Support During Cancer
- Elton John, 73, survived prostate cancer in 2017, with husband David Furnish at his side.
- Spousal support during cancer can be important for many.
- Even through COVID-19, people are receiving treatment and surgeries to fight their cancer.
The “Tiny Dancer” singer wrote: “Happy Birthday to my wonderful husband David. Love you with all my heart. Thank-you for everything you do.”
Read MoreView this post on InstagramSpousal Support Through Cancer
Elton was fortunate to have David with him during his cancer journey. Diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2017, the iconic singer decided to undergo surgery to treat his cancer. His Canada-born filmmaker husband, Furnish, was likely a pillar of support during that time.
Spousal or partner support during cancer treatment can provide helpful emotional healing as one deals with all the emotions that can come up when facing cancer. Emotions such as grief, shame, and depression can feel difficult to bear on your own. So having a partner or close friends, and family members can make the journey easier, as it hopefully did for Elton.
Related: Treating Depression After a Cancer Diagnosis
Cancer can also provide a clarifying effect for some relationships that were, perhaps, not meant to be. Actress and writer Jill Kargman, who is a cancer survivor, told SurvivorNet how, “When you get cancer, it's a really great way to tell if your partner is the love of your life, or a s***head…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 says, “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.”
Jill Kargman on Relationships and Cancer
Prostate Cancer Surgery
Elton chose surgery to treat his cancer in 2017. But if he were needing surgery today, he might be facing a different reality. The COVID-19 pandemic has upended the world, included the medical system. But people are still receiving treatment and surgeries to fight their cancer.
Related: Coronavirus Guide for Cancer Patients
Dr. Stephen Freedland, a urologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, talked with SurvivorNet about patients who need prostate cancer surgery during the pandemic. He says that surgery should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Dr. Freedland advises, “The question is: What is the risk of doing surgery now in this environment, versus waiting until some future time point?…At the end of the day, it’s about informed decision-making, and telling the patient the risks and the benefits. They’re exposing themselves to everything that’s going on in a hospital environment. I think it really is a discussion with the patient. Can this safely be delayed for a period of time?”
If you are needing surgery to treat prostate cancer, it’s a decision that can be made with your doctor. Dr. Freedland emphasizes, “It’s a very, very case-by-case decision. There’s no easy answer. The fact that you need surgery tends to mean you have a little bit more aggressive tumor. We also know prostate cancer is a tumor that can wait a month, two, three, sometimes much even longer.”
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