Lindy's Back to Work after Cancer
- FOX anchor Lindy Thackston, 41, shared a glamorous selfie from a recent event she covered for her work as a reporter and anchor.
- Thackston was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer in May 2020, and later discovered it had spread to her left lung.
- Many people find that working during cancer, or soon after treatment, can bring a sense of normalcy and groundedness to day-to-day life during the cancer journey.
The Indianapolis anchor captioned the stunning pic simply, writing, “#IndyZoob.”
Read MoreView this post on InstagramFans were loving the look, too. One wrote, “You look amazing! Love the snake earring! Please share where you got it! Thanks!!!!”
This glam shot was in stark contrast to what Lindy shared last week, some brave video footage of her cancer scars. We love her continued vulnerability and openness through her cancer journey. Thackston captioned the video, writing, “There is a national day for everything but this one I will celebrate #nationalcancersurvivorsday – 7 surgeries, 25 rounds of chemo, 15 rounds of radiation… This was after surgery 5 I think. Thankful to be here every day! #stage4 #colorectalcancer”
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Lindy Thackston’s Cancer Journey
Lindy Thackston was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer in May 2020. She went public with her diagnosis, as well as her treatment plan, and has continued to share updates with fans and followers. Thackston finished her chemotherapy treatment she had 10 rounds of chemo in spring 2021.
Thackston lost her hair while going through her cancer battle, as a result of chemotherapy, and bravely shared her ever-changing look on social media. Sadly, in September 2021, the anchor shared with her fans on Instagram that her cancer had spread to her lung.
"Unfortunately my biopsy came back with the news the colorectal cancer has metastasized to my left lung. I am now technically stage four, but the good news is, my oncologists say it's curable," she said. Thackston had successful surgery on her lung, which led to this current state of being cancer-free.
Preparing for Lung Cancer Surgery
Working after Cancer
A cancer diagnosis can be a life-altering event, and finding pockets of normalcy during the cancer journey is often welcome. For most people, going to work every day if you're well enough to do so can be an effective strategy for keeping things as "normal" as possible during an abnormal health event like cancer.
For Lindy, it's clear from her social media posts that she loves her job and was eager to get back to it after beating colorectal cancer. Laurie Ostacher, a social worker at Sutter Bay Medical Foundation, says in an earlier interview how important a person's career may be to them, even during the cancer journey. She explains, "Some women choose to continue working [through cancer] because working is a significant part of their identity, they enjoy the job, and there's flexibility built in."
"I help folks think about whether it makes sense to work," she says. "If you really don't want to but are worried you're not going to be able to make ends meet, then I'll sit down and help them figure out, you know, with your disability insurance, would this be possible?"
Ostacher explains the questions she might pose to women to probe them to think about how their work life might look through cancer. She says, "For women who choose to work, I help them think about what types of conversations do you need to have with their employer? How much information do you want to share with him or her? What type of work schedule seems like it might work for you? Where might you need more flexibility?"
Working During Your Cancer Treatment
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