How to Cope With Body Change sAfter Cancer
- Comedian Kathy Griffin, 62, shared an intimate video of herself preparing for vocal cord surgery to help her get back her voice after it was changed by lung cancer treatment.
- Griffin was diagnosed with stage 1 lung cancer in 2021.
- Smoking causes most cases of lung cancer. However, almost 20% of people who die from lung cancer in the U.S. each year never smoked or used tobacco products the American Cancer Society said. Griffin was not a smoker.
- Body changes associated with cancer or cancer treatment can be an emotional part of anyone’s cancer journey. These changes can be temporary or permanent.
- Cancer warriors need to prepare themselves for possible changes by working on self-confidence and leaning on their support group.
Though comedian Kathy Griffin, 62, was incredibly happy to beat lung cancer, she struggled with how treatment affected her famous voice that fans have come to know and love. Today, she’s working hard to reclaim that voice, and she shared a personal video of how she prepared for vocal cord surgery.
"I so appreciate you guys following along on my journey to get my voice back after lung cancer!" Griffin said in a video caption.
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Griffin also said she is "cancer free" and her efforts to reclaim her voice are part of her recovery from lung cancer surgery.
Griffin is roughly two years removed from being diagnosed with stage 1 lung cancer. She underwent surgery to have half of her left lung removed.
Due to intubation from surgery, her voice was a bit altered. She previously described it as "Minnie Mouse meets Marilyn Monroe" while speaking with Jimmy Kimmel.
Since lung cancer surgery, Griffin has been on a crusade to fully recover what she lost. Last October, she shared details with fans after visiting a laryngeal surgeon. At the time she worried if she'd run out of options and if she would have to learn to accept her new voice.
However, the determined Griffin was not willing to let lung cancer and its aftermath hold her back. The brave cancer warrior said she's been working to recover from cancer so she can get back to doing what she loves without worry.
The latest procedure is proof of how her strong positive mindset pushes her to overcome adversity.
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Cancer Impacts the Body in Many Ways
Cancer can impact the body differently from person to person. Some cancers can bring about more visible changes to your body while other impacts are more subtle.
For Griffin, one of the most notable changes coming out of her lung cancer battle was the lingering effects of surgery on her voice. As a comedian and actress, it's perhaps one of the most notable features people associate with her, so it’s understandable that she struggled with the changes she experienced.
Mayo Clinic explains that changes your body experiences while battling cancer are a side effect of the cancer and subsequent treatment.
"Surgery, chemotherapy or radiation…can cause dramatic and rapid physical changes," Mayo Clinic explains.
MacMillan Cancer Support Center further explains, "Changes to your body may be temporary or permanent."
So how can cancer warriors prepare for changes to their bodies during cancer?
MacMillan Cancer Center encourages cancer warriors to prepare themselves emotionally for possible body changes as they begin their cancer journeys. One suggestion involves building up your self-confidence before treatment intensifies.
Reflect on your proudest accomplishments to remind yourself you are more than your cancer diagnosis. Use this time to lean on your support group filled with loved ones who can play a big role in building you up emotionally.
Expert Lung Cancer Resources
The Basics of Lung Cancer
According to the American Cancer Society, "About 238,340 new cases of lung cancer" will be diagnosed this year.
There are two main types of lung cancer, which doctors group together based on how they act and how they're treated:
- Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type and makes up about 85% of cases.
- Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is less common, but it tends to grow faster than NSCLC and is treated very differently.
Smoking causes most cases of lung cancer. However, almost 20% of people who die from lung cancer in the U.S. each year never smoked or used tobacco products the American Cancer Society said.
Kathy Griffin was not a smoker either.
Exposure to secondhand smoke may also increase your cancer risk. And exposure to cancer-causing chemicals including benzene, arsenic, chromium, and asbestos has also been linked to lung cancer.
WATCH: Lung cancer often does not cause symptoms until the cancer has metastasized or spread outside the lungs.
Some people with lung cancer may have symptoms like these:
- A cough that doesn't go away, that gets worse, or that brings up bloody phlegm
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Chest pain
- Hoarse voice
- Appetite loss
- Weight loss
Mention symptoms like these to your doctor, who will ask questions to get a better picture of what is happening inside your body. If your symptoms suggest lung cancer, you'll likely need to have more tests.
Questions for Your Doctor
If you find yourself diagnosed with lung cancer and are concerned about the long-term impacts, here are some questions you can ask your doctor.
- Has my cancer spread to other parts of the body?
- Based on my cancer stage, what are my treatment options?
- What are the side effects of my recommended treatment?
- Are there ways to help minimize the effects of treatment?
- How long will I be unable to work or carry out my daily activities?
- What financial resources are available to get the treatments I need?
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