Sports Host Christine Simpson, 61, Says She’s Feeling ‘Optimistic’ Since Her Breast Cancer Was Caught Early, Plans to Continue ‘Living Life’ During Treatment
Sports Host Christine Simpson, 61, Says She’s Feeling ‘Optimistic’ Since Her Breast Cancer Was Caught Early, Plans to Continue ‘Living Life’ During Treatment
Coping With an Early-Stage Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Veteran NHL sports reporter Christine Simpson, 61, revealed she’s facing early‑detected breast cancer, saying she feels strong, optimistic, and ready to rely on the resilience that has carried her throughout her career.
According to Dr. Elizabeth Comen, a medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, the first step in treating early-stage breast cancer is usually surgery to remove the cancer.
This may involve a lumpectomy, where only the tumor and surrounding tissue are removed, often followed by radiation therapy to reduce the risk of recurrence. However, treatment isn’t one-size-fits-all. Factors like age, tumor size, family history, and personal preference may influence whether radiation is needed or if a patient chooses a more aggressive approach, such as a mastectomy—removal of the entire breast.
Many women opt for breast reconstruction following a mastectomy. This procedure can involve implants made from the patient’s own tissue or saline or silicone materials to restore shape and appearance.
To further help you on your cancer journey, explore SurvivorNet’s proprietary AI tool, “My Health Questions.” This powerful resource, embedded across the SurvivorNet website, was built to bridge that gap by offering on-demand explanations of treatment options, clinical trials, side effects, insurance concerns, and more.
Veteran sports reporter Christine Simpson, 61, best known for her coverage of the National Hockey League, says she’s now facing her own challenge: breast cancer.
“Thankfully, they caught it early; I’m feeling great, and they’re very optimistic about my outcome,” Simpson said in a social media post.
Simpson is very popular in Canada, and her words carry added weight to a disease impacting so many women.
“My strength and resilience have always served me well, and I know those qualities will continue to do so as I face this latest challenge,” Simpson said.
NEWARK, NJ – APRIL 10: Commentator Christine Simpson waits at center ice for a postgame interview following the game between the New Jersey Devils and the Boston Bruins at the Prudential Center on April 10, 2011, in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Understanding Early-Stage Breast Cancer Treatment: What Comes After Diagnosis
Early-stage breast cancer typically means the tumor is small and hasn’t spread to the lymph nodes. For stage one breast cancer, the first step is to remove the cancer. If a woman undergoes a lumpectomy, radiation therapy is often recommended afterward.
However, treatment plans aren’t one-size-fits-all.
WATCH: Early-Stage Breast Cancer Treatment
Personal details like a woman’s age may help determine if radiation is needed or not. Some women, based on tumor size, family history, or personal preference, may choose a more aggressive approach—such as a mastectomy to remove the entire breast.
If surgery is selected as a treatment option, once it is complete, a pathologist then examines the removed tissue to determine whether additional treatment is needed. This helps determine if surgery managed to remove all of the cancer or if some is still around. The next phase is crucial in reducing the risk of recurrence.
Additional treatment options include radiation, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy.
Common treatment options for early-stage breast cancer include:
Surgery (lumpectomy or mastectomy)
Radiation therapy
Chemotherapy
Hormone therapy
“Even women with early-stage breast cancer ideally need some form of therapy after surgery to help prevent the cancer from coming back,” Dr. Comen emphasized.
Chemotherapy stops cancerous cells from growing, dividing, and spreading to other organs. It works by traveling through the bloodstream, killing cancerous cells. However, the process also impacts healthy cells, leading to side effects.
Chemotherapy side effects may include:
Nausea and/or vomiting
Fatigue
Neuropathy may bring weakness in the hands or feet and difficulty with motor skills.
Hair loss
If losing your hair is a concern for you before cancer treatment, know that you have options like wigs, hats, wraps, and scarves, among other things.
Another option that can minimize hair loss is cryotherapy, “just a fancy way of saying cold therapy,” says Dr. Renata Urban, gynecologic oncologist at the University of Washington in Seattle.
Cryotherapy involves wearing cold caps or special cooling caps before, during, and after each chemotherapy treatment.
What to Expect from a Mastectomy
When you’re faced with possibly getting a mastectomy, many factors go into the decision-making process, such as the size and features of the tumor and your family history. Some patients may opt for a lumpectomy instead, which is when doctors remove just the cancer and an area of healthy tissue around it rather than the entire breast or breasts.
Some women decide to have their breasts reconstructed after undergoing a mastectomy and have implants put in right away, while others don’t have reconstruction at all.
WATCH: Regaining your sense of self after reconstruction.
Dr. Port added that most women opt to have some sort of reconstruction. The length of these surgeries can vary greatly. When implants are used, the procedure can take two to three hours (so the total surgery time would be around five hours). There is also the option to take one’s own tissue (usually from the belly area) and transfer it into the breast area during reconstruction.
How to Manage the Grueling Side Effects from Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is an effective tool for oncologists to help treat cancer by stopping cancerous cells from growing, dividing, and spreading to other organs. Chemo works by traveling through the bloodstream, killing cancerous cells. However, the process also impacts healthy cells, leading to side effects.
Patients almost universally experience fatigue, often alongside gastrointestinal side effects, such as nausea. Doctors have many effective medications to combat chemo-induced nausea. “But mitigating that fatigue often depends on the patient,” says Dr. Urban.
WATCH: What You Think You Know About Chemotherapy Side Effects May Be Wrong
“Neuropathy is probably one of the most challenging side effects,” says Dr. Urban. Neuropathy results from damage to the peripheral nerves. It usually resolves after chemotherapy treatment, but sometimes symptoms can persist. While it’s typically characterized by numbness or a pins-and-needles sensation in the hands and feet, neuropathy can have several different symptoms, including:
Weakness in the hands or feet
Stabbing or burning pain in the hands or feet
Difficulty gripping, such as when holding a fork
Difficulty with fine motor skills, such as writing or buttoning a shirt
Nausea and vomiting are common side effects of chemotherapy. When chemotherapy affects the rapidly dividing cells in the stomach lining, the resulting cellular havoc in the gastrointestinal tract can lead to side effects such as nausea and vomiting. However, doctors can help patients mitigate the hit with various medications before, during, and after treatment.
“Part of the chemotherapy prescription includes a set regimen of anti-nausea medications,” says Dr. Urban. “We also ensure that patients have medications at home that they can use should they develop nausea after treatment.”
Hair loss is another side effect of chemotherapy.
WATCH: Coping with hair loss.
“For cancer patients, losing one’s hair can be unbelievably stressful. To start with, the dread of losing one’s hair can lead to some sleepless nights and feelings of anxiety,” Dr. Samantha Boardman, a New York-based psychiatrist and author, told SurvivorNet.
Chemotherapy can cause hair loss. It usually begins about three to four weeks after chemotherapy and continues throughout treatment.
This happens because this treatment targets quickly dividing cells throughout the body, including cancer cells and hair cells.
Most patients can expect regrowth four to six weeks after treatment. However, it is possible that when your hair grows back, you may notice some changes in its color and texture.
Doctors don’t have an arsenal of prescription medications to combat fatigue. However, you can do several things to help minimize the hit and restore your energy.
Exercise: While it may be counterintuitive, physical activity can help alleviate side effects, especially fatigue. “Although ovarian cancer is not common, we often draw upon the experience of patients with breast cancer and colon cancer, who have shown that physical activity can not only improve quality of life but may also have beneficial impacts on cancer outcomes,” Dr. Urban says.
Eat well: Even though nausea may interfere with your ability to eat a healthy diet, it’s essential to ensure you’re eating appropriately, getting enough protein, and not losing weight. Not only will nourishing your body support your recovery, but it may also help you feel more energized.
Sleep: Want to mitigate fatigue? Be sure to maintain your regular sleep-wake cycle while on treatment. Sticking to a set sleep schedule helps reduce fatigue by ensuring enough hours for your body to heal and restore itself each night. It may also help you recover more quickly by keeping energy levels high during the daytime.
Helping You Answer Your Cancer-Related Questions
To further help you on your cancer journey, explore SurvivorNet’s proprietary AI tool, “My Health Questions.”
This powerful resource, embedded across the SurvivorNet website, was built to bridge that gap by offering on-demand explanations of treatment options, clinical trials, side effects, insurance concerns, and more. Users can ask questions conversationally, either by typing or using their voice, and receive answers tailored to their individual profiles. If patients don’t know where to start, we provide prompt questions to get them started.
Questions To Ask Your Doctor
If you have a breast cancer screening coming up or have recently had one, you may have questions you want answered. SurvivorNet suggests the following questions to kickstart your conversation with your doctor.
Do I have dense breasts?
Do I need to undergo additional or more sensitive screening?
How is my risk level being assessed?
Will insurance cover additional screening if needed?
Kavontae Smalls is a writer and reporter for SurvivorNet. Read More
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