Understanding Parkinson's Disease
- Rebecca King-Crews has revealed her 11-year Parkinson’s battle, from delayed diagnosis to new ultrasound treatment, she’s hoping her journey will bring hope to others living with the disease.
- Parkinson’s disease is “a brain disorder that causes unintended or uncontrollable movements, such as shaking, stiffness, and difficulty with balance and coordination,” according to the National Council on Aging. Symptoms for this chronic illness tend to worsen over time.
- King-Crews, wife of actor Terry Crews and mom to their five children, was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer in early 2020. After treatment, she was declared “cancer-free” after undergoing a double mastectomy (removal of both breasts).
The 60-year-old mom of five, who previously endured a heartbreaking miscarriage and fought early-stage breast cancer, has movingly embraced life amid Parkinson’s, admitting on a recent TODAY show segment that she constantly reminds herself to “just keep walking” and “just keep going.”
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King-Crews said her symptoms began in 2012, appearing suddenly and progressing quickly. Early signs included numbness in her left foot during workouts, which ultimately developed into a limp.
It took three years to get to a correct diagnosis from a Parkinson’s specialist, as her doctor dismissed her symptoms as anxiety, and her neurologist wasn’t certain what was causing her symptoms, she explained on TODAY.
The singer-songwriter, entrepreneur, and actress, known for starring in the reality show “The Family Crews,” noted that her doctor suspected her symptoms were due to overexercising.
However, her workout trainer took note that her left arm didn’t move as freely as her right arm while in the gym.
Another symptom of the disease, prior to being diagnosed, was when she was putting on lip gloss and felt her hand shaking. She dismissed it as “tremors,” something her grandmother dealt with.
Since her diagnosis, King-Crews has chosen to undergo focused ultrasound treatment on her brain, a procedure which was FDA approved for patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease just last year.
The procedure has left King-Crews feeling “good,” confidently telling the TODAY show, “I’m able to write my name and my dates, and I’m able to write with my right hand for the first time in probably three years.”
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Rachel Dolhun, MD, DipABLM, principal medical advisor at The Michael J. Fox Foundation, said last year at the time of the treatment’s approval, “The FDA approval of bilateral focused ultrasound represents another treatment option for people with progressing Parkinson’s.
“It’s heartening to see the continued expansion of options for progressing disease, many of which gained FDA approval in recent years — medication infusions, adaptive deep brain stimulation, and now bilateral focused ultrasound. More options mean more chances to better control symptoms and improve life with Parkinson’s.”
As for how this procedure works, The Michael J. Fox Foundation explains, “With focused ultrasound (FUS), doctors guide ultrasound beams toward tiny areas of cells that cause Parkinson’s motor symptoms.
“Each beam is harmless on its own, but when focused together, they can create enough heat to eliminate neurons in the brain that contribute to Parkinson’s symptoms. Doctors target different brain areas for different symptoms.”
King-Crews underwent the procedure on one side of her body on March 4 and saw improvement in her condition shortly after—reducing her tremors and strengthening her stability. She’ll undergo the procedure on her other side in September.
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She explained further on TODAY, “Part of the procedure is improved symptoms, so you’re improved on one side (but) not on the other.
“However, each day that I do things, I’m aware of the benefit that’s already been to me on the one side of the body. So I’m looking forward to doing the left side.”
Meanwhile, her husband emotionally praised her as “the rock of our lives.” They have been married for nearly 37 years.
Crews said during the segment, “When they say sickness and health, this is the battle that we were designed to fight together. Where she’s weak, I’m strong. Where I’m weak, she’s strong. And we built each other up like that.”
King-Crews, who still drives, works, and dances, admitted she chose to speak out about her diagnosis and treatment experience to offer hope to others living with the disease.
“I believe that we’re going to find the cure,” she said.
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What Is Parkinson’s?
Parkinson’s is a chronic illness that affects the nervous system. As time passes, more symptoms start to show up in the body. Although there is currently no cure for this degenerative disease, researchers like those at The Michael J. Fox Foundation are trying to change that.
Medications can be taken to reduce and control some symptoms of Parkinson’s. Some of these medications include dopamine promoters, antidepressants, cognition-enhancing medication, and anti-tremor medication.
For those dealing with a disease like Parkinson’s on a daily basis, actor Michael J. Fox who was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s in 1991 when he was just 29 years old previously shared some advice during his AARP interview, saying, “Have an active life and do not let yourself get isolated and marginalized.
“You can live with it. People sometimes say that a relative or a parent or a friend died of Parkinson’s. You don’t die of Parkinson’s. You die with Parkinson’s, because once you have it, you have it for life until we can remedy that, and we’re working hard at it.”
Prioritizing Mental Health & Acceptance After a Diagnosis
“So, to live with it, you need to exercise and be in shape and to eat well,” Fox said.
“If you can’t drive, find a way to get around. Maintain friendships. Don’t say, ‘Oh, I don’t have anything to say to Bob.’ Bob might have something to say to you. Just make the call.”
Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease
Signs and symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease can often seem innocuous and go unnoticed as they could potentially be attributed to other things. According to the National Institute on Aging (NIA), the four main symptoms of Parkinson’s are:
- A tremor in hands, arms, legs, jaw, or head
- Muscle stiffness, where muscle remains contracted for a long time
- Slowness of movement
- Impaired balance and coordination, sometimes leading to falls
Other symptoms can include:
- Depression and other emotional changes
- Difficulty swallowing, chewing, and speaking
- Urinary problems or constipation
- Skin problems
Symptoms of Parkinson’s can vary from person to person, as well as the rate of the disease’s progression.
“Early symptoms of this disease are subtle and occur gradually. For example, people may feel mild tremors or have difficulty getting out of a chair. They may notice that they speak too softly, or that their handwriting is slow and looks cramped or small,” the NIA explains.
“Friends or family members may be the first to notice changes in someone with early Parkinson’s. They may see that the person’s face lacks expression and animation, or that the person does not move an arm or leg normally.”
Additionally, symptoms often start out on one side of a person’s body or in one limb, a symptom that eventually takes place on the other side of the body or limb.
Most people with Parkinson’s also develop a distinctive way of waking, which incorporates leaning forward, taking small, quick steps, and minimal arm swinging.
Feeling stiff and/or having a tremor is often noticed by people with Parkinson’s after having difficulty sleeping, noticing a loss of smell, restless legs, and constipation.
The Crews Cancer Journey
Rebecca King-Crews was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer diagnosis in early 2020, following a routine mammogram and ultrasound.
Stage 1 breast cancers are relatively small; they either have not spread to the lymph nodes or only a small area of cancer has spread to the sentinel lymph node. Treatment will likely be surgery and radiation, followed by chemotherapy or some other therapy.
King-Crews previously shared that after her diagnosis, she was “overwhelmed with fear,” and her husband was the first person she shared the emotional news with.
Expert Breast Cancer Resources
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- Mammograms Are Still the Best Tool for Detecting Breast Cancer — A Warning About Thermography
- Getting to Know Your Breasts with Self-Exams
She underwent a double mastectomy procedure that involved removing both breasts to get rid of cancer, a procedure that may also be performed as a preventative measure for women who are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer.
“A double mastectomy typically takes about two hours for the cancer part of the operation, the removal of the tissue,” Dr. Elisa Port, Chief of Breast Surgery at Mount Sinai Health System, told SurvivorNet.
During her breast cancer journey, she gave large amounts of credit to her faith in God and her loving and supportive husband for helping her through her cancer fight. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, her husband took on the role of caregiver while she recovered from surgery and the stress from treatment. He once joked the world shut down so he could take care of her, support her through tough days, and ultimately watch her get better.
“I actually felt a mild panic attack,” Terry Crews told SurvivorNet in an earlier interview. “The only way I can describe it is that I felt like my insides were melting.”
“I looked at it like an opportunity. This is what love is. When you look at the marriage vows, it’s not when everything’s great. This is where the rubber meets the road,” he said.
About a year after King-Crews’ diagnosis, she offered SurvivorNet an update, saying, “I continue to be monitored by an oncologist and I’m still cancer-free.
“As a survivor, and one who is so because of early detection, I encourage women everywhere to get themselves tested regularly, because early detection saves lives.”
When to Screen for Breast Cancer
The medical community has a broad consensus that women should have annual mammograms between the ages of 45 and 54. However, an independent panel of experts called the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is saying that women should now start getting mammograms every other year at the age of 40, suggesting that this lowered age for breast cancer screening could save 19% more lives.
The American Cancer Society recommends getting a mammogram every other year for women 55 and older. However, women in this age group who want added reassurance can still get annual mammograms.
WATCH: Mammograms are still the best tool for detecting breast cancer.
Women with a strong family history of breast cancer, a genetic mutation known to increase the risk of breast cancer, such as a BRCA gene mutation, or a medical history, including chest radiation therapy before the age of 30, are considered at higher risk for breast cancer.
Experiencing menstruation at an early age (before 12) or having dense breasts can also put you into a high-risk category. If you are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer, you should begin screening earlier.
Regular Self-Exams Are Helpful In Between Mammograms
A self-breast exam is an easy way to monitor your breasts for abnormalities. It involves feeling the breast for swelling, bulging, or changes in the shape of the breast or nipple.
WATCH: How to perform a self-exam.
Checking for signs of redness, rashes, or discharge is also part of this exam. If anything is found that is concerning, you should contact your doctor. It’s important to note that self-exams should be done with regular mammograms.
RELATED: When Should I Get a Mammogram?
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
