Lung Cancer Fighter Kathy Griffin Loves the Ocean
- Comedian Kathy Griffin, 61, credits the ocean and the great outdoors with helping her through recovery from cancer.
- Griffin was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2021 and has been public about her diagnosis and cancer battle. She's a non-smoker and was diagnosed with stage 1 lung cancer.
- Griffin had surgery to treat her disease. Lung cancer surgery impacts the body in various ways. It may cause fatigue, leaving the patient feeling weak and tired.
Closer Weekly reports that Griffin paid $8.8 million in December 2020 for the palatial pad. That same month, she reportedly sold her Bel-Air mansion for $14 million. Griffin’s home is a 8,200 square foot property, and she lives there with husband Randy Bick, along with their four dogs. The home also has massive glass walls, allowing for stunning views of the Pacific ocean at any time of day, no matter the weather.
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Kathy’s Lung Cancer Survivor Journey
Lung cancer survivor Kathy Griffin was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2021 and has been public about her diagnosis and cancer battle. She's a non-smoker and was diagnosed with stage 1 lung cancer. A stage 1 lung cancer diagnosis indicates that the cancer hasn't spread to the lymph nodes or other organs in the body.
Symptoms of lung cancer typically include:
- Sudden and unexplained weight loss
- Constant coughing that becomes painful over time
- Shortness of breath
- Changes in voice or difficulty speaking without getting winded
- Pain in the torso, mid- and upper-back, and shoulders
- Discoloration or a sudden change in color of mucus and saliva
Griffin had surgery to treat her disease. Lung cancer surgery impacts the body in various ways. It may cause fatigue, leaving the patient feeling weak and tired. There's also the risk of infection after surgery. Signs of infection after lung cancer surgery can include: shivering, feeling nauseous, swelling or redness around the surgical wound, and fluctuating temperature. Speak with your doctor if you experience any of these things.
Breathlessness is also normal after lung cancer surgery. Long-term pain can present as well. A study published by the European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery examined the risk factors of vocal cord dysfunction (VCD) following lung cancer surgery in patients. The study found that 86100% of patients reported hoarseness after surgery following RLN paralysis (a nerve injury that has the potential to occur after surgery for lung cancer). And in 45% of the patients studied, hoarseness was the only symptom of VCD after lung surgery.
What Happens When You've Been Newly Diagnosed With Lung Cancer
Lung Cancer Explained
There are two main types of lung cancer. And the type of lung cancer a person is diagnosed with will inform their treatment path, as well as the predicted progression of the cancer. The two types of lung cancer are:
- Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type and makes up about 85% of cases
- Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is less common, but it tends to grow faster than NSCLC and is treated very differently
Lung cancer is a serious cancer, but fewer people annually are getting diagnosed with this disease because of a decline in smoking rates. Additionally, advancements in treatment options exist, too, which means better prognoses for some patients.
Treatment options for lung cancer can include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, or a combination of these treatments. New treatments, such as immunotherapy and targeted agents, are dramatically improving the prognosis and quality of life for people diagnosed with this disease.
Preparing for Lung Cancer Surgery
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