Finding Ways to Cope During Your Journey
- Veteran news anchor Nichole Berlie revealed during a newscast that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer despite not experiencing any of the usual signs or symptoms of the disease. Although she’s anticipating hair loss amid treatment and expected nerves surrounding her diagnosis, she’s chosen to keep working and focus on a positive outcome for her survival.
- Chemotherapy can cause hair loss. It usually begins about three to four weeks after starting chemotherapy and continues throughout treatment. Fortunately, your hair usually regrows after treatment concludes.
- If losing your hair is a concern for you before cancer treatment, know you have options like wigs, hats, wraps, and scarves, among other things.
- The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provide protections for cancer patients willing and able to work while embarking on their cancer journeys.
- Federal and state laws require employers to make reasonable accommodations to assist employees with cancer. The accommodations outlined by the ADA may include extra paid time off work, reduced work hours during treatment, and offering remote work.
- Some cancer patients can continue to work during cancer treatment, while others may need to take some time away. Doctors recommend returning to work, if possible, as it helps cancer patients regain a sense of normalcy.
“News Nation Now” anchor Nichole Berlie says she was shocked to learn she had breast cancer, considering she hadn’t experienced any signs or symptoms of the disease that impacts so many women every year. She bravely shared her diagnosis with news viewers to prepare them for changes in her appearance amid anticipated cancer treatment and subsequent hair loss. While admitting she’s scared, she’s doing her best to remain positive and hopefully inspire others on a similar journey.
View this post on InstagramRead MoreBerlie is a veteran news anchor with Nebraska roots. After reporting the news in a few television markets across the United States over the years, she joined News Nation in 2020. The award-winning journalists’ breast cancer diagnosis seemed so surprising because of how it emerged. Common signs of breast cancer may include finding a lump on the breast or swelling in the breast, but these symptoms were absent for Berlie.“I didn’t have any signs, I didn’t have any symptoms, I still don’t. And I still feel great. But, as I now know firsthand, you can have cancer, and you can feel and look fine,” Berlie said during her newscast.
Amid her on-air announcement, she admitted she’s gone through “every single emotion” while learning to cope with her diagnosis and that she’s admittedly “Scared.”
It’s completely normal to feel scared and anxious after learning you have breast cancer. SurvivorNet experts say that acknowledging these emotions can be therapeutic and important to healing and coping.
WATCH: Coping with Emotions After a Diagnosis
RELATED: After Diagnosis: “Be Kind to Yourself”
Berlie said she is beginning treatment quickly, which will likely include some form of kind of chemotherapy because she plans to cut her hair before losing it amid treatment.
“The odds are that I’ll lose my hair,” she said.
Berlie added that her long, flowing dark locks are part of her identity, and she doesn’t use hair pieces. She says she plans to cut off her hair and donate it to organizations designed to help children fight cancer.
“It will be an adjustment for you as a viewer but also for me. So, I wanted to give you some warning because it is going to be a big change,” Berlie said of her looming haircut.
Doctors treating breast cancer look for markers on your particular cancer to help decide what course of treatment is best for you. The cancer cells may have receptors that help identify the unique features of the breast cancer subtype. The three main receptors are the estrogen receptor, the progesterone receptor, and the HER2 receptor. The estrogen and progesterone receptors go together because they are fueled by hormones. A triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis is a different subtype that doesn’t have the (estrogen, progesterone, and HER2) receptors that are commonly found in breast cancer.
RELATED: What are the Treatment Options for Late-Stage Breast Cancer?
Most women with breast cancer will have surgery at some point in their treatment. Depending on the stage of your cancer, you and your doctor may decide to:
Remove just the cancer and an area of healthy tissue around it (lumpectomy)
Remove one breast (mastectomy)
Remove both breasts (double mastectomy)
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Supportive viewers, colleagues, and loved ones showered Berlie with positive comments as she embarked on her cancer journey.
“Friend, you already know how I feel about you, so I won’t make this long. I have your back and will be with you every step of the way! Prayers to you! Love and God’s healing all around you!” Instagram user and WAAY news anchor Rob Sneed commented.
“We love you, Nichole! I am so sorry you are going through this! You are an inspiration. Thank you for sharing! You got this; we are right by your side fighting with you. Sending you love, strength, and prayer, Beauty Queen!” Instagram user Kelsey Kerstine said.
Coping With Hair Loss from Cancer Treatment
Hair loss can be an emotional stage of anyone’s cancer journey. SurvivorNet has tips and resources for anyone facing this side effect and struggling to manage it.
“For cancer patients, losing one’s hair can be unbelievably stressful. To start with, the dread of losing one’s hair can lead to some sleepless nights and feelings of anxiety,” Dr. Samantha Boardman, a New York-based psychiatrist and author, told SurvivorNet.
Chemotherapy can cause hair loss. It usually begins about three to four weeks after starting chemotherapy and continues throughout treatment.
WATCH: Hair loss during chemo.
It happens because this treatment targets quickly dividing cells throughout the body. That includes cancer cells but also hair cells.
Radiation is another treatment that can lead to hair loss if the hair is in the path of the tumor being treated. Radiation for a brain tumor, for example, may cause hair loss on the head.
“If you do lose hair, it will regrow several weeks or months after treatment,” radiation oncologist at GensisCare Dr. James Taylor told SurvivorNet.
“Fortunately, for most patients, hair loss is not a concern when having radiation therapy.”
Most patients can expect regrowth four to six weeks after treatment. However, it is possible that when your hair grows back, you may notice changes in its color and texture.
Dr. Boardman suggests connecting with others who are experiencing cancer treatment like yours and asking them for firsthand advice.
“Talk to people who have been through it, get their advice, voice your concerns to your caregiver, and see what they can do,” Dr. Boardman added.
If losing your hair is a concern for you before cancer treatment, know you have options like wigs, hats, wraps, and more.
Choosing to Work During Cancer Treatment
Berlie says she plans to continue delivering the news while undergoing treatment. She believes continuing to work and maintaining a sense of normalcy amid such stark change will help her sanity.
“I want to keep working throughout as much of this process as I can, mainly for my own sanity, because thankfully, my bosses here at NewsNation have been extremely supportive,” Berlie said.
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“We always encourage people to continue to work if they can,” says Sarah Stapleton, a clinical social worker at Montefiore Medical Center.
If you can work, you’ll be busy, and you may not be worrying about how your treatment is going, Stapleton adds.
Sometimes, cancer can make you feel isolated and lonely, and being around people for work can alleviate feelings of loneliness.
It would be best to talk with your doctor before continuing to work during treatment. Ask your physician what you can and cannot do so you don’t disrupt ongoing treatment.
Remember, sometimes cancer treatment can cause fatigue, leaving you unable to fulfill your duties as you once could.
Fortunately, some on-the-job accommodations can make working during cancer treatment much more manageable.
It’s important to remember people with job problems related to cancer are protected by the Rehabilitation Act or the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) may also benefit others. This law allows many people with serious illnesses to take unpaid leave to get medical care or manage their symptoms.
Your human resources department should be able to share with you your options.
In some situations, employers must accommodate a qualified applicant or employee with a disability unless the employer can show it would be an undue hardship to do so. This could mean making changes to work schedules, equipment, or policies.
WATCH: Will my cancer get me fired?
Focusing on the Positive on Your Journey
Berlie said that she’s “choosing to stay positive.”
“I’m going to keep a smile, and I absolutely have faith,” she said optimistically.
RELATED: Can Turning To Faith Help You During A Cancer Journey? Some People And Studies Say Yes.
Dr. Zuri Murrell of Cedars-Sinai says this helps a cancer patient’s prognosis.
“A positive attitude is really important,” Dr. Murrell previously told SurvivorNet.
“My patients who thrive, even with stage 4 cancer, from the time that they, about a month after they’re diagnosed, I kind of am pretty good at seeing who is going to be OK. Now, doesn’t that mean I’m good at saying that the cancer won’t grow,” Dr. Murrell says.
WATCH: Why Positivity Matters.
Other experts at SurvivorNet have spoken to recommend that anyone facing cancer make sure they continue to prioritize their overall well-being and do the things that they love, just like Irwin is doing.
Dr. Dana Chase, a gynecological oncologist at Arizona Center for Cancer Care, says people with cancer should be making time to do things that make them happy.
“We know from good studies that emotional health is associated with survival, meaning better quality of life is associated with better outcomes,” Chase said.
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“I’m hopeful that seeing my journey will help someone, whether they are also battling cancer or if they have a loved one who is because cancer truly touches all of us in some way. I know so many people understand this journey,” Berlie said.
Tips to Cope with an Unexpected Cancer Diagnosis
- Let your family and close friends know and let them help. So many cancer survivors tell us they want and need support but are often too preoccupied to make specific requests. Urge those close to you to jump in with whatever practical help they can offer.
- Keep a journal. It can be highly cathartic to let those feelings loose on paper. Grab a pen and a lovely journal and chronicle your thoughts throughout the day.
- Join a cancer support group. There are groups in nearly every community offering opportunities to connect with others going through a similar journey. You’ll learn constructive insight from others who can tell you about what to expect and how to stay strong on tough days.
- Consider seeing a therapist. Ask your doctor to refer you to a therapist so you can discuss your fears and concerns in a safe space. Often, vocalizing your thoughts and feelings rather than internalizing them can provide relief.
Above all, know that there are countless resources and support here for you to turn to at any time.
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