Focusing On The Positive After a Cancer Scare
- “The Karate Kid” star Ralph Macchio, who just turned 63, is working toward spreading breast cancer awareness after his nurse practitioner and high school sweetheart wife Phyllis Fierro’s health scare. Details into her breast cancer scare aren’t clear, however, we’re admiring Macchio’s determination to help others learn more about breast cancer prevention and the importance of early screenings.
- The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends women at average breast cancer risk begin screening for breast cancer at age 40. Women with the BRCA gene mutation, who have a family history of cancer or have dense breasts, are at higher risk and should talk with their doctor about when to screen may be younger than 40.
- After cancer and other health challenges, experts suggest working on their mental health with positive psychology. Positive psychology focuses on encouraging patients to feel positive and finding what brings a sense of vitality to their lives. According to psychiatrist Dr. Samantha Boardman, the three wellsprings of vitality are connecting with others, contribution, or adding value to the lives of others, and feeling challenged.
- Experts recommend anyone facing cancer should make sure they continue to prioritize their overall well-being and do the things that they love. It can help fuel a positive attitude.
- Additionally, when it comes to trying to prevent a cancer diagnosis or recurrence, there are a few factors to consider. Making sure we are healthy is important for our everyday lives, and that means prioritizing a healthy diet and consistently being active.
The Long Island, New York-native, best known for his memorable role as Daniel LaRusso “The Karate Kid” films, in addition to “Cobra Kai,” recently attended the Maurer Foundation’s 2024 Pink Diamond Gala with hopes of “giving back” and helping others better understand the importance of early detection of breast cancer.
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As for how Maurer remained supportive in their time of need, Macchio told Patch, “It is important to have that nurturing kind of enlightenment to educate and form and yet provide a comfort and feeling that you’re not in it alone. Dr. Maurer has that.
“We have not had any really intense scares, but there were some scenarios that were like, ‘What if?’ and that mountain it becomes in front of you at the time. And having someone hold your hand without holding your hand is something I recognized with her; she has that quality, as well as all the expertise — and the great hands.”
Since the Maurer Foundation aims to inform others on the importance of eating healthier, exercise, self breast exams, and screening guidelines, Macchio hopes to help education the future generation on “early detection, inspiration and empowerment.”
Macchio said, “Information is power. The more our young generation is informed, the more power they have over their own health, mindset. It’s diet, it’s exercise, it’s not as simple as just the breast exams. I’d imagine it’s the whole scope of how you look at your life.
“If I see a teenager taking that care, it’s trickle down. Or trickle up. It’s contagious. I think the message is, the more schools and communities open their arms toward this, and obviously, raising funds to keep these programs free and accessible for young people, is what this whole night is about.”
Expert Breast Cancer Resources
- An Overview of Breast Cancer Treatment
- Digital Guide: Dr. Yara Abdou Breaks Down Next-Generation Sequencing & Breast Cancer Treatment
- FDA Warning: Robotically-Assisted Surgical (RAS) Devices Have Not Been Authorized for Breast Cancer Treatment or Prevention
- Do You Have HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer? Here’s A Breakdown Of Some Of Your Treatment Options
- How Does Molecular Testing Help Determine the Best Breast Cancer Treatment Option?
- Early Stage Breast Cancer: What to Know About Testing
Although further details of his wife’s cancer scare haven’t been disclosed, it’s clear that Macchio, who married his high school sweetheart Fierro back in 1987 and shares two children with her, cares deeply for his wife and hopes to prevent others from having a health scare like they did.
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Thriving After a Cancer Scare
It’s unclear what type of breast cancer scare Macchio’s wife experienced, but for anyone coping with a similar health journey, psychiatrist Dr. Samantha Boardman suggests that people practice positive psychology. Positive psychology focuses on encouraging patients to feel positive and finding what brings a sense of vitality to their lives, like how Macchio is working to spread awareness for the disease.
Dr. Boardman explains them as “pathways to embrace your everyday resilience.” In other words, these are tools people who may be struggling with mental health issues can embrace to help maintain a certain sense of positivity. And those positive feelings can go a long way when people are facing a health challenge like a cancer diagnosis.
According to Dr. Boardman, these three wellsprings of vitality are:
- Connecting. This involves how you’re connecting with others and having meaningful interactions. It involves being a good listener and being engaged with the people around you who you care about.
- Contribution. How are you adding value to the people around you? Are you helping them in ways that feel meaningful to them? This entails contributing/engaging with others in a meaningful way.
- Feeling challenged. Being “positively challenged” could involve learning something new (perhaps by taking a new class or reading an interesting book) and expanding your mind in some way.
“Those are the cores of vitality and the core pathways to enhance your everyday resilience,” Dr. Boardman said.
Dr. Dana Chase, a gynecologic oncologist at Arizona Oncology, also advocates for cancer warriors to prioritize their mental health. She noted that emotional well-being has been studied as a factor in patient outcomes.
“We know from good studies that emotional health is associated with survival, meaning better quality of life is associated with better outcomes,” Dr. Chase told SurvivorNet in an earlier interview.
“So, working on your emotional health, your physical well-being, your social environment [and] your emotional well-being are important and can impact your survival. If that’s related to what activities you do that bring you joy, then you should try to do more of those activities.”
According to Dr. Chase says doing things that bring you joy is important, and there’s no right or wrong ways to do so. Paying attention to your emotional health could look like spending time with friends and dancing. Others might turn to painting, writing, watching movies, or playing sports.
Dr. Chase recommends writing down ten things that make you happy and intentionally making the time to do those activities throughout the day.
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“Sometimes I will talk to a patient about making [a] list of the top ten things that bring them joy,” Chase says. “And trying to do those ten things, to make at least 50 percent of their experiences positive throughout the day.”
“Sometimes I will talk to a patient about making [a] list of the top ten things that bring them joy,” she continues. “And trying to do those ten things, to make at least 50 percent of their experiences positive throughout the day.”
The Importance of Breast Cancer Screenings
Screening for breast cancer is normally done through a mammogram, which looks for lumps in the breast tissue and signs of cancer.
While there is some disagreement about the exact age a woman should start getting mammograms, doctors generally agree it should happen in their 40s.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) suggests women should begin annual mammogram screenings for breast cancer at age 45 if they are at average risk for breast cancer.
However, an independent panel of experts called the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) now says that women should start getting mammograms every other year at the age of 40, suggesting that this lowered the age for breast cancer screening could save 19% more lives.
WATCH: Mammograms are still the best tool for detecting breast cancer.
The ACS also advises:
- Women aged 40-44 have the option to start screening with a mammogram every year
- Women aged 55 and older can switch to a mammogram every other year
- Women aged 55 and older could also choose to continue yearly mammograms
For screening purposes, a woman is considered to be at average risk if she doesn’t have a personal history of breast cancer, a strong family history of breast cancer, a genetic mutation known to increase risk of breast cancer such as a BRCA gene mutation or a medical history including chest radiation therapy before the age of 30.
Experiencing menstruation at an early age (before 12) or having dense breasts can also put you into a high-risk category. If you are at a higher risk for developing breast cancer, you should begin screening earlier.
Don’t delay speaking with your doctor to make sure you are staying on top of your breast health.
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Role of Lifestyle in Cancer Risk
When it comes to trying to prevent a cancer diagnosis or recurrence, there are a few factors to consider. Making sure we are healthy is important for our everyday lives, and that means prioritizing a healthy diet and consistently being active.
Although there’s been no scientific evidence to prove a certain diet or amount of exercise causes or prevents cancer, there is a definite link. For example, among the women who exercised regularly, their risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer dropped by 12%.
As for diet, it’s recommended to practice moderation as much as possible. Cancer risk can be linked to consuming high amounts of sugar, carbs, and overcooked processed meats. That’s why it’s important to balance your cravings with nutritious foods such as dark green, red and orange vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. By making sure you eat a balanced diet, this can decrease inflammation which is often associated with cancer risk.
“Things that we know are not good for us: high carbs, high meat, low fiber, high sugar, smoking, [and] drinking excessively, they all are bad for our health and increase our risk of cancer. Exercise decreases the risk of cancer,” Dr. Heather Yeo, an Associate Professor of Surgery and Healthcare Policy and Research at Weill Cornell Medical College, previously told SurvivorNet.
The Role of Diet and Exercise in Cancer Risk
In addition to affecting your cancer risk, lifestyle can play an important role in going through active cancer treatment as well. While it’s important to not lose weight while going through certain treatments such as chemotherapy, a healthy diet can strengthen your immune system which can help you push through treatment. Additionally, doing light exercises such as yoga can also lend itself as a stress reliever, which is helpful for one’s emotional health.
“Diet, exercise, and stress control are extremely important when going through both cancer therapy, as well as once you’re done treating your cancer and trying to get back to the rest of your life,” Dr. Sairah Ahmed, a medical oncologist at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, previously told SurvivorNet.
“You want to have a moderate diet where you’re including lots of fruits and vegetables, but you’re still eating fat and protein. You want to maintain physical exercise. The more physically fit you are going through your cancer treatment, the less side effects you’ll have and the faster you’ll get back to your normal quality of life.”
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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