Keanu Reeves' Story
- Shortly before losing his newborn daughter Ava, who was stillborn, Keanu Reeves’ sister Kim was diagnosed with leukemia (a type of blood cancer). She battled the disease for 10 years before entering remission.
- Reeves served as her primary caretaker during her cancer journey, where he put his Hollywood career on hold, moved closer to her, cooked her meals, cleaned her house, and prepared her necessary medication.
- Being a cancer caregiver is a difficult role, but it can be a huge help for a loved one battling the disease.
Shortly before losing his newborn daughter Ava, who was stillborn, Reeves faced another difficult challenge in his family his sister Kim’s battle with leukemia (a type of blood cancer). Kim was diagnosed in 1991, and Reeves became her main caretaker as she battled the disease for 10 years. This was when the actor’s Hollywood career was taking off, but he went above and beyond to prioritize his sister’s health by putting his upcoming Matrix sequels on hold. He also stepped up by selling his house to move closer to Kim, cooking her meals, cleaning her house, and preparing her necessary medication. "She was always there for me, you know. I will always be here for her,” Reeves said in an interview.
Read MoreLeukemia: Explained
Leukemia is a cancer of the early cells in bone marrow that grow into white blood cells. Problems arise when your body starts making too many of these cells. Because the new cells are abnormal and don't work like they should, they're of little help in protecting you against infections.
Related: Blood Cancer is Different From Other CancersSome Treatments Are, Too
Under the main header of leukemia are four main subtypes, which are broken down based on the maturity of the white blood cells they affect, and the type of cells they start from:
- Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
- Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)
- Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL)
- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
The main difference between chronic and acute leukemia is acute leukemia happens when the cancer cells are immature and can't do their job. Chronic leukemia is when most of the abnormal cells are mature, but they still don't work as well as healthy white blood cells.
Dr. Nicole Lamanna breaks down the different blood cancers for us
The Role of a Cancer Caretaker
Watching someone you love battle cancer can be a devastating experience, but a caregiver is a role that is critical in someone’s cancer journey. One thing for caretakers to remember is that it’s important that they take care of themselves too, as it can take a serious toll on someone’s mental and physical health. However, caregivers have told SurvivorNet that it’s important they feel proud of the work they do, as it can serve as the much-needed support their loved ones need.
This was the case for Justine Almada and her siblings, who helped as their mother, Paulette, battled anal cancer. She's taken her experience and used it to raise raising awareness about the disease, and she shared a special message for caregivers while speaking to SurvivorNet. Justine was one of her mother's main caregivers throughout treatment, and worked extremely hard to find more treatment options for her. Eventually, Paulette passed away in 2010 surrounded by Justine and her family. Seeing how cancer affects the family taught Justine how important caregivers are for patients.
"It's really difficult, and also really wonderful at the same time," Justine said when discussing her own experience as a caregiver. "Because you know you're giving your loved one the best chance they have … and I hope you're really proud of what you're doing everyday."
Justine Almada, whose mother passed away from cancer, thanks caregivers for all they do
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