Support during a Cancer Journey
- Country star Colt Ford recently shared a nice picture of him and his friend, fellow country singer Toby Keith, to commemorate Keith’s birthday: “Happy Birthday a day later to one of the Best to ever do it… So Happy you feeling better Hoss. Here's to another Lap Around The Sun.”
- Keith is slowly getting back to music after he was diagnosed with stomach cancer, also known as gastric cancer, in fall 2021.
- Ford, himself, is a cancer survivor after overcoming eye cancer. So, it’s nice to see the thoughtful sentiment of support from one survivor to another.
- One of our experts says “studies have found consistently that loneliness is a significant risk factor for physical and mental illnesses and the trajectory of recovery.” She also says “the act of sharing our time and words with others can alleviate emotional and physical pain.”
Ford, whose real name is Jason Farris Brown, took the time to commemorate Keith’s birthday on July 8 with a throwback picture of the country singers enjoying a day of golf.
Read MoreView this post on Instagram“Happy Birthday a day later to one of the Best to ever do it,” Ford wrote in his caption. “Thank you for all the knowledge and Wisdom you have given me over the years.
“It ain't just me the World needs some more Big Dawg Daddy. So Happy you feeling better Hoss. Here's to another Lap Around The Sun. Love ya Brother”
The thoughtful sentiment of support comes after Ford’s own struggles with health battles in the recent past. In April 2021, for example, he shared he was diagnosed with eye cancer.
Ford discovered he had eye cancer after finding a growing spot on his eye. Thankfully, his treatments of surgery and chemo eye drops were successful, but he was later diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called Myasthenia Gravis just last year. But after continuing to work on his health and getting “in a lot better shape,” he’s doing much better today.
"I just feel great," Ford said in May 2023. "My life is in a great place. I’m getting married in October. I found my person. And I’m just as happy and excited as I’ve ever been about music, which is kind of hard to believe. I feel like I’m not even done making my best music."
Toby Keith’s Cancer Journey
Toby Keith was diagnosed with stomach cancer, also known as gastric cancer, in fall 2021. We do not know the specifics of his diagnosis, but we do know the most common type of stomach cancer is adenocarcinoma of the stomach which starts in the mucus-producing cells in the innermost lining of the stomach.
"Last fall I was diagnosed with stomach cancer," Keith wrote on Instagram in June 2022. "I've spent the last 6 months receiving chemo, radiation and surgery. So far, so good. I need time to breathe, recover and relax.
"I am looking forward to spending this time with my family. But I will see the fans sooner than later. I can't wait."
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In a more recent update from June 2023, Keith shared that he was “feeling pretty good.”
"I'm about another eight weeks from my last scan,” he said. “So, I expect next time I look for that tumor to be even less and I've only got one that's shown up.
"Basically, everything is in a real positive trend. You never know with cancer, so you have to prepare."
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Keith has slowly been getting back to playing shows and has a “goal” of getting back on the road in the fall of 2023.
"I feel better; I've got more wind. And I'm thinking about bringing the band in and setting up, playing two or three days somewhere just to see if I can get through two hours," Keith said. "And if I do, (I'll) be out on the road this fall.
"All I got to do is see if I can get through two or three nights of work and get a little break in this chemo, and we'll go back to work. I'm ready. That's living."
@bolfagirrl Still camt belive i was there!!! #tobykeith #cancersucks #oklahoma #music #countrymusic #country #foryoupage #omg ♬ original sound – Stephanie Cevallos Bolfa And fans should be delighted to hear he has since proven he’s able to perform after two recent concerts ahead of the Fourth of July in Norman, Oklahoma, that clocked in at more than two hours.
"I've been on the lam for a year and a half…but we're coming back!" Keith said with a red solo cup in hand at one of the concerts.
The Power of Support
It’s great to someone like Colt Ford showing his support for Toby Keith. Especially since studies have shown feeling lonely may negatively impact a person’s cancer journey.
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"Studies have found consistently that loneliness is a significant risk factor for physical and mental illnesses and the trajectory of recovery," licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Marianna Strongin told SurvivorNet. "The act of sharing our time and words with others can alleviate emotional and physical pain."
This is something ovarian cancer survivor Kelly Sargent can attest to. She received her diagnosis after moving to San Antonio, Texas a city where she didn’t know anyone. Thankfully, she was "blessed with having met some incredible ladies" that supported her during her cancer journey.
The Benefit of Support Networks for Cancer Patients
"When I was diagnosed, as soon as I got in the hospital, I started going online to find not only information, but also support groups, stories from survivors, anything that I could find as far as my treatment I definitely looked for," she said. "I have an incredible set of friends that I met after my diagnosis through a Bible study group that have become very, very close friends of mine that are an incredible part of my support system.
“That support from those ladies has been life-changing for me.”
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