Brosnan is Back to Work
- Pierce Brosnan, 67, has inked a deal for a new rom-com film, Not Bloody Likely, with Helena Bonham Carter.
- The Irish actor lost his first wife and their daughter to ovarian cancer.
- Working through grief is a personal and ongoing process, and its important to seek support during it.
Brosnan’s Ovarian Cancer Losses
A feel-good story will, indeed, be a nice break from the pandemic world we now live in. And Brosnan knows about living through difficult times; the actor lost both his first wife and daughter to the same disease: Ovarian cancer. His first wife, Cassandra, died in 1991 from the disease at age 43. And Pierce and Cassandra’s daughter, Charlotte, passed away from ovarian cancer in 2013 at 42. Related: 5 Possible Symptoms That May Indicate Gynecological CancerAccording to the American Cancer Society (ACS), approximately 21,750 women will receive a new diagnosis of ovarian cancer in 2020, and approximately 13,940 women will die from ovarian cancer this year. It ranks fifth in cancer deaths among women and causes more deaths than any other gynecological cancer. Treatment for this disease may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or combination therapy. One new combination therapy that has been shown to improve survival rates combines the PARP inhibitor olaparib (Lynparza) and the monoclonal antibody bevacizumab (Avastin).
Related: New Combination Therapy Improves Ovarian Cancer Survival
Ovarian Cancer Symptoms
The odds of a woman being diagnosed with ovarian cancer are 1 in 78. Ovarian cancer symptoms can be difficult to spot, due to their subtle nature. Ovarian cancer has been called “the cancer that whispers” because of its quiet symptoms. Dr. Beth Karlan, a gynecologic oncologist at UCLA Medical Center, tells SurvivorNet, “If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, and they seem to be ‘crescendoing,’ or getting worse, it is worth it to see a doctor to rule out ovarian cancer:
- Feeling full earlier/decrease in appetite
- Feeling bloated
- Changes in bowel habits
- Pain in the pelvis
- Urinary symptoms, such as an urgent need to go
- Extreme fatigue
- Abdominal swelling
- Pain during sex
Brosnan’s Grief & Peace
Brosnan has been proactive about managing his grief. He has found solace through poetry, painting, and living in the present moment. Working through grief is a complex, deeply personal process, and it’s often aided by support. Some may find support and healing via a partner, as Brosnan did (he credits his second wife, Keely Shaye Smith, with restoring his happiness). Others find outlets like support groups and therapy to be especially helpful or even a change of scenery.
Managing grief is an ongoing process; if you need help, reach out. There are resources available to help you navigate a cancer-related loss. You don’t have to go it alone. Camila Legaspi was in high school when she lost her mother to breast cancer. She credits therapy with helping her through that tough time. Legaspi told SurvivorNet, “Therapy saved my life," she said. "I was dealing with some really intense anxiety and depression at that point. It just changed my life because I was so drained by all the negativity that was going on. Going to a therapist helped me realize that there was still so much out there for me…The reality is when you lose someone, it's really, really, really hard. And it's totally okay to talk to someone.”
"Therapy Saved My Life": After Losing A Loved One, Don't Be Afraid To Ask For Help
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