How to Cope With Loss Amid Cancer
- Actress and singer Olivia Newton-John’s surviving husband continues to honor his late wife's memory more than a year after her passing to stage 4 breast cancer.
- Newton-John was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992, then in 2013, then in 2017. By the time of her last diagnosis, the cancer had spread to other parts of her body including her sacrum the bone at the bottom of the spine.
- Metastatic breast cancer also called “stage four breast cancer” means that the cancer has spread, or metastasized, beyond the breasts to other parts of the body. There is technically no cure, but advancements in treatments can dramatically improve outcomes, and that is something to be hopeful for.
- Newton-John said she turned to using cannabis to aid her treatment. About 40% of breast cancer patients use cannabis, according to a recent survey, and most patients who use the drug report doing so to relieve symptoms associated with treatment.
- Grief is defined as the devastation that occurs when we lose someone. The five stages of grief are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. These labels help us frame and identify what we may be feeling. Coping with the loss of a loved one amid cancer is an emotional time for family and friends.
It’s been a year since we lost beloved actress and singer Olivia Newton-John who passed away after a brave battle with breast cancer at age 73. Her widowed husband, John Easterling, 71, says he continues to cherish his late wife and resilient cancer fighter all the time.
“Love is everywhere,” Easterling said to People Magazine.
Newton-John's career success began to emerge during the 1970s. She was a popular country-pop singer. She produced hits like "I Honestly Love You and "Have You Never Been Mellow. As the 1980s approached, she started dipping her toes into acting. She starred in the 1978 iconic musical romantic comedy "Grease co-starred by John Travolta. As her career gained momentum, her 1981 chart-topping single "Physical added to her success.
Her music and television career continued throughout the 1980s and into the 2010s. She earned numerous awards throughout her career including multiple Grammys, a Golden Globe, and an Emmy according to music and film outlet IMDB.
Away from the recording studio and cameras, Olivia Newton-John grew closer to John Easterling. The two tied the knot in 2008.
"The commitment Olivia and I had was that we would love each other forever or until the end of time, whichever came last, Easterling said.
Since the "Grease actress' passing, her loving husband says he keeps a memory table in their California home of Newton-John's favorite photos and mementos noting, "There's no replacing her.
Newton-John's daughter Chloe Lattaniz, 37, told People Magazine, she believes her mom still visits her in supernatural ways.
"Mom and I had talked years back. We'd watch these paranormal shows, and I'd say, 'You gotta show up for me.' And she was like, 'I'll show up as one of those orb things.' Lattazni said.
Weeks after her mom passed away, Lattaniz says her phone "accidentally took a picture of her dog and within the photo appeared to be a floating "little blue orb.
Easterling also claimed to have seen a "little blue orb appear in a cellphone photo he took shortly after visiting Peru to commemorate the 15th wedding anniversary with his late wife.
Newton-John's Breast Cancer Journey
Olivia Newton-John dealt with several bouts of breast cancer both in the early 1990s and then again in the late 2010s. She was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992 and underwent chemotherapy and a partial mastectomy which is a surgical procedure that removes cancerous breast tissue.
Although the cancer went into remission, it returned in 2013 as a tumor in her shoulder. It was discovered during an exam following a traffic accident. At the time of discovery, Newton-John chose to keep the diagnosis to herself according to People.
Many years later, the cancer returned in 2017 after it metastasized to her back. She was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer that had metastasized or spread to other parts of her body including her sacrum the bone at the bottom of the spine.
She said of her 2017 diagnosis, "A lot of people see it as a fight, and wherever you choose to see it, that's your prerogative. I see it as part of my mission.
WATCH: Medical marijuana can help alleviate pain and decrease inflammation for people with cancer, but how?
Cancer metastasis can lead to the weakening and breaking of bones. This is what happened during Newton-John's breast cancer battle. Her sacrum broke as a result of her spreading cancer. She then underwent radiation therapy which is a cancer treatment that uses high-energy beams aimed at cancer cells hoping to kill them. During her cancer journey, the beloved actress turned to medical cannabis to help relieve the pain of her broken sacrum.
"I weaned myself off [prescription pain med] with cannabis, which I think is incredible, Newton-John previously told SurvivorNet.
"People should know that, because you're not going to die from cannabis… That was really powerful for me to find out as well. I've continued on a regimen with cannabis ever since, she added.
About 40% of breast cancer patients use cannabis, according to a 2021 study, and most patients who use the drug report doing so to relieve symptoms associated with treatment, such as pain, anxiety, insomnia, and nausea/vomiting.
RELATED: 5 Tips on How to Use Cannabis for Cancer
More on Late-Stage Breast Cancer
- An Overview of Breast Cancer Treatment
- 5 Tips on How to Use Cannabis For Cancer; 40% of Breast Cancer Patients Are Using it to Relieve Symptoms From Harsh Treatments
- Do You Have HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer? Here’s A Breakdown Of Some Of Your Treatment Options
- Genetic Testing Is Increasingly Driving Treatment For Breast Cancer And May Actually Help Lower Costs
- Metastatic Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Treatments To Consider
- Have You Been Diagnosed With Late-Stage Breast Cancer? Know That You Have Treatment Options.
How to Cope After Losing a Loved One to Cancer
John Easterling is choosing to continue cherishing the memory of Newton-John by recognizing milestone moments in their collective lives. Perhaps, this is how he is coping with the loss of his beloved wife to breast cancer. SurvivorNet wants you to know, everyone grieves differently.
Grief is defined as the devastation that occurs when we lose someone. Grieving comes in five stages, commonly referred to as the "five stages of grief.
The stages of grief are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. These labels help us frame and identify what we may be feeling. These stages can occur in any order.
As you find yourself experiencing some of these stages, remember that the emotions you are feeling are meaningful but also temporary. If you approach them with compassion, kindness, and eventual acceptance, you will come away from this period with a renewed sense of resilience and purpose.
WATCH: Managing the stages of grief.
"Grief comes in waves, says Dr. Scott Irwin, a psychiatrist, and Director of Supportive Care Services at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
"They're grieving the change in their life, the future they had imagined is now different.
Some days can be tougher than others, but Dr. Irwin says talk therapy can be helpful. It's important to reach out to your doctor, to a therapist, or to support groups in your community for the help you need.
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