When the One You Love is Sick
- Netflix star, professional organizer and breast cancer warrior Clea Shearer underwent her second cancer surgery over the weekend with her husband, John, by her side.
- It's incredibly important for cancer patients to have a strong support system when going through what's most likely one of the hardest times of their lives, and just being there can do wonders.
- Cancer is also an experience that can surely take an emotional toll on both the patient and the spouse of the person who's sick, as well as their relationship.
- But Clea Shearer has made it known that she can lean on her husband John.
"Made it out of my second surgery with @johnshearer by my side," Clea posted to Instagram on Sunday evening. "He's been the best nurse, caregiver, and support system from day 1. Eternally grateful to my ♥ï¸."
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"Heading back into surgery tomorrow because some of my skin tissue is just NOT having it … I'm starting to get used to these unplanned hurdles! Which is a hard realization when you're (a) world class type-A planner such as myself," Clea wrote.
She also explained that she scored "high risk" for cancer recurrence, so she'll have to go through both chemotherapy and radiation.
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"I think the word 'chemo' scares me just as much as the word 'cancer' if I'm being honest," she wrote. "The thought of being perpetually sick, of losing my hair, my immune system, my quality of life … I let myself have a good cry when I got the news. 5-6 months of chemo, and then another 6 weeks of radiation … It felt like diagnosis day all over again."
To get herself through, "I leaned on my community," Clea wrote.
"My friends, family, my group of cancer survivors, my one friend going through breast cancer with me, and of course, all of you. It helped me put the bad days ahead in perspective," she added, "because all those bad days amount to living a long life. And a long life means I'll get to repay the debt of kindness I've received, and pay it forward to whomever needs it next."
When the One You Love is Sick
It's incredibly important for cancer patients to have a strong support system when going through what's most likely one of the hardest times of their lives, and just being there can do wonders.
Cancer is also an experience that can surely take an emotional toll on both the patient and the spouse of the person who's sick, as well as their relationship. But Clea Shearer has made it known that she can lean on her husband John.
This strain cancer can put on a relationship is something actress and melanoma survivor Jill Kargman can attest to as cancer was a true test of her relationship's strength. In a previous interview with SurvivorNet, Kargman said the disease "is a great way to find out if you're with the love of your life or a shithead."
Jill Kargman on Relationships and Cancer
"I think it presses the fast-forward button on getting to the bottom of that answer, because a lot of people in middle age are kind of at a crossroads, waiting for their kids to fly the coop," Kargman said. "I think if you're with someone who is not supportive and kind of emotionally checked out or doesn't tell you you're still beautiful with that, this might not be your person."
Clea Shearer’s Breast Cancer Diagnosis
About two weeks ago, Clea Shearer announced that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer and that she would be undergoing a double mastectomy.
"I found a lump myself (in) the last week of February," Clea posted to Instagram on April 7. "I had been trying to make an appt with my OB(GYN) for several months, and even when I told them I found a lump, they couldn't accommodate me. I had to request a mammogram from my general doctor, which led to an ultrasound, and then an emergency triple biopsy."
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Clea, who's been sharing regular updates about her health on Instagram, was originally told her cancer was stage 1, but during the nine-hour surgery on Friday, April 8, doctors found cancer in one of her lymph nodes, which elevated the cancer to stage 2. The type of breast cancer Clea was diagnosed with hasn’t been been made public yet, but she said her cancer is "aggressive and fast-moving," however, "I caught it early."
She had two tumors, one measuring 2 centimeter in size and the other 3 centimeters (she was originally told each tumor was 1 centimeter). The tumors were sent to a lab in order to determine in Clea will need chemotherapy or radiation, and as stated earlier, it turns out she’ll need both.
From all of us at SurvivorNet, we wish you a speedy recovery, Clea! You got this!
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