Key Takeaways:
– Brennan Elliott’s wife, Camilla Row, has emerged as a strong advocate for stomach cancer patients after her stage 4 diagnosis.
– Despite undergoing intense treatment, Row continues to spread awareness and hope through various platforms, advocating for personalized care for stage 4 patients.
– The actress hopes to beat the slim survival odds associated with metastatic stomach cancer, fueled by her determination and strong family support.
In the wake of stage 4 stomach cancer diagnosis, Camilla Row, wife of Hallmark star Brennan Elliott, has become an outspoken advocate for stomach cancer research and patient education. Initially diagnosed with early-stage stomach cancer in 2018, Row opted to keep the matter private due to concerns over her husband’s acting career. However, the turning point came with a cancer recurrence in December 2021.
Camilla turns adversity into advocacy
Row’s voice in the dreaded diagnosis and the subsequent battle is increasingly resonating among the medical community and fellow patients. She recently returned from the ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium in San Francisco, one amongst several appearances aimed at pushing for more research and education in the field.
Row’s journey from a stage 1 survivor to a stage 4 patient was quick and unsettling. “It was a lot to process,” she shared with Orange Coast magazine, “A lot of the data was suggesting that I had months to live. But I was not ready to die.”
Row advocates for personalized patient care
Row, a clinical psychologist by profession, underscores the need for stage 4 patients to receive personalized care. She opines that there’s often a tendency to dismiss the survival chances of advanced stage patients.
It was in June 2018 that Row was diagnosed with an aggressive type of gastric cancer – Signet Ring Cell Carcinoma – after two years of enduring debilitating heartburn. In the subsequent treatment, she underwent a total gastrectomy and had 47 lymph nodes removed.
Row’s cancer recurrence
In May 2021, Row opted for a preventative double mastectomy when Atypical Hyperplasia was found in her breast. However, a routine CT scan towards the end of the year revealed new tumors in her abdomen, elevating her cancer to stage 4. “Giving up is just not an option. It doesn’t exist,” she asserted in an interaction with Hope for Stomach Cancer.
Brennan Elliott’s unwavering support
Brennan Elliott, Row’s husband, has been her pillar of strength throughout the ordeal, serving as her primary caregiver between his work engagements. Elliott wrote a touching tribute to his wife on their 12th wedding anniversary, vowing to never leave her side.
Row’s determination to beat the odds
According to the City of Hope cancer center, only 6% of people with distant spread of stomach cancer survive more than five years post-diagnosis. Brushing off these survival odds, Camilla Row remains undeterred. Backed by her husband’s support, she continues to make strides in cancer advocacy, leading support groups and empowering fellow patients with information.
In the midst of continued chemo treatments, Row finds joy in spending precious moments with their children – Liam, 11, and Luna, 9. From two-day trips to Las Vegas to attending Disneyland, the family is seen making the most out of their moments together. Row remains a constant cheerleader for Elliott, returning the unwavering support he has bestowed upon her throughout her medical journey.
In the face of adversity, Camilla Row has emerged as a polished diamond, sparking hope in the grim corners of the stomach cancer community. Her journey – threaded with raw courage, valiant advocacy work, and unwavering support from her superstar husband – is a testament to human resilience in the face of debilitating odds.