Wes Craven's Brain Cancer
- Director Wes Craven died in 2015 of brain cancer; he was 76.
- In his long-spanning career, Craven directed the Nightmare on Elm Street and the Scream franchises.
- Scream Actor David Arquette, 49, opens up about missing Craven and how he’s coping with grief.
Craven’s Brain Cancer
Craven did not disclose his initial diagnosis nor treatment path to the public, so little is known about his specific condition and treatment plan. But we do know that brain cancer can be treated via immunotherapy, surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and targeted therapy.The legendary horror director was mourned throughout Hollywood and by all fans of the genre, as well as the actors, like Courtney Cox, who he helped make famous.
In a Tweet the day he passed, Cox wrote: “Today the world lost a great man, my friend and mentor, Wes Craven. My heart goes out to his family.”
Today the world lost a great man, my friend and mentor, Wes Craven. My heart goes out to his family. x
— Courteney Cox (@CourteneyCox) August 31, 2015
Some treatments, such as Optune, has been shown to extend the lifespan of people with brain cancer. Deciding on a treatment path for brain cancer will be specific to a patient’s prognosis and the way in which the cancer has progressed.
Getting More People Access to Immunotherapy
Coping with Grief
On the set of Scream 5, Arquette spoke of managing his grief by remembering Craven’s tastes and preferences. He listened to the director’s favorite music and looked through Craven’s old Twitter account, which has been inactive since he passed away. Arquette said that on set he was "looking up old tweets and who he followed because I wanted to follow who he followed.”
Related: "Therapy Saved My Life": After Losing A Loved One, Don't Be Afraid To Ask For Help
Looking at the words and images of deceased loved ones can be a coping method to honor their memory. Many find coping with grief to be an overwhelming process, that may be made less overwhelming by seeking support and help. Support through grief can be found through resources like therapy.
Camila Legaspi lost her mother to breast cancer when she was just in high school and credits therapy with helping her handle her cancer-related grief. She tells SurvivorNet, “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, that I still had my family, that I still had my siblings. The reality is, is when you lose someone, it’s really, really, really hard.”
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