Sharing Devastating Rehab Photo, ‘Dance Moms’ Star Abby Lee Miller, 57, Says ‘We Can Do Better’ While Marking 3 Decades of the Americans with Disabilities Act
Sharing Devastating Rehab Photo, ‘Dance Moms’ Star Abby Lee Miller, 57, Says 'We Can Do Better' While Marking 3 Decades of the Americans with Disabilities Act
How Cancer Patients Are Protected by the Americans With Disabilities Act
“Dance Moms” star and cancer survivor Abby Lee Miller, 57, is drawing attention to the 33rd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act which offers protections for people with disabilities from discrimination. Cancer patients even if in remission – also receive these protections.
Miller was diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma, an aggressive form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, in 2018.
Complications from surgery left the dancing actress wheelchair-bound for several years. Her experiences drove her to be an advocate for people living with disabilities.
Lymphoma is typically treated with chemotherapy, medication, radiation, and, sometimes, stem-cell transplant. The type of lymphoma you have will dictate the treatment path.
Cancer patients choosing to work but needing some accommodations on the job may be protected by the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, or the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
"Dance Moms" star Abby Lee Miller, 57, is drawing attention to the seminal federal law that's helped cancer patients and others facing a health condition for more than three decades. This week marks the 33rd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act which protects people with disabilities from discrimination and also helps them on the job.
Miller is using her platform to shine a light on the need for more protection for people battling diseases. As a cancer survivor, she knows what it is like to live with a disease.
Miller owns her own dance company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was featured on the hit TV show, "Dance Moms" which ran from 2011 through 2019. The show followed moms and their children striving to become talented dance stars.
In a recent Instagram post, Miller pointed out that handicapped pool chairs, facilities, and vehicles that are wheelchair accessible still need extra scrutiny.
12 years ago #DanceMoms aired ~ Little did we know the countless children across the globe that would become dancers themselves after watching every week… something we all as a cast can take credit for! 🙌🼠here's to the next chapter of the journey ðŸ‘🼠#aldcalways#aldc#aldcproudpic.twitter.com/KQJcmYRt11
"The handicap pool chairs at national hotel chains never work, most major department stores still don't have electronic doors, and it's difficult all over to try getting a taxi or Uber in a wheelchair! We can do better," the actress said in her Instagram post.
She went on to say she's aiding the fight for inclusion and safety for people living with a disability. This is something near and dear to Miller's heart because she was wheelchair-bound while recovering from surgery to treat her cancer.
People living with cancer or have a history of cancer also fall under the Americans with Disabilities Act providing these brave and resilient groups of people added protections from discrimination.
Miller's Cancer Battle
Miller was diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma, an aggressive form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, in April 2018. Burkitt is a rare condition that only makes up 1% to 2% of all lymphomas. It typically starts in the abdomen, where it forms a large tumor. It can spread quickly toward the brain and spinal fluid.
The two most common types of this disease are Hodgkin’s and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The distinction between the two lies in the presence or absence of Reed-Sternberg cells. If doctors find these cells, the lymphoma is classified as Hodgkin lymphoma.
Treatment for lymphoma is dependent upon the type of lymphoma. This disease is typically treated with chemotherapy, medication, radiation, and, sometimes, stem-cell transplant.
WATCH: Understanding lymphomas.
According to Lymphoma Research Foundation, this aggressive cancer may affect the jaw, kidneys, ovaries, central nervous system, bowel, or other organs.
Before Miller's diagnosis, she began experiencing intense pain. She went to see an urgent care clinic where she underwent tests but was ultimately sent home undiagnosed. Since she was experiencing pain in her jaw, she went to a dentist who "did an ice cube check on every tooth and said there's nothing wrong with your teeth," she previously told SurvivorNet. However, the pain continued.
Miller wound up at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center, where she was discharged after three days in "worse pain than I went in with." Her medical team suggested she go to a pain management clinic.
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 16: Abby Lee Miller attends The Television Academy’s 26th Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony at Saban Media Center on November 16, 2022, in North Hollywood, California. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images)
Several days later, Miller returned to the hospital, barely able to move her arms, legs, or jaw, and underwent emergency surgery. Her doctor "went to my spinal cord and meticulously pulled a slime, a tar-like substance, away from the spinal cord," she described.
Due to complications, she suffered during surgery, she found herself wheelchair-bound for a period of time.
In May 2019, it was determined that Miller was cancer-free and began making good progress in her recovery. As of April 2021, she still has PET scans every three months to check for any recurrence. She attended regular physical therapy sessions to rebuild her strength.
A second spinal surgery she had in October 2020 caused two vertebrae fractures. She then went through a third spinal surgery in November 2020 to rectify it. After the spinal surgeries, she saw progress in her ability to walk.
"I can walk a couple of steps with the walker, but I'm not where I was before," the actress said.
A Cancer Patient's Rights at Work
People who are facing cancer see impacts in nearly all aspects of their lives including their ability to work. It's important to know that some accommodations can make working through cancer a little easier.
Your human resources department should be able to share with you your options.
In some situations, employers must accommodate a qualified applicant or employee with a disability unless the employer can show it would be an undue hardship to do so. This could mean making changes to work schedules, equipment, or policies.
On the other hand, employees are not expected to provide accommodations that cause "undue hardships" or "significant difficulty or expense," according to the U.S. Equal Opportunity Commission.
Find out more about job accommodations and employment of people with limitations from the Job Accommodation Network. Your human resources department should also be able to share with you your options.
Laurie Ostacher, a behavioral health clinician, recommends cancer patients talk with their employer about accommodations they may need upon returning to work.
WATCH: Working during cancer.
"Patients need to let their employer know [they're] going to need some flexibility around that. Because there are going to be days when you're not as energetic or feeling as well as other days," Ostacher explained.
Questions for Your Doctor
If you are battling cancer and are feeling open to working during treatment, consider the following questions for your doctor first.
What's the current prognosis of my cancer?
What are the potential side effects of my recommended treatment?
Will the side effects affect my ability to travel to work, or will remote work be better for me?
How long is my treatment expected to last?
If I cannot return to work as normal, what financial resources are available while I take a leave of absence?
Is a social worker or patient navigator available to help me work through my options?
