Radio Host Rush Limbaugh, 69, Thanks Fans for Immense Support as He Fights Stage 4 Lung Cancer- Support Has Made a Difference

He said: “…I'm gonna take the occasion of this to send out a heartfelt thanks to virtually all of you who have written your tributes or have aired them in your podcasts or on your YouTube videos…I want you to trust that the odds are I have seen what you've done, read what you've written, and have great appreciation for all of it, even though I have not acknowledged all of them 'cause I didn't intend to when this all began.”

Cancer Treatment During COVID-19

Limbaugh is battling his lung cancer during an unprecedented time; everyone fighting cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic is dealing with a completely new set of life circumstances. Dr. Brendon Stiles, a thoracic surgeon at Weill Cornell Medical Center, spoke with SurvivorNet about lung cancer patients receiving treatment during the pandemic. He spoke to immunotherapy treatments, in particular.

Related: 'I Don't Want To Be a Cancer Patient On The Radio:' Rush Limbaugh Reminds Us Of the Mental Impact Cancer Can Have on Those Battling

Dr. Stiles said, "We really don't know what the interaction of (immunotherapy) is going to be with the virus. You could probably argue both ways that it may completely throw your immune system out of whack and predispose you to infection [or] maybe because you're getting an immune stimulus, you might be able to fight off viruses better. We're going to need a lot more data to understand that better."

Related: Immunotherapy Helps Your Body Help Itself

"Where we could potentially run into trouble is that some of these (immunotherapy) drugs can cause pneumonitis, inflammation in the lungs,” he said. “Chemotherapy can cause immunosuppression so that the combination of those may be tough for some patients to take.”

What Late Stage Lung Cancer Patients Should Know About Immunotherapy During Coronavirus

How Support Can Help

Support through the cancer journey is often critical while one is going through it. Support can be found in myriad ways, from spouses, partners, family members, therapists, support groups, and even radio listeners.

Related: Shannen Doherty's Dear Friend is Perfect Example of the Kind of Sisterhood of Support Needed When Battling Metastatic Breast Cancer

Cancer is not only a physical undertaking but an emotional one as well. After receiving a cancer diagnosis, many people experience grief, depression, and sometimes even shame. All of these emotions are valid. And processing them through therapy and other means of support and outlets such as a radio show or on social media can be beneficial.

Related: Dealing With the Shame That May Come With Testicular Cancer

Resources such as medical social workers, who specialize in helping people cope with their diagnosis and treatment, can be a great option for processing heavy emotions during a potentially overwhelming time. Whatever route(s) you chose to go when pursuing support, go with the one that feels like the best fit for you.

The Benefit of Support Networks for Cancer Patients

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