Lindy's Latest: No Chemo, Just Scans & Blood Tests.
- FOX Anchor Lindy Thackston, 41, shares with fans that she is done with chemo, and she’ll do PET scans and Signatera blood tests every three months.
- Thackston was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer in May 2020 and later had a recurrence in her lung; she has documented her cancer journey, shining a light on this disease and putting a face to it.
- Caring for your mental health through the cancer journey is important; get connected with a therapist or psychologist during cancer treatment.
She wrote in November, “Looking forward to meeting with @mayoclinic today to see what their oncology team has to offer. I'm waiting on a blood test to see if cancer is still in the body and if yes, I'll need treatment again.” Many people will seek second and third opinions after diagnosis and mid-treatment to have a broad view and different, expert voices through treatment.
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She continues to say that she is feeling good about her current cancer outlook, saying, “I'm believing it won't [something pop up]. I will be honest that this is still very difficult mentally, but I'm excited at this news. Thank you all for being there for me.”
The Signatera blood tests Thackston refers to in her post measure molecular residual disease (MRD) after cancer. Austin-based genetic testing company Natera, which supplies Signatera blood tests, explains this test, saying, “Signatera is a personalized, tumor-informed assay optimized to detect circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) for molecular residual disease (MRD) assessment and recurrence monitoring for patients previously diagnosed with cancer, with broad utility for cancer management.”
Signatera tests are “highly sensitive,” and also personalized for each patient. This means the tests can inform treatment decisions, and provide details tailored to each specific patient.
Lindy’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, and now chemo-free.
Genetic Testing For Colorectal Cancer
Mental Health Through Cancer
As Thackston notes, battling cancer and publicly, no less is “very difficult mentally.” There can be many ups and downs during one’s cancer battle. Get connected with a therapist, counselor, oncological social worker, or psychologist who can help you tend to your mental health as you move through cancer, from diagnosis to treatment to remission.
It’s normal to feel anxious, overwhelmed, depressed, angry, and grief-filled after getting diagnosed with cancer. Whatever you’re feeling in the moment, it is valid. However, it’s important to treat your mental health issues the way you would treat a physical issue. If you’re suffering from a clinical depression, it may negatively impact some cancer treatments, making them less effective. Get help if you’re depressed and having trouble there are people and resources to help you feel better, and soon.
Treating Depression After a Cancer Diagnosis
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