Rallying Support for Someone Grappling With a Diagnosis
- “Dancing With the Stars” Contestant Alix Earle, 25, shared that her mother, Alisa, is battling breast cancer, prompting widespread support from fans and celebrities after Earle posted hospital photos with the message “Strong Women Never Give Up.”
- Earle revealed the family learned of the diagnosis midway through her “Dancing With the Stars” season, yet her mom continued showing up weekly to cheer her on. Specific details surrounding Alisa’s diagnosis remain private at this time.
- Earle says she and her family are rallying around Alisa as she recovers, and preparing to take on caregiving roles that often emerge after a major diagnosis as Alisa continues to recover from treatment.
- “Some of the best examples that I have seen in caregivers,” said Dr. Jayanthi Lea, a gynecologic oncologist at UT Southwestern, “are those spouses or loved ones who really, almost sit back, and they allow the patient, or they want the patient to express what the patient feels first, rather than barging in.”
- “Step back a little bit and let the patient speak for themselves,” she continued. “Let them express what they are feeling. That is so important for the patient’s overall quality of life and well-being.”
- Experts note that a serious illness affects the entire family — emotionally, psychologically, and financially — but strong support systems can also deepen connection and resilience.
- A breast cancer diagnosis can spawn a flurry of emotions and impact your mental health. Research published in Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences found that “35 to 40 percent of cancer patients have a diagnosable psychiatric disorder,” and patients battling late-stage cancer tend to face even more significant mental health challenges.
- To help manage your mental health while coping with a diagnosis, some helpful tips include leaning on your support group, journaling, and/or seeking a mental health professional.
In a recent video, Earle shared hospital photos of her mom alongside the message, “Strong Women Never Give Up.”
Read More@alixearleAlso loved running into you guys across the different places I was in ☺️♬ original sound – Alix Earle
“During my travels, there have been a few cries, but her boyfriend and my sister have been there,” she said, adding that the family is now focused on caring for Alisa as she recovers.
A major diagnosis often reshapes the entire family’s role, with loved ones stepping in as caregivers to help make the treatment journey a little easier.
Messages of support have poured in from celebrities as well. Paris Hilton commented on TikTok, “sending love and prayers for your mom sis,” while singer and reality star Heidi Montag added, “Praying for you, your family, and especially your mama.”
While specific details of Alisa’s diagnosis remain private at this time, the emotional weight of breast cancer is already being felt across the family — and the support surrounding them continues to grow.
Helping Patients Cope with a Cancer Diagnosis
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- Fear, Anger, Anxiety: You’re Entitled To Your Emotions
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- High-Cost Parking at Hospitals Is Pain-Point for Cancer Patients Already Dealing With So Much
When One Person is diagnosed, the Whole Family Feels It
A serious health diagnosis sends shockwaves far beyond the individual—it touches the lives of every family member. Research published in The Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine found that “most chronic diseases have similar effects on family members [as they do on the patient], including psychological and emotional functioning, disruption of leisure activities, effect on interpersonal relationships, and financial resources.”
Parents, siblings, spouses, and others often carry invisible emotional burdens: “helplessness, lack of control, anger, embarrassment,” researchers observed.
The strain can show up in all kinds of ways—disrupted sleep, altered eating habits, and spiritual or cultural searching for meaning. It can limit freedom, deepen fears about death, and leave loved ones desperately seeking support and understanding.
Yet even amid the emotional toll, experts emphasize that a strong support system has the power to bring families closer. The pain of a diagnosis, while devastating, can also strengthen bonds and foster deeper empathy.
The Role of a Caregiver
SurvivorNet gathered expert insights from oncologists, social workers, and patient advocates to provide guidance on how caregivers can support their loved ones through treatment and beyond.
Attend Medical Visits
These visits can be overwhelming for patients. Your presence can help them absorb critical information, ask clarifying questions, and make informed decisions.
Connect with Navigators
Request to speak with a patient navigator or hospital social worker. These professionals can assist with everything from transportation and insurance paperwork to housing concerns and legal advice.
“We have a really wonderful program at [NYU] where we use lay navigators,” added Dr. Joseph, “meaning they’re not nurses, although you can use nurses or social workers—that pretty much helps newly diagnosed cancer patients through the continuum of care.”
WATCH: How Patient Navigators Can Help
Navigators may also:
- Join future appointments
- Evaluate next steps in care
- Assist with immigration and housing issues
- Navigate financial or legal concerns
- Track Symptoms and Emotions
You may notice changes before the patient does. Keep communication open and regularly check in on how they’re feeling, physically and emotionally.
Promote Patient Independence
While caregiving often means stepping in, remember the value of stepping back. Encourage your loved one to speak for themselves and make their own choices whenever possible.
“Some of the best examples that I have seen in caregivers,” said Dr. Jayanthi Lea, a gynecologic oncologist, “are those spouses or loved ones who really, almost sit back, and they allow the patient, or they want the patient to express what the patient feels first, rather than barging in.”
“Step back a little bit and let the patient speak for themselves,” she continued. “Let them express what they are feeling. That is so important for the patient’s overall quality of life and well-being.”
Caring for the Caregiver
Supporting a loved one through cancer is demanding, and it’s easy to lose sight of your own well-being. But your strength is fueled by self-care.
“It is important to have some things that you can do that are kind of outside of the focus of caring for somebody that you love with cancer,” said Julie Bulger, manager of patient and family-centered care at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. She suggests relaxing activities like going for a walk or getting a massage.
Caregivers are also encouraged to seek mental health support and join caregiver support groups. These steps can reduce the risk of caregiver burnout—a condition marked by chronic fatigue, stress, and emotional strain caused by prioritizing someone else’s needs over your own.
Caregiving is one of the most compassionate roles a person can take on. It’s not always easy, but through small acts of care and moments of presence, caregivers bring hope, stability, and love during one of life’s most difficult journeys.
Navigating the Emotional Journey of a Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Receiving a breast cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming, and it’s completely natural for emotions to fluctuate throughout the process. Psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik explains that emotional responses can shift from day to day, sometimes bringing unexpected waves of stress or uncertainty.
“The patient or person going through the stressful event should accept that emotions will be fluid,” Dr. Plutchik says. “You may feel fine one day and then feel a massive wave of stress the next. It’s also important for those you look to for support—whether that’s a therapist, friends, family, or both—to understand the fluidity of stress-related emotions.”
If your emotional well-being begins to feel significantly impacted, seeking mental health support may be beneficial. Options for care include traditional talk therapy, medication, lifestyle changes such as exercise and diet modifications, joining a support group, or other personalized approaches.
Here are a few ways to help manage the emotional toll of a breast cancer diagnosis:
- Lean on loved ones. Open up to your family and close friends, allowing them to step in and offer support. Many cancer survivors express a strong need for assistance but struggle to ask for help—encourage those around you to offer practical aid, whether it’s meals, transportation, or simply a listening ear.
- Keep a journal. Writing down your thoughts and emotions can be a powerful way to process feelings. A journal provides a safe space to express yourself and reflect on your journey.
- Join a cancer support group. Local and online groups offer an opportunity to connect with others who are facing similar experiences. Learning from others and sharing your story can provide comfort and strength on difficult days.
- Consider therapy. Speaking with a mental health professional can help you navigate fears and concerns in a safe, supportive environment. Sometimes, vocalizing emotions rather than keeping them inside makes a meaningful difference in coping with stress.
While the path may feel uncertain, finding the right support system and coping strategies can make a profound impact on your mental and emotional well-being. Breast cancer is a challenge, but you are not alone—and healing happens in many ways beyond the physical.
When to Screen for Breast Cancer
The medical community has a broad consensus that women should have annual mammograms between the ages of 45 and 54. However, an independent panel of experts called the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is saying that women should now start getting mammograms every other year at the age of 40, suggesting that this lowered age for breast cancer screening could save 19% more lives.
The American Cancer Society recommends getting a mammogram every other year for women 55 and older. However, women in this age group who want added reassurance can still get annual mammograms.
WATCH: Mammograms are still the best tool for detecting breast cancer.
Women with a strong family history of breast cancer, a genetic mutation known to increase the risk of breast cancer, such as a BRCA gene mutation, or a medical history, including chest radiation therapy before the age of 30, are considered at higher risk for breast cancer.
Experiencing menstruation at an early age (before 12) or having dense breasts can also put you into a high-risk category. If you are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer, you should begin screening earlier.
Regular Self-Exams Are Helpful In Between Mammograms
A self-breast exam is an easy way to monitor your breasts for abnormalities. It involves feeling the breast for swelling, bulging, or changes in the shape of the breast or nipple.
WATCH: How to perform a self-exam.
Checking for signs of redness, rashes, or discharge is also part of this exam. If anything is found that is concerning, you should contact your doctor. It’s important to note that self-exams should be done with regular mammograms.
Learning More About Genetic Testing
Genetic testing for cancer is typically conducted in a medical setting, such as a primary care office or an OB-GYN clinic. However, some tests are now available for direct purchase, allowing individuals to explore their genetic risk independently.
Initially, genetic testing was recommended for a limited group of individuals based on specific risk factors, including a strong family history of breast cancer, personal cancer history, or certain ethnic backgrounds.
WATCH: Helping you understand genetic testing.
“It started out with a very narrow field of women and men who were recommended to have it based on certain risk factors, family history of breast cancer, or other cancers, and also ethnic backgrounds,” explains Dr. Port.
Guidelines from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) suggest that genetic testing should be prioritized for patients at higher risk for hereditary breast cancer. This includes individuals diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 45, those with a strong familial history of the disease, and individuals of Ashkenazi Jewish descent.
Meanwhile, the American Society of Breast Surgeons (ASBrS) takes a broader approach, recommending genetic testing for all patients diagnosed with breast cancer.
These evolving recommendations reflect a growing emphasis on personalized medicine, ensuring that individuals at risk receive appropriate screening and guidance to manage their health proactively.
What If You Have the BRCA Gene Mutation?
Discovering a genetic mutation can be unsettling, but there are several options available to manage cancer risk effectively. These include enhanced screenings for early detection, prophylactic (risk-reducing) surgery to remove high-risk tissue, and chemoprevention—the use of medications designed to lower the chances of developing cancer.
Interestingly, for individuals diagnosed with ovarian cancer, carrying a BRCA mutation may provide a treatment advantage when paired with a class of drugs known as PARP inhibitors. Approved by the FDA starting in 2014, these targeted therapies have transformed the landscape of ovarian cancer treatment.
WATCH: Understanding the BRCA Gene Mutation
PARP inhibitors function by blocking the protein PARP, which normally repairs damaged DNA. By preventing this repair process, the inhibitors selectively destroy cancerous cells while sparing healthy ones, making them a powerful treatment tool.
“The PARP inhibitor prevents the repair of the [damaged] single-strand DNA break, and your BRCA mutation prevents the repair of the double-strand DNA break,” explains Dr. Rebecca Arend, Associate Scientist at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, in an interview with SurvivorNet.
This combination of genetic insight and advanced medical therapies highlights how precision medicine continues to evolve, offering more effective, tailored approaches to cancer prevention and treatment.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
If you have been diagnosed with breast cancer, you may have questions about how to keep your strength through treatment. Here are a few questions to help you begin the conversation:
- What treatment will I be receiving?
- What side effects are associated with this treatment?
- Are there steps I can take daily to help minimize these side effects?
- What physical activity routine do you recommend for me during treatment?
- Do you have recommendations for someone who doesn’t particularly enjoy exercise?
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