moussas.”
The newest season of “Flipping 101” will focus on novice home renovators looking to turn a profit and avoid pitfalls associated with flipping homes.
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El Moussa's Cancer Battle
Tarek El Moussa battled thyroid cancer in 2013 after a nurse noticed a lump on his neck while watching an episode of his TV show at the time. She contacted HGTV about it, which led to him getting the lump checked out.
Thyroid cancer is cancer that starts in the thyroid gland, according to the American Cancer Society. The thyroid gland makes hormones that regulate your metabolism, heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature.
Common symptoms of thyroid cancer include a lump or swelling or pain in the neck, voice changes, constant cough, and difficulty swallowing or breathing.
"Most people have no discrete symptoms the majority of cases now are found incidentally," Dr. Allen Ho, a head and neck surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Hospital, told SurvivorNet.
"However, a sizable number of people may first discover their cancer when they feel a bump on their neck. Other possible late symptoms include problems swallowing, the sensation of something in their throat, neck compression when laying flat or voice changes," Dr. Ho added.
El Moussa also had a bout with testicular cancer, which is a growth of cells that starts in the testicles and affects men most often between 15 and 45 years old, according to Mayo Clinic.
"The highest risk factor for testicular cancer is a history of cryptorchidism, an undescended testicle, where the testicle does not move down into the scrotum before birth,” Dr. Bradley McGregor explained to SurvivorNet.
“Men with a family history of testicular cancer are also at increased risk. No lifestyle changes have been shown to definitively reduce the risk of testicular cancer.”
Amid El Moussa's cancer journey, he said he gained 50 pounds, had two surgeries, and underwent radioactive iodine treatment, which is a "reliable treatment that targets thyroid cells so there is little exposure to the rest of your body's cells," according to the Cleveland Clinic.
He experienced side effects including migraines and nausea during his treatment.
During treatment, El Moussa had one of his testicles removed, which may not always affect fertility for men, according to the Moffitt Cancer Center.
Men may be able to maintain their fertility after. However, if both testicles are removed, the man will not maintain their fertility.
Meanwhile, other cancer treatments like chemotherapy can damage sperm in men, and hormone therapy can decrease sperm production, according to the National Cancer Institute. And radiation to the reproductive organs or nearby areas has the potential to lower sperm count and testosterone levels, causing infertility.
You should discuss the possible effects of your treatment with your doctor beforehand to understand all the options you have at hand.
El Moussa’s cancer teatment prompted fertility concerns for him and his current wife, Heather Rae El Moussa. However, they were able to conceive baby Tristan, who was born this past January.
How Parents Find Strength in Children During Cancer Battle
As Tarek El Moussa has shown, if can help for cancer warriors to know they have a strong support group behind them before and after treatment.
SurvivorNet experts say it helps alleviate anxiety and depression as cancer treatments become more intense over time, or when they adjust to a new normal afterward.
Sometimes the support can come from a supportive spouse or partner or even your children. Young family members such as children can also serve as motivation for cancer warriors, just as El Moussa said.
Impact Family Has on Cancer Journey
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El Moussa expressed his sentiments after his cancer battles simply enough, "I have to be healthy and alive for them," he said in his Instagram post.
Facing cancer as a parent can be incredibly daunting. Fearful thoughts about leaving your children may creep into your mind and add even more to your overflowing plate.
"No matter what your prognosis is, it's essential to talk openly and honestly with kids," said Laura Nathan-Garner, Director of Strategic Communications at MD Anderson Cancer Center.
"Cancer patients with children can have increased motivation to endure difficult treatment but may also be concerned about the emotional impact of the illness on their offspring," Dr. Cindy Moore of Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center explained to The ASCO Post, an oncology newspaper.
Based on El Moussa's cancer journey posts, he was also concerned about the long-term impact his cancer diagnosis would have on his children.
Dr. Moore said cancer warriors with children should discuss their biggest concerns with their healthcare teams so an effective communication plan can be created to explain their diagnosis to their kids.
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