A Healthy Role Model
- TikTok star Tia Stokes, the “cancer dancer,” is proudly in remission for leukemia, and took to Instagram to show off her newer curves, posting a picture of herself in a pink one-piece bathing suit.
- Stokes tells followers that despite being in remission, she still needs weekly transfusions, since her donor’s blood is a different type from hers.
- An expert tell SurvivorNet what a difference a positive attitude can have on battling disease, and Stokes is a prime example of contagious courage.
As most cancer survivors know, when you get good news like Stokes, gaining a few lbs in the process is the least of their worries. Still, we are human, and getting a little heavier due to cancer treatment and being less active can still affect the spirits of many women and men.
Read More
View this post on Instagram
She explained that she chose to put on her swimsuit to embrace the body that God gave her as she goes to swim with her children. “I choose ME, my happiness, my memories.”
Related: 7 Cancer Survivors and Thrivers Tell Us How They Keep a Positive Attitude
She rallied others to join her in celebrating their bodies. “OUR BODIES ARE BEAUTIFUL. SMART. LOVELY IN ALL ITS PHASES OF LIFE,” she boldly stated. “Say it with me. ‘I LOVE YOU BODY because ______(fill in the blank) let's give all the love to her.'”
Stokes signed off by stating that it’s been 349 days since her leukemia diagnosis, adding the word “remission.”
An Eerie Prediction for Leukemia Diagnosis
Stokes was told she might develop leukemia one day after donating blood at 16, and the prediction came true. She received a note from one of the Red Cross doctors saying that she might develop leukemia in the next 15 years or so. Plus, the disease is common for Pacific Islanders.
AML is a generally rare cancer, but the most common leukemia in adults. This disease affects the bone marrow (the spongy tissue inside of your bones) and is caused by DNA damage to the cells in your bone marrow. This tissue consists of three types of cells: white, red, and platelets. White blood cells fight infections as part of the immune system, red blood cells carry oxygen to the tissue, and platelets help stop excessive bleeding. If these cells experience DNA damage, it causes an over production of white blood cells.
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
Staying Positive Through Cancer
Experts often say that the way that you take on a cancer diagnosis can potentially affect your prognosis, and Stokes’ contagious personality helped her tackle her disease head on.
"We know, actually from good studies, that emotional health, quality of life is associated with survival, meaning better quality of life is associated with better survival, better outcome," Dr. Dana Chase from Arizona Oncology tells SurvivorNet. "So definitely, working on your emotional health, your physical well-being, your social environment, your emotional well-being, definitely working on those things and making them better are important and can impact your survival."
Dr. Chase says if that's related to what activities you do that bring you joy, "then you should try to do more of those activities," she says. Like Stokes did and does with her dancing, staying positive while motivating others along the way.
"So I sometimes will talk to a patient about making a list of the top 10 things that bring them joy and trying to do those 10 things, not every day, but trying to do those 10 things to make the most of their experiences.” Dr. Chase also adds that having a good social network can be very helpful.
What Still Brings You Joy? Your Emotional Health is So Important to Living with Cancer
A TikTok User Who is ‘Trying to Make Cancer Cool’ Beats Leukemia Three Times
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
