Brooke Burke Shares How Her Kids Discovered Her Cancer Diagnosis by Accident
Brooke Burke, a former participant on Dancing with the Stars, looked back on her thyroid cancer diagnosis in 2012 and emphasized the significant impact it had on her children. She described the experience as a valuable learning moment, expressing regret over how unfortunate it was for her kids to find out about it.
Now 52 years old, Brooke Burke shared with chef Curtis Stone on his podcast, Getting Grilled, that she did not want her cancer diagnosis to be a media headline, especially with what she described as a troubling photo of her circulating everywhere. She explained that she had made the decision to announce the news herself through a video on YouTube.
Burke reflects on family impact of cancer diagnosis
Regarding Brooke’s decision, she mentioned, “I made the choice to share my own story.” However, she mentioned that her daughter had already seen the news on her phone before she had a chance to share it with her. Her daughter’s response was, “How could you not have told me?”
Burke recounted how her children immediately asked, “Are you going to die?” She shared, “When someone is told they have cancer, I believe that’s what they hear. You say, ‘Oh my God, I’m going to die.’” It’s a heavy and challenging situation, especially when it involves children.
The actress, who has two daughters, Neriah, 24, and Sierra, 22, with ex-husband Garth Fisher, as well as son Shaya, 16, and daughter Rain, 17, with ex-husband David Charvet, explained to Stone that a cancer diagnosis impacts the entire family, not just the patient. Burke added that her illness had taught her a valuable lesson about something greater than herself.
She expressed surprise at her cancer diagnosis considering her healthy lifestyle and questioned, “What?”
Understanding the power of health awareness
Burke shared with Stone that she had chosen to prioritize self-care, trust her body and medical team, and actively cultivate a strong support system. She stated, “I made the decision to really focus on my health, believe in my body and my healthcare team, and be proactive in assembling a strong support network.”
Burke reflected on her current health practices, saying, “Nowadays, I’m someone who never misses a physical examination.” She also noted that, particularly since connecting with other thyroid cancer patients, she realized that many had never undergone a physical examination.
Burke acknowledged that such experiences could be unsettling and claimed that they had opened her eyes to the power of uncontrollable forces. She added that it all depends on how you handle it.
ALSO READ: The Bold and the Beautiful Spoilers: Will Hope’s Confession Rock Brooke?