Coping With Complex, Stress-Related Emotions Amid Cancer Screenings or a Diagnosis
- Sportscaster Erin Andrews has revealed she’s dealing with “pre-skin cancer thing” above her lip and admitted to feeling scared before getting the “crusty” and “painful” area on her face checked out.
- Andrews was diagnosed with cervical cancer during a routine screening in 2016 and successfully battled the disease with surgery. She later welcomed her first child into the world with her former NHL player husband Jarret Stroll, after years of fertility struggles.
- A stressful event, such as a cancer diagnosis, can cause a huge array of emotions and these may be fluid and vary a great deal from person to person. When going through something difficult, it’s important to realize and accept that emotions come and go. There will be good days and bad days.
- Psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik stressed that it is also important for your support team including both doctors and loves ones to understand the fluidity of stress-related emotions.
- Our mental health can affect how we think, feel, and behave. Certain triggers like stress, traumatic events, or change in your physical health can affect mental health. It’s really important to keep tabs on your mental health and, if necessary, seek treatment. Please check out SurvivorNet’s mental health guide for resources to help you on your way.
Andrews, a 46-year-old sports commentator who shares a son with her husband, Canadian former professional ice hockey player Jarret Stoll, 42, offered some insight into the “pre-skin cancer” during a recent episode of her podcast, “Calm Down With Erin Andrews and Charissa Thompson.”
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Further explaining about the questionable area on her face, Andrews continued, “It is so crusty and it really hurts.”
Thompson added, after asking how the “issue” was coming along, “For those of you that are new, Erin’s working through some, an issue on her upper lip, but it’s not what you think it is,” before Andrews chimed in, “It’s a pre-skin cancer situation. I so we .. I did a cream for five days on it.”
Andrews continued, “We’ll get into this in the podcast … [but] I went for the old, ‘Oh it’s a great idea until you get in the car’ skin check, the whole shebang.
“I wanted to pass out in the middle of it because I’m so afraid they’re going to find something. We’ll talk about it in the big show, but yeah.”
She’s planning to share more about her skin problem on their upcoming podcast episode.
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Andrews, who has worked for Fox Sports as a reporter for nearly a decade, seems to be embracing the fear of a skin cancer scare with resilience as she recently went through with her skin cancer screening despite any overwhelming emotions she felt on the way to her checkup.
We admire her ability to be open about her health struggles and ability to encourage others to face their fears of getting screened for cancer when they may not feel up to it.
What Is Pre-Skin Cancer?
According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AADA), pre-cancerous skin growths, also called actinic keratosis (AKs), “develop on skin that’s gotten lots of sun over the years” and often show up on people who are over the age of 40.
“If you haven’t protected your skin from the sun, you may have precancerous skin growths,” the AADA explains. “Signs that you have AKs are often subtle. AKs usually begin as a patch of rough-feeling skin. When rubbed, the rough patch may feel painful. The following images show you what AKs typically look like.”
Although we don’t have more information on Andrews’ “pre-skin cancer issue,” it’s important to understand that pre-skin cancer, as per the AADA, often appears on the face as “tend to be dry, scaly, and pink or red patches on the skin.”
“If you find anything on your skin that looks (or feels) like an AK, you should see a dermatologist. AKs are precancerous growths, and some turn into a type of skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma. Being under a dermatologist’s care can help you get the treatment you need,” the AADA adives.
As much as many of us enjoy spending lots of time in the sun during the spring and summer, we must remember that the sun can harm us. For most people, there are simple ways to significantly reduce your risk of developing skin cancer.
We previously asked dermatologist Dr. Dendy Engelman to provide the top five ways to protect your skin from cancer. Most of her recommendations are simple to follow and could save your life.
- Avoid the sun during peak hours, which are from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. If you are outside during those hours, Protect yourself from harmful sun rays.
- Cover your skin and eyes. A wide-brim hat and sunglasses will protect your face, the top of your head, your ears, and the delicate skin around your eyes.
- Wear an SPF of 30 or higher. Dr. Engelman also recommends reapplying every few hours or after excessive sweating or swimming.
- Get an annual skin check. You can check your skin for anything that looks out of the ordinary, but you should still get a yearly check to ensure you don’t miss anything. If you notice anything out of the ordinary between checks, schedule an appointment to talk to your doctor.
- Avoid tanning beds. If you feel like you’re just too pale, Dr. Engelman recommends a sunless tanner. “There’s absolutely no benefit to going to a tanning bed,” Dr. Engelman said.
Erin Andrews’ Cervical Cancer Battle & Fertility Struggles
Erin Andrews was 38 when doctors detected cervical cancer during a routine pap screening in 2016. Since her diagnosis, she’s been a vocal advocate for women to stay current on their cancer screenings.
To treat her cancer, Andrews underwent two surgeries. Prior to surgery, she had In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) to preserve her fertility.
Cervical cancer is detected via a pap smear test, which looks for early signs of cervical cancer. Nurse Practitioner Barbara Dehn told SurvivorNet in an earlier interview, “Many women think that a Pap smear checks for ovarian cancer, but it doesn’t. Pap smears detect only cervical cancer, not all gynecologic cancers.
“In fact, there is no test that detects ovarian cancer in its earliest stages, which is why two-thirds to three-quarters of women are diagnosed at a later stage, when the disease has spread to nearby tissues and organs.”
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Every year in the U.S., approximately 11,500 women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Getting pap smears to detect for cervical cancer is critically important because an earlier diagnosis may mean a better prognosis and broader treatment options.
We’re glad to see Andrews, who began dating Stroll in 2012 and later married him in 2016, focusing on the changes she needs to make in order to have a healthy relationship with her husband, especially after a difficult fertility journey, a time when Stroll was incredibly supportive for her, and vice-versa.
Andrews opened up about her years-long IVF journey on Bulletin, in an essay titled “My seventh time doing IVF, I am not keeping it a secret anymore.”
In her informative essay, she bravely outlined the struggles she has faced with fertility, as she and her husband, who at the time were trying to conceive.
She explained she was trying to enjoy some downtime before NFL season kicks off, but it “has been challenging for me.” Andrews admitted she had been working long hours, and she also had to schedule IVF treatment.
“For those familiar, you know it’s a time-consuming and emotionally draining process. This is my 7th one, and I’ve been going through these treatments since I was 35 years old,” she continued.
The then-43-year-old, said her body was “stacked against” her, adding, “I have been trying to do IVF treatment for a while now, but sometimes it doesn’t go the way you want it. Your body just doesn’t allow it.
“Every cycle is different in a woman’s body, so some months are better than others.” Andrews said that the scheduling difficulties made her question what’s most important, leaving her feeling as if she needed to choose between family and a career.
Prior to that, Andrews also opened up to Health in 2017 about how she previously had undergone IVF prior to her diagnosis, saying, “I had actually frozen my eggs before all this a couple of years back, just because it was all the rage. But it definitely took a serious turn for us. I’m not young, we don’t know when we’re gonna have a baby, we don’t know if this is going to come back.
“One thing I love my future husband for is that our oncologist said the smart thing to do would be to have some insurance waitingso we have frozen embryos because we’ve taken the steps. If we need ’em, we need ’em; and if we don’t, we don’t. We just wanna be smart. But it’s crazy, because these waiting rooms are packed!”
As for how she will handle both her career and family, Andrews exuded confidence in her ability to balance it all. And now she’s continuing to maintain a work-life balance as she works as a FOX NFL sideline reporter while raising her son Mack with her husband.
Coping With Stress Amid Health Struggles
When a stressful life event occurs, people may react with a range of different (and quickly changing) emotions. This is completely normal.
“The way people respond is very variable,” Psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik tells SurvivorNet. “Very much consistent with how they respond to stresses and challenges in their life in general.”
Responding to Stress: How to Cope With Complex & Changing Emotions
Dr. Plutchik spoke to SurvivorNet about how people react after a cancer diagnosis which can be a huge range of emotions from fear to anger to determination. However, the conclusion remains the same no matter what stressor someone may be dealing with: your emotions are valid and seeking mental health help may look different for every person.
“People have a range of emotions when they’re diagnosed with cancer,” Dr. Plutchik explained. “And they can include fear, anger … and these emotions tend to be fluid. They can recede and return based on where someone is in the process. Going through a cancer diagnosis is just the beginning of a complicated, complicated process.”
Expert Mental Health Advice Amid a Health Crisis
- Mental Health and Cancer — The Fight, Flight or Freeze Response
- Mental Health and Cancer: New Survey Shows Over a Third of Patients Aren’t Getting the Support They Need
- Responding to Stress: How to Cope With Complex & Changing Emotions
- Changing the Culture: Medical Professionals Shouldn’t be Ashamed to Seek Mental Health Treatment
- Mental Health: Understanding the Three Wellsprings of Vitality
Dr. Plutchik said that the patient, or person going through the stressful event, should accept that emotions will be fluid. You may feel fine one day and then feel a massive wave of stress the next. It’s also important for those you look to for support whether that’s a therapist, friends and family, or both to understand the fluidity of stress-related emotions.
If a stressful event is affecting how you think and feel, it may be time to seek some sort of mental health treatment. This could mean traditional talk therapy, medication, changing lifestyle habits (like exercise and diet), seeking out a support group, or many other approaches.
Managing Your Mental Health in the Face of a Health Challenge or Major Life Change
It’s only natural for health challenges and divorce have some sort of effect on one’s mental health. Although Erin Andrews to be coping well when life throws challenges her way, it’s important to note that the diagnosis of a cancer or disease or some external stressor like a troubled relationship can offset your mental health in ways you least expect.
Psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik previously told SurvivorNet that emotions will be fluid when facing a diagnosis. SurvivorNet has some tips to help keep your mental and emotional health in a good space if you find yourself coping with a stressful situation.
The National Institute of Mental Health advises to seek professional help if you are experiencing severe or distressing symptoms that have lasted two weeks or more, such as:
- Trouble sleeping
- Changes in appetite
- Struggling to leave bed in the morning because of your mood
- Trouble concentrating
- Loss of interest in things you usually enjoy
- Inability to perform normal daily functions and responsibilities
Equally as important is recognizing the value of self-care. The National Institute of Mental Health offers practical guidance on how to boost your weekly self-care routine.
- Regularly exercising
- Eating healthy, regular meals
- Staying hydrated
- Prioritizing sleep
- Exploring relaxation programs or techniques
- Setting goals/priorities
- Staying positive
- Connecting with others
Battling cancer comes with a ton of emotions. These can range from “anxiety, depression, financial toxicity, social isolation, and PTSD,” SurvivorNet expert and researcher at Moffitt Cancer Center Dr. Shelly Tworoger says.
Psychologist Dr. Marianna Strongin also shared some simple tips to help you maintain good mental health and reduce stress amid adversity.
When it comes to dealing with anxiety, Dr. Strongin says it’s important to have a healthy relationship with your anxiety and get to know it rather than fear it, avoid it, or push it away.
Dr. Strongin explained, “By learning more about your anxious thoughts and tendencies, one can begin to answer their anxious thoughts even in moments when there aren’t any answers. For cancer patients, the worry thoughts tend to be, ‘Will I survive?’
“It’s important to let those thoughts come in and really be able to tolerate them before answering them. This is a very powerful coping skill.”
Dr. Strongin suggests medications to help with anxiety and depression if other approaches are not as effective. She also urges cancer warriors to explore telemedicine.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
- What can I do if my emotions begin to feel overwhelming?
- Are there approaches that don’t involve traditional therapy?
- Should I consider medication such as antidepressants?
- What are the potential side effects should I decide to begin medication?
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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