Navigating the Physical and Emotional Toll of an Unexpected Diagnosis
- “General Hospital” star Kirsten Storms, 41, revealed in an Instagram post that she experienced an aneurysm on the right side of her brain. This comes a few years after undergoing brain surgery.
- A brain aneurysm is a “weak spot on an artery in the brain that balloons and fills with blood. An aneurysm can put pressure on the brain tissue and nerves.” A ruptured aneurysm can lead to a “stroke, brain damage, coma, and even death.”
- Like Storms, cancer survivors often face lingering symptoms, follow-up scans, and the anxiety that comes with waiting for results. The fear of recurrence or new complications can feel overwhelming, even years after treatment.
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, an aneurysm is “a weak spot on an artery in the brain that balloons and fills with blood. An aneurysm can put pressure on the brain tissue and nerves.” A ruptured aneurysm can lead to a “stroke, brain damage, coma, and even death.”
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Storms, known for her role as Maxie Jones on “General Hospital,” said the news was deeply unsettling.
“Since I knew what an aneurysm was, the scan in January majorly freaked me out,” she admitted.
“I wanted to post this because even though my brain seems to be sorta lowkey rebelling against me, it does allow me to understand that we’ve all got times when things aren’t great,” she wrote. “If we can, we will do our best to do what is best for ourselves and our loved ones.”
Her words strike a chord with many in the cancer community—especially those navigating long-term survivorship and the emotional toll of unexpected setbacks. Like Storms, cancer survivors often face lingering symptoms, follow-up scans, and the anxiety that comes with waiting for results. The fear of recurrence or new complications can feel overwhelming, even years after treatment.
Storms’ experience reminds us that healing isn’t linear. Whether it’s a brain aneurysm or a cancer recurrence, the body sometimes throws curveballs. But her message is clear: resilience isn’t about perfection—it’s about showing up for yourself, even when things feel uncertain.
If you’re navigating survivorship or facing a new diagnosis, Storms’ journey is a reminder to listen to your body, advocate for your health, and hold space for both the hard days and the hopeful ones.
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Coping With Your Mental Health After a Diagnosis
According to Mental Health America, “56% of adults with a mental illness receive no treatment, and over 27 million individuals experiencing a mental illness are going untreated.”
While millions of people have unmet mental health needs, the need for mental health resources is even greater among cancer patients and their families.
Research published in Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences found that “35 to 40 percent of cancer patients have a diagnosable psychiatric disorder,” and the number of people experiencing mental health challenges is “higher among cancer patients with advanced stages of cancer and in palliative care settings.”
WATCH: How Genetic Testing Can Help Determine the Right Form of Mental Health Treatment.
Dr. Asher Aladjem, a board-certified psychiatrist at NYU Langone, tells SurvivorNet, “Anxiety is a protective and normal kind of symptom.”
“Sometimes the anxiety gets to the point that things stand in the way of the scan or whatever the test is, and people avoid it and run away from it. Treating the anxiety allows for the completion of the workup or the treatment or whatever the situation may be in a much more effective way,” Dr. Aladjem said.
WATCH: Mental Health: Coping With Feelings of Anger
Dr. Alagjem encourages patients to advocate for their mental health. He reminds us that even if mental health services are not offered while undergoing physical treatment for a diagnosis, patients can still ask their care team about them.
“We are trying to advocate for patients to be able to get the services that they need with whatever support they may need – whether it’s medications or therapy or nursing staff,” Dr. Alagjem added.
Finding Support Through Crocheting
Storms says one thing that’s helped her throughout her health journey is crocheting; she even described it as “meditative,” adding that her hands and brain are “focused on the same task,” and this helps distract her from feelings of stress and anxiety.
Like in Storms’ case, cancer patients also struggle with a whirlwind of emotions — anger, grief, anxiety, and beyond. The journey ahead often feels overwhelming, but it’s important to remember that a diagnosis is not a death sentence. There are strategies to navigate uncertainty, find support, and face challenges with resilience.
Some popular approaches, backed by research and many anecdotal accounts, include:
- Having candid conversations with your loved one about the diagnosis
- Talking to a therapist to share feelings you’re going through
- Researching the disease together to learn about available treatment options
- Joining a support group or connecting with others who have gone through, or are going through, the same experience
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