Maintaining normal function during rounds of chemotherapy is difficult, but Marlyne Barrett isn’t your average cancer patient. Barrett, 46, is one of the stars on the NBC TV series “Chicago Med” and has played nurse Maggie Lockwood for nearly 10 years even during chemotherapy.
She told PEOPLE on Sept. 25 that she was diagnosed with uterine and ovarian cancer two years ago and her treatment included surgery.
“It’s impressive that Marlyne was able to keep working through chemotherapy,” Dr. Raj Dasgupta, chief medical adviser for Fortune Recommends Health, told The Epoch Times. “Most people feel too tired or sick to do much during treatment, so her determination stands out.”
Barrett said a tumor “started on the left ovary and took over and went all the way almost to the other,” and it “looked like I had a full-grown fetus inside of me.”
“The mass was causing these spasms, and then on top of that was chemo,” Barrett said. “When I would get chemo, you’re talking about a 10-hour infusion that day. And you don’t necessarily get the opportunity to heal between the treatments.”
Ovarian cancer forms in the tissues of one or both ovaries and can be difficult to detect because of the subtle and wide-ranging symptoms.
Unlike a Pap smear to diagnose cervical cancer or a mammogram to detect breast cancer, there is no similar test for ovarian cancer. “The symptoms are normally vague, like bloating or cramps, and many women diagnosed with ovarian cancer say they were asymptomatic,” cancer researcher Mona S. Jhaveri told The Epoch Times.
Jhaveri is founder of Music Beats Cancer, a non-profit that partners with musical artists to raise money and awareness to fight cancer.
“I’m pleasantly surprised by Marlyne’s positive outlook after experiencing a difficult cancer journey,” Jhaveri added.
Despite looking emaciated from 30 rounds of chemotherapy and having cheeks that were caved in, Barrett continued to show up for her scenes because it was “life giving” and helped her maintain a positive outlook.
“I think the initial phone calls with production…were some of the most special phone calls that I’ve ever made in my life,” she said.
“Mobility means life … so as long as I was able to move…People were treating me like I was normal…It made time fun.”
During chemotherapy sessions , Barrett focused on mental health by attending counseling sessions regularly,receiving massages twice weekly,and embracing Korean spas.She also swam ,laughed alot,focused on family,and maintained positivity which helps maintain mental health according Mona S.Jhaveri,cancer researcher at Music Beats Cancer,a non-profit organization partnering with musical artists raising funds & awareness against Cancer.
