Latest news with #cancerdiagnosis
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
The Best and Worst Things to Say to Someone Just Diagnosed With Cancer
Credit - Photo-Illustration by TIME (Source Image: HearttoHeart0225/Getty Images) When Katie Thurston was diagnosed with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer earlier this year, at age 34, people kept telling her they knew someone with the same diagnosis. Solidarity, you might think. A helpful way to relate. Not exactly: Their friend or family member had died. This scenario is 'pretty recurring,' says Thurston, who starred on season 17 of The Bachelorette, and while people have good intentions—they want you to know they have experience with what you're going through—the remark doesn't land well. 'We understand that death is a possibility in this diagnosis,' she says. 'I don't need to hear that.' Thurston has been on the receiving end of a lot of outreach and opinions since she shared her breast cancer diagnosis—from strangers online, as well as people she knows in real life. While death-related stories are particularly painful, there are plenty of other comments that fall short of helpful. Communication slip-ups in this area are common, experts say. When a loved one is diagnosed with cancer, people often struggle to figure out how to express their support, leading them to trip over their words or hold back from saying anything at all. 'The data I have to back that up is all the people in my office who say, 'People don't know how to talk to me,'' says Felicity Harper, a clinical psychologist at Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit. 'It's very difficult, unless you've been through it or have some frame of reference, to really know what to say. You don't want to say the wrong thing, but you don't know what the right thing is.' Here's what to avoid when you're talking to someone diagnosed with cancer—and what to say instead. Make real and meaningful contact When you hear about a friend or family member's diagnosis, you might default to saying how sorry you are. 'They're going to hear that a million times,' Harper says. But 'no one is sorrier to hear that they were diagnosed with cancer than the cancer patients themselves.' Instead, she recommends phrasing your message like this: 'I heard about your diagnosis. I'm thinking of you, and I'm here for you.' It's also helpful to add that you don't expect a response—or to simply prepare yourself not to receive one. 'If you're sick and you get all these cards or texts, it makes you feel wonderful, but you also don't want the pressure of having to respond to everybody,' Harper says. If you haven't heard back, 'reach out again in another couple weeks or a month. It's just being consistent.' Don't respond with toxic positivity The No. 1 complaint Harper hears from cancer patients is that other people try to tell them how to feel—and it inevitably involves thinking positively. 'You're going to beat this!' they might say. 'Don't worry. You just have to stay positive.' People often assure Thurston that everything happens for a reason or promise that everything will be OK. 'It almost belittles the reality and emotions that a cancer patient is going through,' she says. Having cancer means tackling a range of emotions, sometimes all within the same hour: anxiety, fear, hope, uncertainty, disappointment, and anger, just for starters. 'When someone is having a hard time, our inclination is often to want to fix things and say, 'Oh, don't feel bad,' when really what they need is space to feel their feelings,' Harper says. The patients she sees often tell her that they feel like they're doing their cancer experience wrong because they can't stay positive—which makes them feel guilty, or like they're failing. That's exacerbated by comments like, 'If you just thought positively, you'd be doing better,' or telling someone that their stress is making them sicker. Read More: 10 Ways to Respond to Someone's Bad News Instead, Harper advises, make it a point to listen without judgment. Rather than invalidating them by downplaying the gravity of the situation, support your loved ones by telling them: 'Gosh, that sounds scary. That must be so hard.' Then stick by their side as they experience the whiplash of those ever-changing emotions. Although it might feel challenging, it's key to allow your loved one the space to talk freely about whatever they want—even the especially hard stuff. If a cancer patient's disease reaches an advanced stage, the people closest to them are also scared, so they try to shut down those conversations: 'You don't need to think about your funeral plans.' 'We've got to find a way to let that patient talk about it, and maybe that means we need to go talk to somebody about our own feelings,' Harper says. 'That's for us to deal with separately.' Check before offering advice People with cancer often get fed up by their loved ones telling them what to do. The word 'should' comes up a lot, Harper says: 'You should see this doctor! You should try that treatment plan! You should put these supplements on autoship.' Translation: 'I don't trust that you're getting good care, or that you know enough about what's best for you.' In general, it's a good idea to avoid offering solutions, well-intentioned as they might be. 'The thing I always say to patients is, you can tell those people, 'Look, when you've had cancer, you can come back and tell me what to do,'' Harper says. 'Until then, the best thing is to allow the patient to be the expert on how they're feeling,' and the ways they're managing their disease. Read More: How to Reconnect With People You Care About While unsolicited tips aren't always welcome, Thurston appreciates when people open a conversation like this: 'If you'd like to hear some advice, let me know. Or, if you want help researching any specific topic related to your diagnosis, I'm here.' In other words: 'I want to help you get information, but only if you're ready to accept it or want help researching it.' That makes it much more palatable, she says, and she's taken loved ones up on the offer. Avoid a litany of other unhelpful remarks When the conversation turns to appearance and cancer-related changes, some people say: 'It's just hair. It will grow back.' 'But the thing is, it's just hair until it happens to you,' says Thurston, who's documenting her medical journey via an Instagram group she dubbed the Boobie Broadcast. 'This isn't a bad haircut. This is a very emotionally and physically difficult time, and we need to be cautious of comments like that.' Many breast cancer patients undergo a mastectomy, which involves removing all or part of the breast, and can be followed by reconstruction to rebuild the breast shape. Some people pounce on that when making conversation. 'I think people try to be optimistic on our behalf, so they'll say these lighthearted comments like, 'Oh, at least it's a free boob job,'' Thurston says. ''Oh, you get a free tummy tuck.' And while they mean well, it's not free. There's so many consequences—it's not some vain situation I'm going through. It's a surgery because of my medical diagnosis." Read More: The Race to Explain Why More Young Adults Are Getting Cancer The subject of family planning is also full of landmines. Thurston was vocal about undergoing IVF before beginning treatment as part of her fertility preservation plan. It's an incredibly sensitive topic, she says, and she's already heard plenty of unhelpful feedback, like from people who tell her she can always foster or adopt. 'A lot goes into IVF, and I don't know where I'm going to be physically, emotionally, and financially if that doesn't work out for me,' she says. 'To simply say 'you can always adopt'—it's not as easy as you're making it sound, and you're belittling the entire experience I'm going through when it comes to IVF.' Thurston recommends letting the person with cancer guide these conversations—and if you do venture into the subject, to ask questions like, 'How much do you want to talk about it?' She's encountered people who are truly sensitive about the situation and, for example, ask if it's OK if they bring their children to places where she'll be. 'Sometimes it can be triggering to even see a baby,' she says, and when people are cognizant of that, their thoughtfulness goes a long way. Don't default to silence Not everyone says the right thing when they're trying to support someone who's just been diagnosed with cancer. But saying anything—even if it's not perfect—is better than saying nothing at all. 'I think people don't know what to say or they feel uncomfortable, but I'd rather someone stumble on their attempt at talking about it, vs. not saying anything,' Thurston says. 'That one hurts the most, and I think people don't realize it.' If you're not sure what to say, tell your friend exactly that. Thurston recommends adding: 'I might have difficulties having this conversation. Help me navigate—help me understand.' Many of Harper's patients say they learned who their real friends were after they were diagnosed with cancer. Some of the people in their network stepped up and were present; others vanished, perhaps because they didn't know what to say or didn't realize their voice would be missed. Checking in matters, Harper stresses, and not just at the beginning of treatment. Once active care ends, 'People assume you're fine, and they never ask about it again,' she says. 'But patients deal with the effects of cancer treatment long after the treatment's over'—not to mention that those who have metastatic disease will need to manage it long term. Read More: 10 Questions to Help You Plan for the End of Life If you're staying mum because you don't want to pester your friend, reconsider. Thurston suggests directly asking: 'Do you want me to check in about your diagnosis? Do you want me to check in about your life? How much are you wanting to have this in front of you, vs. having it be an afterthought?' Talking about cancer is so emotional, she adds, that sometimes she just wants to talk about reality TV, the restaurant she went to last weekend, or her dog—anything else. Harper counsels patients on how to set boundaries around talking about their disease. Some get in the habit of saying: 'I don't want to talk about it—when I do want to, I'll bring it up.' 'Sometimes cancer needs to be on the back-burner,' Harper says. 'It doesn't need to be your whole identity—sometimes you just want to remember what your life was like before.' Offer practical, specific help If you want to do something to lighten a cancer patient's load, consider asking the people closest to them—a parent, sibling, or spouse—how you can best be helpful. Word it like this: 'The church is thinking about setting up a meal train for the family. Is that something you think would be good?' Aim to offer practical support, like setting up a fund for gas money, building a wheelchair ramp connected to their front door, providing childcare, or planning a low-key visit once a week, Harper says. Thurston loves when people make specific offers to help, like telling her they want to provide dinner—and then asking if she'd prefer Thursday or Friday drop-off. Or, someone might reach out and say they'd like to drive her to her next oncology appointment. 'Those action items of offering support make such a huge difference,' she says. 'To some people, it might feel small, but to a cancer patient, it really makes such a positive impact.' Wondering what to say in a tricky social situation? Email timetotalk@ Contact us at letters@
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Colorado's Deion Sanders had bladder removed after cancer diagnosis
Colorado head football coach Deion Sanders announced Monday he was diagnosed with bladder cancer earlier this year. Sanders held a news conference to reveal the news as Colorado embarks on fall camp ahead of the 2025 season. Dr. Janet Kukreja, Sanders' doctor at the University of Colorado Cancer Center, said Sanders had his bladder removed after a malignant tumor was found and that he had been "cured" from the cancer. 'The process wasn't easy,' Sanders said as he relayed that doctors presented him with multiple options to deal with the cancer. Kukreja said the type of cancer Sanders was dealing with had a high recurrence rate and that he decided to go forward with the "curative" option of having his bladder removed. Sanders, 57, said that he knew he had surgery upcoming for the tumor as his son Shedeur Sanders dealt with a rough draft weekend after he fell from a possible first-round NFL Draft pick to the fifth round. "There was some scenes you saw, all the bull junk that's transpired on draft day," Sanders said. "It wasn't just that. It was just, I knew as well I had a surgery coming up. My sons, to this day, don't know what transpired, I just told them it was something with my foot, because I wanted to give them the focus on making the team and not focused on dad." The Pro Football Hall of Famer had been away from the team and at his home in Texas after spring practice to deal with health issues. He appeared at Big 12 media days earlier in July and declined to answer questions about his health while at the podium during his appearance there. He said Monday that not continuing to coach never crossed his mind after he was diagnosed and that Randy Moss had been a source of strength for him in their conversations. Moss was diagnosed with bile duct cancer in 2024 and is set to return full-time to his role at ESPN for the 2025 football season. Colorado assistant athletic trainer Lauren Askevold said Sanders' cancer discovery came after he went through his routine vascular tests. The training staff received a call from his primary care doctor after the vascular tests, and the process of setting up a visit with a urologist and diagnosing what was going on began. Kukreja said that Sanders' tumor was discovered early before it had a chance to metastasize into something even more serious. "I didn't have any signs," Sanders said. Sanders detailed what he's gone through since the surgery and said that he "can't pee like I used to pee. It's totally different." He also said he had lost 25 pounds at one point. 'I depend on Depend if you know what I mean," Sanders said. "I cannot control my bladder. So I get up to go to the bathroom already 4-5 times a night. And I'm sitting there waking up like my grandson. We in the same thing. We got the same problem right now. We're going through the same trials and tribulations.' Sanders said fans will likely see a portable toilet on the sidelines of Colorado games this fall and said he wanted to serve as an example for people who may also be going through similar cancer diagnoses. His new bladder was created with parts of his intestine. 'It's just totally different and I know there's a lot of people out there going through what I am going through and dealing with what I am dealing with and let's stop being ashamed of it and let's deal with it. And let's deal with it head on.' Sanders' news conference came after he posted to social media that he had recently completed his will. He said he informed his coaching staff and his team of the cancer diagnosis on Sunday. "You don't want to be a fool and leave and not have your business affairs in order," Sanders said. The vascular tests are routine for Sanders after he had two toes amputated on his left foot in 2021 while he was the coach at Jackson State. The toes were removed after Sanders had dealt with a blood clot and compartment syndrome. He said Monday he's had 14 surgeries since 2021. Sanders is entering his third season as Colorado's head coach. The Buffaloes went 9-4 in 2024 after going 4-8 in his first season in Boulder.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
The Best and Worst Things to Say to Someone Just Diagnosed With Cancer
Credit - Photo-Illustration by TIME (Source Image: HearttoHeart0225/Getty Images) When Katie Thurston was diagnosed with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer earlier this year, at age 34, people kept telling her they knew someone with the same diagnosis. Solidarity, you might think. A helpful way to relate. Not exactly: Their friend or family member had died. This scenario is 'pretty recurring,' says Thurston, who starred on season 17 of The Bachelorette, and while people have good intentions—they want you to know they have experience with what you're going through—the remark doesn't land well. 'We understand that death is a possibility in this diagnosis,' she says. 'I don't need to hear that.' Thurston has been on the receiving end of a lot of outreach and opinions since she shared her breast cancer diagnosis—from strangers online, as well as people she knows in real life. While death-related stories are particularly painful, there are plenty of other comments that fall short of helpful. Communication slip-ups in this area are common, experts say. When a loved one is diagnosed with cancer, people often struggle to figure out how to express their support, leading them to trip over their words or hold back from saying anything at all. 'The data I have to back that up is all the people in my office who say, 'People don't know how to talk to me,'' says Felicity Harper, a clinical psychologist at Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit. 'It's very difficult, unless you've been through it or have some frame of reference, to really know what to say. You don't want to say the wrong thing, but you don't know what the right thing is.' Here's what to avoid when you're talking to someone diagnosed with cancer—and what to say instead. Make real and meaningful contact When you hear about a friend or family member's diagnosis, you might default to saying how sorry you are. 'They're going to hear that a million times,' Harper says. But 'no one is sorrier to hear that they were diagnosed with cancer than the cancer patients themselves.' Instead, she recommends phrasing your message like this: 'I heard about your diagnosis. I'm thinking of you, and I'm here for you.' It's also helpful to add that you don't expect a response—or to simply prepare yourself not to receive one. 'If you're sick and you get all these cards or texts, it makes you feel wonderful, but you also don't want the pressure of having to respond to everybody,' Harper says. If you haven't heard back, 'reach out again in another couple weeks or a month. It's just being consistent.' Don't respond with toxic positivity The No. 1 complaint Harper hears from cancer patients is that other people try to tell them how to feel—and it inevitably involves thinking positively. 'You're going to beat this!' they might say. 'Don't worry. You just have to stay positive.' People often assure Thurston that everything happens for a reason or promise that everything will be OK. 'It almost belittles the reality and emotions that a cancer patient is going through,' she says. Having cancer means tackling a range of emotions, sometimes all within the same hour: anxiety, fear, hope, uncertainty, disappointment, and anger, just for starters. 'When someone is having a hard time, our inclination is often to want to fix things and say, 'Oh, don't feel bad,' when really what they need is space to feel their feelings,' Harper says. The patients she sees often tell her that they feel like they're doing their cancer experience wrong because they can't stay positive—which makes them feel guilty, or like they're failing. That's exacerbated by comments like, 'If you just thought positively, you'd be doing better,' or telling someone that their stress is making them sicker. Read More: 10 Ways to Respond to Someone's Bad News Instead, Harper advises, make it a point to listen without judgment. Rather than invalidating them by downplaying the gravity of the situation, support your loved ones by telling them: 'Gosh, that sounds scary. That must be so hard.' Then stick by their side as they experience the whiplash of those ever-changing emotions. Although it might feel challenging, it's key to allow your loved one the space to talk freely about whatever they want—even the especially hard stuff. If a cancer patient's disease reaches an advanced stage, the people closest to them are also scared, so they try to shut down those conversations: 'You don't need to think about your funeral plans.' 'We've got to find a way to let that patient talk about it, and maybe that means we need to go talk to somebody about our own feelings,' Harper says. 'That's for us to deal with separately.' Check before offering advice People with cancer often get fed up by their loved ones telling them what to do. The word 'should' comes up a lot, Harper says: 'You should see this doctor! You should try that treatment plan! You should put these supplements on autoship.' Translation: 'I don't trust that you're getting good care, or that you know enough about what's best for you.' In general, it's a good idea to avoid offering solutions, well-intentioned as they might be. 'The thing I always say to patients is, you can tell those people, 'Look, when you've had cancer, you can come back and tell me what to do,'' Harper says. 'Until then, the best thing is to allow the patient to be the expert on how they're feeling,' and the ways they're managing their disease. Read More: How to Reconnect With People You Care About While unsolicited tips aren't always welcome, Thurston appreciates when people open a conversation like this: 'If you'd like to hear some advice, let me know. Or, if you want help researching any specific topic related to your diagnosis, I'm here.' In other words: 'I want to help you get information, but only if you're ready to accept it or want help researching it.' That makes it much more palatable, she says, and she's taken loved ones up on the offer. Avoid a litany of other unhelpful remarks When the conversation turns to appearance and cancer-related changes, some people say: 'It's just hair. It will grow back.' 'But the thing is, it's just hair until it happens to you,' says Thurston, who's documenting her medical journey via an Instagram group she dubbed the Boobie Broadcast. 'This isn't a bad haircut. This is a very emotionally and physically difficult time, and we need to be cautious of comments like that.' Many breast cancer patients undergo a mastectomy, which involves removing all or part of the breast, and can be followed by reconstruction to rebuild the breast shape. Some people pounce on that when making conversation. 'I think people try to be optimistic on our behalf, so they'll say these lighthearted comments like, 'Oh, at least it's a free boob job,'' Thurston says. ''Oh, you get a free tummy tuck.' And while they mean well, it's not free. There's so many consequences—it's not some vain situation I'm going through. It's a surgery because of my medical diagnosis." Read More: The Race to Explain Why More Young Adults Are Getting Cancer The subject of family planning is also full of landmines. Thurston was vocal about undergoing IVF before beginning treatment as part of her fertility preservation plan. It's an incredibly sensitive topic, she says, and she's already heard plenty of unhelpful feedback, like from people who tell her she can always foster or adopt. 'A lot goes into IVF, and I don't know where I'm going to be physically, emotionally, and financially if that doesn't work out for me,' she says. 'To simply say 'you can always adopt'—it's not as easy as you're making it sound, and you're belittling the entire experience I'm going through when it comes to IVF.' Thurston recommends letting the person with cancer guide these conversations—and if you do venture into the subject, to ask questions like, 'How much do you want to talk about it?' She's encountered people who are truly sensitive about the situation and, for example, ask if it's OK if they bring their children to places where she'll be. 'Sometimes it can be triggering to even see a baby,' she says, and when people are cognizant of that, their thoughtfulness goes a long way. Don't default to silence Not everyone says the right thing when they're trying to support someone who's just been diagnosed with cancer. But saying anything—even if it's not perfect—is better than saying nothing at all. 'I think people don't know what to say or they feel uncomfortable, but I'd rather someone stumble on their attempt at talking about it, vs. not saying anything,' Thurston says. 'That one hurts the most, and I think people don't realize it.' If you're not sure what to say, tell your friend exactly that. Thurston recommends adding: 'I might have difficulties having this conversation. Help me navigate—help me understand.' Many of Harper's patients say they learned who their real friends were after they were diagnosed with cancer. Some of the people in their network stepped up and were present; others vanished, perhaps because they didn't know what to say or didn't realize their voice would be missed. Checking in matters, Harper stresses, and not just at the beginning of treatment. Once active care ends, 'People assume you're fine, and they never ask about it again,' she says. 'But patients deal with the effects of cancer treatment long after the treatment's over'—not to mention that those who have metastatic disease will need to manage it long term. Read More: 10 Questions to Help You Plan for the End of Life If you're staying mum because you don't want to pester your friend, reconsider. Thurston suggests directly asking: 'Do you want me to check in about your diagnosis? Do you want me to check in about your life? How much are you wanting to have this in front of you, vs. having it be an afterthought?' Talking about cancer is so emotional, she adds, that sometimes she just wants to talk about reality TV, the restaurant she went to last weekend, or her dog—anything else. Harper counsels patients on how to set boundaries around talking about their disease. Some get in the habit of saying: 'I don't want to talk about it—when I do want to, I'll bring it up.' 'Sometimes cancer needs to be on the back-burner,' Harper says. 'It doesn't need to be your whole identity—sometimes you just want to remember what your life was like before.' Offer practical, specific help If you want to do something to lighten a cancer patient's load, consider asking the people closest to them—a parent, sibling, or spouse—how you can best be helpful. Word it like this: 'The church is thinking about setting up a meal train for the family. Is that something you think would be good?' Aim to offer practical support, like setting up a fund for gas money, building a wheelchair ramp connected to their front door, providing childcare, or planning a low-key visit once a week, Harper says. Thurston loves when people make specific offers to help, like telling her they want to provide dinner—and then asking if she'd prefer Thursday or Friday drop-off. Or, someone might reach out and say they'd like to drive her to her next oncology appointment. 'Those action items of offering support make such a huge difference,' she says. 'To some people, it might feel small, but to a cancer patient, it really makes such a positive impact.' Wondering what to say in a tricky social situation? Email timetotalk@ Contact us at letters@
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Health
- Telegraph
Prostate cancer checks soar after Sir Chris Hoy reveals diagnosis
Thousands more men are having checks for prostate cancer since Sir Chris Hoy revealed he had been diagnosed with the disease and was terminally ill. The six-time Olympic cycling gold medallist was told in 2023 that he was terminally ill with cancer that originated in his prostate, and shared his diagnosis publicly last year. Despite a family history of prostate cancer – which also affected his father and grandfather – Sir Chris was never offered the PSA test that could have detected it. New NHS data show almost 5,000 extra men have been referred for urological cancer in the six months after Sir Chris, 49, spoke out, a trend described by experts as 'staggering'. The figures, from October 2024 to March 2025, show 138,734 men were given an urgent referral for urological cancers, with prostate cancer the main form of disease. This amounts to an extra 4,962 cases compared with the same six-month period in 2023-24. Separate data show a huge increase in the number of men with a family history of prostate cancer who have assessed their own risk. The number of men with such a history who have used an online risk checker to assess their chances of the disease rose by 77 per cent over the period. Telegraph launches screening campaign The findings have been released as The Telegraph launches a campaign calling for the introduction of targeted screening for prostate cancer. Men are not offered tests currently, even if they have a family history of the disease. Experts believe there is a growing case for targeted screening, meaning that PSA blood tests would be offered to those at heightened risk of the disease. Peter Kyle, the Science Secretary, hopes to harness AI and data to improve prostate cancer screening for high-risk men which factors in family history, genetics, demographics and other factors. Mr Kyle, writing in The Telegraph, said he hopes researchers can harness the vast amount of health data available to 'develop AI-powered tools that can predict cancer risk' to save thousands of lives a year. The UK National Screening Committee is currently considering whether to recommend the introduction of mass testing. 'I told my story to raise awareness' Sir Chris said: 'I was diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer at 47. By this age, my prostate cancer was advanced and could have been progressing from when I was 45 or even younger. With prostate cancer, the earlier you find it, the easier it is to treat. We need the system to change to enable more men to get diagnosed earlier, and stop them getting the news I got. 'That's why I believe men at highest risk, for example men with a family history like me, or black men, should be contacted by their GP earlier on to discuss a simple PSA blood test that can check for signs of prostate cancer. 'Then if there are any issues, they can get it treated it at an earlier stage. 'I've told my story to help raise awareness about the most common cancer in men and get more thinking about their risk and what they can do, but it shouldn't all be men's responsibility.' The online risk checking tool, published by Prostate Cancer Research UK, asks men simple questions about their family history and ethnicity to determine risk levels, and gives advice about what help to seek. The charity found that the number of men undergoing the check rose by 45 per cent overall, when data from October 2024 to February 2025 was compared with the same period the year before. The sharpest increase by far came from men aged between 45 and 49, with a family history of the disease. In total 10,427 such men checked their risk, compared with 5,891 in the same period the previous years. In total there were 688,796 checks during the period, up from 473, 843 the year before.
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Julie Chrisley slams 'crazy' claims she faked her breast cancer diagnosis
slammed claims that she faked her breast cancer diagnosis in the past. During Wednesday's episode of their family podcast, the reality TV personality, 52, addressed the 'crazy' accusations. 'The one thing that I wanna talk about that was in the tabloids is they said that I faked my breast cancer, and that is the craziest thing,' she said on Chrisley Confessions 2.0. She added: 'What people don't realize is [that] I was diagnosed with breast cancer [in] March of 2012.' Her husband Todd, 56, chimed in and said that he recalled how she received her diagnosis when she was 39 years old. The couple — who were serving multi-year sentences prison after being convicted of bank fraud and tax evasion prior to Trump's presidential pardon — noted that she received her cancer diagnosis 'before this happened.' She clarified that she 'had already been diagnosed with breast cancer' a decade before their trial and convictions. 'I was completing my treatment at that time,' she recalled about the summer of 2012, when they were grieving the loss of Todd's father. 'But the thing is that someone would think that I would ever fake a breast cancer diagnosis.' She added: 'I have had the pleasure of meeting so many amazing, wonderful women who have fought the breast cancer fight.' Julie said that it was 'so disrespectful' towards them to accuse her of faking breast cancer. 'Obviously, if that's something I was gonna do, it didn't help,' she added. 'Because I went to prison. But I went to prison 11 years later.' She said 'it didn't even make sense' for her to fake her cancer diagnosis because she was still convicted and sentenced to serve a (later-reduced) seven-year prison sentence in Lexington, Kentucky. Her husband Todd was originally sentenced to 12 years in prison for his federal fraud charges but only served a portion of his sentence. Todd and Julie served more than two years in prison for tax evasion, fraud and conspiracy before receiving a full presidential pardon in May 2025. In late May, President Trump personally called their daughter Savannah Chrisley, 27, to inform her of his decision to grant the couple clemency. Her husband Todd, 56, chimed in and said that he recalled how she received her diagnosis when she was 39 years old She clarified that she 'had already been diagnosed with breast cancer' a decade before their trial and convictions. 'I was completing my treatment at that time,' she recalled about the summer of 2012, when they were grieving the loss of Todd's father Todd and Julie's daughter Savannah also addressed the fake breast cancer claims and said she was ' dumbfounded' by the accusations on her Unlocked podcast last month. 'I was getting my coffee across the street this morning and I was looking through social media and I saw to where someone commented that my family was this fraud and we're terrible human beings, XYZ, and how my mother faked her breast cancer diagnosis,' she said on a June episode of her podcast. 'Apparently, she faked her breast cancer diagnosis to avoid court proceedings, was what this individual said.' In response to that accusation, she explained: 'They weren't federally or criminally charged until 2019. So, that right there completely debunks your whole theory.' Savannah continued: 'For someone to make an accusation that my mother lied about having breast cancer at the age of 39, there truly is a special place in hell for you. It's that simple.' This comes after Julie opened up about the poor conditions she endured while in prison for more than two years as she revealed the secret health battle she faced while behind bars. During her 28 months behind bars, she developed asthma. She marveled while talking to ABC: 'A month ago I was sitting in prison, dreading a summer with no air conditioning, and now here I am, home.' Savannah also chimed in: 'And that's what mom's living in, in conditions like that, with absolutely no air, and it can be 100 degrees inside the building.' Savannah went on to say, 'She literally said that she got physically sick because she got so hot.
