43 Celebrities Who Have Had Breast Cancer

Katie Thurston

Bachelorette alum Katie Thurston revealed in Feb 2025 that she has breast most cancers. “Life replace: I’ve breast most cancers,” she mentioned in her Instagram announcement. “Yesterday I noticed all of the {couples} publish their Valentines Day celebrations. I felt envious if I’m being sincere. Jeff took me to Hawaii and after, we have been going to journey the world earlier than planting roots collectively in NYC lastly. However as an alternative, my Vday was spent coordinating a spot to dwell as I’ve to return to LA for extra testing and therapy.”

Olivia Munn

In March 2024, Olivia Munn shared that she’d been recognized with breast most cancers and had been present process therapy for a 12 months, together with a double mastectomy. The actress revealed the information in an emotional Instagram publish, explaining that her physician found the “aggressive, fast-paced” Luminal B breast most cancers after an MRI, which she ordered because of Munn’s excessive Breast Most cancers Threat Evaluation Rating.

The truth that her physician requested Munn to take the evaluation “saved my life,” Munn wrote. “I’m fortunate. We caught it with sufficient time that I had choices,” she went on. “I would like the identical for any girl who might need to face this someday.”

Katie Couric

Katie Couric was recognized with breast most cancers in June 2022 and introduced the information later that 12 months in a candid essay on Katie Couric Media. Getting the information got here with a “heart-stopping, suspended animation feeling,” wrote Couric, who’s had a number of relations be recognized with most cancers, in addition to her first husband.

Couric’s physician advised her the tumor was “extremely treatable,” and the journalist underwent a lumpectomy and radiation. She now makes use of her platform to encourage folks to get mammograms (particularly in case you have dense breasts, which 45 p.c of US ladies do) and to talk out in regards to the lack of high-level care many individuals with breast most cancers obtain. “To reap the advantages of contemporary medication, we have to keep on prime of our screenings, advocate for ourselves, and ensure everybody has entry to the diagnostic instruments that might very properly save their life,” she wrote.

Jenna Fischer

For Jenna Fischer, scrolling by breast most cancers consciousness posts final October was a much-needed reminder to schedule her personal mammogram. On the appointment, Fischer’s docs advised her she had dense breast tissue and really helpful a follow-up mammogram and an ultrasound, which finally led to her being recognized with Stage 1 triple-positive breast most cancers. Fischer felt “disbelief” when she heard the information, she advised Today in 2024. 

After present process chemotherapy, radiation, and a lumpectomy, The Workplace alum mentioned she was “feeling nice” as of October 2024. And, like many others, she expressed gratitude for the attitude most cancers gave her. “All the most necessary issues grew to become so clear, so rapidly,” she advised Right this moment. “I discover the world to be such a wonderful place in all of its quirkiness.”

Linda Evangelista

The supermodel has been recognized with breast most cancers twice: as soon as in 2018 and once more in 2020. She defined the diagnoses in a 2023 look on The View, saying, “It began out with my routine mammogram. I do know we don’t like doing our mammograms. I’m the most important procrastinator, however that’s one factor I used to be actually devoted to.” The docs discovered an early type of breast most cancers and Evangelista underwent a lumpectomy, however says it “wasn’t so nice” and ended up “being a double mastectomy, which was the best determination for me.”

She returned to the physician when she felt a “bump” on her pectoral muscle, later studying that the breast most cancers had returned. She had chemo and has been on “meds for 5 years,” saying, “They’re horrible. They’re hormone suppressors. They make you’re feeling previous.” Nonetheless, she says she’s embracing the scars from her well being points. “I’m okay with scars,” she mentioned. “I feel scars are trophies.”

Richard Roundtree

Roundtree, who starred within the movie franchise Shaft and TV present Roots within the 70s, was recognized with breast most cancers in 1993 and have become an necessary voice for males who face the illness. “I’m not embarrassed,” he advised People in 2000. “For a very long time I by no means talked in regards to the most cancers. No person ever knew I used to be even within the hospital. However I inform everybody now. I really feel that it’s essential that people who find themselves recognizable within the universe, at no matter stage, say that they’ve gone by this and it’s okay.”

In 1993, Roundtree discovered a lump — “a minuscule factor, the dimensions of a lima bean” — below his left nipple whereas showering. He remembered feeling “numb” whereas receiving the analysis. “Testicular most cancers, prostate most cancers like most guys get — I may perceive that. However breast most cancers?” He underwent a modified radical mastectomy to take away his left breast from sternum to armpit, however the most cancers had additionally unfold to his lymph nodes, so he went by six months of chemotherapy after the operation.

Of talking out about his expertise, Roundtree mentioned, “It makes it simpler for others who could also be going by the identical factor. After I inform different males, the response is, ’Actually?’ They’re shocked. However I’m not embarrassed.”

Roundtree handed away in October 2023 of pancreatic most cancers.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

In 2017, Veep star Julia Louis-Dreyfus was recognized with Stage 2 breast most cancers. She underwent six spherical of chemotherapy and had a double mastectomy, sharing her journey with followers because it occurred. “One in eight ladies get breast most cancers. Right this moment, I’m the one,” she wrote on Twitter in September 2017.

Describing the second she was recognized, Louis-Dreyfus advised The New Yorker, “Don’t misunderstand: I used to be to-my-bones terrified. However I didn’t let myself—aside from a few moments—go to a very darkish place. I didn’t permit it.” She described excruciating unwanted effects of the chemotherapy: the lack to eat, the vomiting and diarrhea, the sores.

The Seinfeld legend wasn’t positive she wished to be open about such a non-public expertise, however the truth that Veep shut down filming to accommodate her therapy meant that rumors would get out a method or one other. “I believed, ‘Nicely, I’m simply going to embrace this and assault it and attempt to do it with a humorousness,’” she advised Self in 2018. “I used to be actually happy with the response.”

Louis-Dreyfus has been cancer-free since 2018, and advised followers on the 2023 New Yorker Pageant, per People, “I’m simply so joyful to be right here, you understand. I feel I’m having fun with issues extra. I feel I work arduous now to strive to not permit my stress to enter my physique if I can do it… it does have an effect.”

Hoda Kotb

In 2007, Hoda Kotb was recognized with breast most cancers throughout a routine examination. Kotb had by no means gotten a mammogram, a alternative that now is senseless to her, she advised CancerConnect in 2018. “I wasn’t fearful of it. I ask folks on a regular basis why they haven’t gotten checked for numerous issues, and right here I used to be not getting screened.”

The most cancers was far sufficient alongside {that a} mastectomy was needed, however Kotb determined to not bear chemotherapy for the reason that most cancers hadn’t unfold to her lymph nodes. The surgical procedure was robust: “They mentioned it was going to really feel such as you’ve been hit by a Mack truck. Fortunately I’ve by no means needed to expertise that, however I can see the place they’re coming from.”

Kotb adopted the surgical procedure with 5 years of tamoxifen, an estrogen modulator that helps stop resurgence. As somebody who hoped to have kids in her future, this got here with an emotional facet impact. “Most likely the toughest half about taking the tablets is that they shut down your reproductive system, and I do know each evening after I take them that I’m contributing to that,” mentioned Kotb, who now has two adopted daughters.

The Right this moment host additionally shared a revelation from her most cancers journey that many different survivors echo. “You get a foul card, however right here’s that window that God opens: You’ll be able to’t scare me,” she mentioned. “And there’s nothing higher than getting that as a result of small issues don’t matter as a lot, since you eliminate the folks in your life who’re hurting you, since you maintain on tight to those that assist you; and it’s a second of full and whole focus as a result of for as soon as in your life you get it.”

Carla Bruni

Mannequin and singer Carla Bruni revealed in 2023 that she’d been recognized with breast most cancers 4 years in the past. “Surgical procedure, radiotherapy, hormone remedy, I went by the standard therapy for one of these most cancers,” she defined in an Instagram video.

Bruni mentioned she was capable of catch the most cancers early, earlier than it was aggressive, as a result of “Yearly, on the identical date, I do a mammogram. If I hadn’t carried out one yearly, I wouldn’t have a left breast immediately.”

Bruni added that she “hesitated for a very long time” to share her analysis publicly, however was doing so now “to ship a message…  Do your mammograms yearly. Do your mammograms. Your lives rely upon it.”

Wanda Sykes

In 2011, actress and comic Wanda Sykes shared her breast most cancers analysis on The Ellen DeGeneres Present. After moving into for a breast discount, Sykes says the mandatory lab work revealed one thing sudden: “They discovered that I had DCIS [ductal carcinoma in situ] in my left breast,” she mentioned on the present, per CNN. “I used to be very, very fortunate as a result of DCIS is mainly stage-zero most cancers. So I used to be very fortunate.”

Sykes was given a alternative: she may take a “wait and see” method, or she may take motion to take away the most cancers. “I had the selection of, you’ll be able to return each three months and get it checked. Have a mammogram, MRI each three months simply to see what it’s doing,” she advised DeGeneres. “However, I’m not good at conserving on prime of stuff. I’m positive I’m overdue for an oil change and a enamel cleansing already.”

Partly additionally because of her household historical past of breast most cancers, she determined to have a bilateral mastectomy, describing her determination like this: “I had each breasts eliminated … as a result of now I’ve zero probability of getting breast most cancers … It sounds scary upfront, however what would you like? Do you need to wait and never be as lucky when it comes again and it’s too late?”

Christina Applegate

When actress Christina Applegate was recognized with breast most cancers in 2008, it felt like a “whole emotional collapse,” she advised Extra journal in 2012, per ABC News. As a result of her mom is a breast most cancers survivor, Applegate had already been getting common mammograms. However in 2007, a health care provider prompt an MRI as an alternative, because of her naturally dense breast tissue. Certain sufficient, the MRI revealed early-stage breast most cancers, and follow-up genetic testing additionally confirmed that Applegate examined constructive for the BRCA gene.

Given the choice of radiation therapy or a bilateral mastectomy, right here’s how Applegate described her considering on The Oprah Winfrey Show: “Radiation was one thing short-term, and it wasn’t addressing the difficulty of this coming again or the prospect of it coming again in my left breast,” Applegate advised Winfrey. “I type of needed to form of weigh all my choices at that time …It simply appeared like, ‘I don’t need to should cope with this once more. I don’t need to maintain placing that stuff in my physique. I simply need to be carried out with this.’ And I used to be simply going to allow them to go.”

Applegate, who has since been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, had an emotional restoration from the surgical procedure, staging a nude shoot earlier than going below the knife and saying she cries about it “a minimum of as soon as a day.” However she’s decided to make use of her expertise to assist different ladies.

“I’m a 36-year-old individual with breast most cancers, and never many individuals know that that occurs to ladies my age or ladies of their 20s,” the Useless to Me star mentioned in 2012. “That is my alternative now to exit and combat as arduous as I can for early detection.”

Sarah Ferguson

The Duchess of York went public about her breast most cancers analysis in June 2023 on her podcast, Tea Talks with the Duchess and Sarah. She and her co-host Sarah Thomson recorded the episode the day earlier than Ferguson had a mastectomy. Ferguson spoke out about her diagnostic course of through a mammogram, which she partially credit to her sister, per People. She virtually postpone going into London for a mammogram, as she didn’t have any signs that involved her, however her sister Jane urged her to not put it off throughout a cellphone dialog. “Thanks, Jane,” she mentioned. “I feel it’s so necessary you do speak about it.”

Ferguson went on to discuss her household historical past of most cancers and why her family members are so adamant about screenings. “‘It doesn’t matter what you’re doing. Don’t say it’s not going to occur to you, doesn’t matter should you really feel high quality as a result of most cancers could be so silent, such a silent, silent little hiding factor, which hides within the cells. Go get screened. Go get checked. Don’t wait,’” mentioned Ferguson. She advised her complete podcast viewers, “I’m telling folks on the market as a result of I would like each single individual that’s listening to this podcast to go get checked. Go get screened and go do it.”

Clea Shearer

For Clea Shearer, who cofounded The Residence Edit and hosts Excessive Makeover: Residence Version, help was very important to her breast most cancers combat. Shearer was recognized with an aggressive type of breast most cancers, stage 2 invasive mammary carcinoma, in March 2022. She underwent six surgical procedures, together with a double mastectomy and ovary elimination, together with months of chemotherapy and radiation — and mentioned that one household good friend, Olivia Munn, was particularly supportive. “She reached out on a regular basis,” Shearer advised People in 2024, noting that this was previous to Munn’s personal analysis. “She was simply so superb and great.”

Shearer was decided to return the favor when Munn was recognized the next 12 months, explaining that whereas she doesn’t essentially give recommendation, she’s keen and capable of “converse from my very own lived expertise.” Shearer pledged to make her analysis “have a objective,” she recalled, “and I put that as my mission each single day. All I can do is share my very own expertise in hopes that that issues to folks and is useful to folks. And I’ll proceed to do this till my final breath.”

Martina Navratilova

Martina Navratilova was recognized with stage 1 throat most cancers and breast most cancers in January 2023, 13 years after present process a lumpectomy to take away a noninvasive type of breast most cancers. In a press release on her website, Navratilova mentioned docs discovered the breast most cancers — which was “utterly unrelated” to the throat most cancers — whereas the retired tennis star was present process checks for her throat. “Each these cancers are of their early phases with nice outcomes,” she mentioned on the time.

Navratilova introduced she was cancer-free in March 2023 and advised the Today present in October that the 2 diagnoses felt like a “double whammy.” She continued, “Bodily, it’s been the toughest factor I’ve ever gone by. I virtually get PTSD after I come to New York (as a result of) a number of weeks of therapy have been right here.”

“I really feel fairly good and grateful,” Navratilova added. “It may’ve been a lot worse.”

Jill Martin Brooks

Right this moment contributor Jill Martin Brooks was recognized with stage 2 breast most cancers in 2023 and has been sharing an sincere look into her journey. “Most cancers is probably the most insidious illness and factor I’ve ever encountered (and) I feel I’m a tricky cookie,” Martin Brooks advised Today. “It’s unusual as a result of I appear like myself. (However) I can look within the mirror, I see the distinction, I see that I’ve misplaced some hair and I see that I don’t have the identical sparkle that I prefer to get up with.”

Whereas present process chemotherapy, Martin Brooks has chosen to proceed working, but it surely hasn’t been straightforward. Whereas current advances in therapy have allowed her to keep away from the vomiting and intense hair loss that chemo often brings, she mentioned the therapies get “worse each time… Each time I sleep for one additional day, so the week after chemo is like, there’s no plans. I’ll be in mattress, and I give myself the grace of that.”

As for why she’s been open to sharing her journey, Martin Brooks says she hopes her expertise will help save lives. “I’ve been with the present for 15 years and I’ve shared the joyful, I’ve shared the unhappy, and now, I’m sharing the scary,” she mentioned. “I really feel … I used to be given this to have the ability to assist and save different folks. I actually consider that deep down.”

Elle Macpherson

Elle Macpherson determined to attend seven years earlier than publicly sharing her breast most cancers journey. In a 2024 interview with Australian Women’s Weekly, the supermodel defined that she was recognized with HER2-positive estrogen-receptive intraductal carcinoma, together with her physician recommending surgical procedure, radiation, chemotherapy, and hormone remedy. “It was a shock, it was sudden, it was complicated, it was daunting in so some ways,” she recalled.

After searching for recommendation from over 30 specialists, Macpherson made the controversial determination to take a “holistic method” to treating her most cancers, below the supervision of her major care physician who specialised in integrative medication. “There was no clear path and there [were] no ensures both approach,” Macpherson advised Today Show Australia in September 2024, responding to criticism round her determination. “I simply decided based mostly on all the data that I gathered and what felt proper for me.” Macpherson added that she wasn’t positioning her story as recommendation; “I’m sharing my expertise,” she mentioned. Macpherson mentioned she is presently in remission.

Sara Sidner

The CNN Information Central co-anchor introduced her stage 3 breast most cancers analysis on-air in January 2024, per Today, citing the statistic that 1 in 8 US ladies may have breast most cancers at a while of their life and saying, “I’m that 1 in 8 in my good friend group.”

“It’s arduous to say out loud,” Sidner continued, sharing that she was in her second month of chemo and plans to bear radiation and have a double mastectomy. She additionally famous that Black ladies are 41 p.c extra more likely to die from breast most cancers than white ladies, per the American Cancer Society. “So to all my sisters, Black and white and brown on the market, please, for the love of God, get your mammograms each single 12 months,” Sidner mentioned. “Do your self-exams. Attempt to catch it earlier than I did.”

Danielle Fishel

Since being recognized with “stage zero” breast most cancers in 2024, Danielle Fishel has devoted herself to elevating consciousness for the illness. She factors to her personal story as proof of the significance of getting common screenings. “The one purpose I caught this most cancers when it’s nonetheless stage zero is as a result of the day I acquired my textual content message that my yearly mammogram had come up, I made the appointment,” Fishel defined on the Pod Meets World podcast she co-hosts. The Boy Meets World star added that she was having surgical procedure to take away the tumor in addition to “some follow-up therapy,” and advised listeners, “I’m going to be high quality.”

She additionally talked about why she determined to open up about her analysis so quickly after getting it. “The place you could have probably the most to be taught from is on the very starting of a narrative or within the very messy center of a narrative,” the actress defined, whereas encouraging others to prioritize their mammogram appointments as properly. “It might be really easy to say, ‘I don’t have time for that. I went to my mammogram final 12 months, I used to be high quality…’” Fishel mentioned. “And I didn’t … they usually discovered it so early that I’m going to be high quality.”

Shannen Doherty

Shannen Doherty was initially recognized with breast most cancers in March 2015 and has at all times been candid about her illness till just lately. The 90210 star shared in an interview with Good Morning America that she initially didn’t need to inform anybody her most cancers had come again as a result of she didn’t need folks considering her life was over and that she couldn’t work. “Like, you understand, our life doesn’t finish the minute we get that analysis. We nonetheless have some dwelling to do.”

“I positively have days the place I say why me. After which I am going, properly, why not me? Who else? Who else apart from me deserves this? None of us do,” she mentioned.  And with all that she has been by, Doherty is utilizing this time to assist others who’ve had or who’re going by related experiences.

“I feel the factor I need to do probably the most proper now could be I need to make an affect,” she mentioned. “I need to be remembered for one thing greater than simply me.”

Kathy Bates

Kathy Bates was no stranger to breast most cancers when she acquired her analysis: each her mom and aunt have been survivors, and Bates had felt for some time {that a} analysis was seemingly coming. Nevertheless it wasn’t her first analysis: In 2003, Bates was recognized with stage 1 ovarian cancer, for which she underwent 9 rounds of chemotherapy.

Bates advised Yahoo in 2019 how robust her first analysis had been: “I’m very open and direct so it was arduous for me to not speak to folks about it. However on the similar time, I withdrew from all the actions that I had in my life …I don’t suppose I actually got here out about being a most cancers survivor till I developed breast most cancers in 2012.”

In 2012, an MRI revealed Bates’s breast most cancers — which she says she took even more durable than her first expertise with most cancers. “Breast most cancers was far more troublesome for me than the ovarian…Clearly, dropping one’s breast on the surface of the physique is far more noticeable. And I used to be in lots of ache, which I wasn’t with ovarian.”

And the difficulties didn’t cease as soon as she beat the most cancers: The Distress star developed lymphedema, which she describes as a “memento of most cancers.” She describes the situation like this: “The docs take away lymph nodes to maintain the most cancers from spreading. If the lymph nodes have been broken or traumatized in any approach, you’re in danger for lymphedema. [It causes] ache, swelling, you are inclined to isolate. So it’s psychologically so damaging …It was virtually worse than having the most cancers.”

Maggie Smith

In 2008, Downton Abbey star Maggie Smith was recognized with breast most cancers after discovering a lump on her breast. “I didn’t suppose it was something critical as a result of years in the past I felt a lump and it was benign…I assumed this may be too,” she advised the Telegraph in2009. “It form of takes the wind out of your sails, and I don’t know what the longer term holds, if something. I don’t suppose there’s lots of it, due to my age — there simply isn’t. It’s all been. I’ve no thought what there can be.”

She says that discovering this most cancers at a later age made it troublesome to bounce again: “It takes you longer to get well, you aren’t so resilient. I’m scared of the quantity of power one must be in a movie or a play.”

Nonetheless, Smith famously continued filming Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince whereas present process chemotherapy therapies. “I used to be hairless. I had no downside getting the wig on. I used to be like a boiled egg,” she recalled. Of chemotherapy (which she mentioned was “worse than the most cancers itself), she mentioned this: “You are feeling horribly sick. I used to be holding on to railings, considering ‘I can’t do that.’”

As of 2009, Smith was simply beginning to really feel again to regular — no matter which means. “The final couple of years have been a write-off, although I’m starting to really feel like an individual now, she shared. “My power is coming again. Shit occurs. I ought to drag myself collectively a bit.”

Rita Wilson

In 2015, actress Rita Wilson shared with People that she had acquired a breast most cancers analysis and inspired readers to take heed to their our bodies in the event that they felt one thing was off.

“Final week, with my husband by my facet, and with the love and help of household and mates, I underwent a bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction for breast most cancers after a analysis of invasive lobular carcinoma,” Wilson mentioned. She reported that she was anticipated to make a full restoration, partially as a result of she acquired a second opinion after a breast biopsy confirmed not most cancers.

“A good friend who had had breast most cancers prompt I get a second opinion on my pathology and my intestine advised me that was the factor to do,” she mentioned. “A unique pathologist discovered invasive lobular carcinoma,” and Wilson was recognized with most cancers. “I share this to coach others {that a} second opinion is vital to your well being. You don’t have anything to lose if each opinions match up for the nice, and every thing to realize if one thing that was missed is discovered, which does occur. Early analysis is essential.”

In 2019, Wilson mirrored on the previous 4, cancer-free years in an Instagram publish. “I had so many various ideas. You’re scared, anxious, you consider your personal mortality. So I had a critical dialogue with my husband that if something occurs, I wished him to be tremendous unhappy for a really very long time. And I’d additionally like a celebration, a celebration.”

Sheryl Crow

In 2006, musician Sheryl Crow was recognized with “estrogen-positive stage 1 invasive breast most cancers,” she advised Popsugar in 2019. The lump was found throughout a mammogram, after which Crow underwent a biopsy, lumpectomy, and 7 weeks of radiation.

It was a time of significant reflection for Crow. “A part of my problem with being recognized was to place myself first, to discover ways to say no, and to discover ways to take heed to my physique when it got here to exhaustion, and to not care for everybody,” she mentioned. “To really put my oxygen masks on earlier than I put anyone else’s on with the intention to save my very own life.”

Crow desires ladies to know extra about threat elements. Whereas she doesn’t have a household historical past of breast most cancers, she does have dense breasts, which put her at an elevated threat for growing breast most cancers. Now cancer-free, Crow mirrored on what her journey meant to her: “My pleasure has by no means been extra intact than now. The final 10 years, not solely has my life been enhanced, however simply my potential to be in my life and to get pleasure from my life and to not sweat the small stuff, I feel, is instantly correlated to having survived breast most cancers.”

Robin Roberts

Good Morning America host Robin Roberts was recognized with breast most cancers in 2007, at age 46. “I discovered my lump in a self-exam,” Roberts advised Prevention in 2011. “As a result of I used to be aware of my physique and the lumps, I knew this one felt totally different. It was in a unique place on my breast, and it was arduous. If I hadn’t been doing self-exams, I wouldn’t have recognized that.”

Roberts underwent a lumpectomy and partial mastectomy along with chemotherapy to clear the breast most cancers, and determined to talk out about her expertise to lift consciousness. “I virtually didn’t go public with my analysis—I used to be embarrassed,” she mentioned. “I felt, ‘Oh, I’ve at all times talked about exercising. And I acquired most cancers.’ After which I noticed it’s an excellent instance of displaying that most cancers can hit anybody at any time. And should you’ve carried out the best issues prior, that’s going that can assist you [during treatment].”

Cynthia Nixon

In 2006, Cynthia Nixon was recognized with stage 1 breast most cancers. However her outlook was optimistic: “I’ve realized that should you catch breast most cancers early, the possibilities are overwhelmingly good that you simply’ll be cured. So my perspective, which very a lot mirrored my mom’s, was this wasn’t a giant deal,” Nixon advised Marie Claire in 2008. Her mom was a breast most cancers survivor, and had caught the breast most cancers at a equally early stage to Nixon’s.

Given her household historical past, Nixon had been getting yearly mammograms since age 35, which helped together with her early detection. “The physician mentioned the tumor was so small, he wouldn’t have even observed it aside from the truth that it wasn’t there on earlier X-rays,” she defined. After her analysis, she had six weeks of radiation and a lumpectomy, all of which she accomplished with out lacking a efficiency of a play she was in on the time.

In 2014, Nixon’s mom died from breast most cancers, which had returned 35 years after her first analysis. In 2016, Nixon spoke on the Breast Cancer Foundation Gala about her mom’s wrestle, and why she’s combating for breast most cancers consciousness immediately: “Breast most cancers is beatable. It’s probably the most beatable most cancers on the market. Now we have to examine ourselves and get the mammograms … My mom introduced me as much as consider {that a} breast most cancers analysis shouldn’t be a demise sentence.”

Amy Robach

When TV anchor Amy Robach was recognized with stage 2 invasive breast most cancers, she felt like her world was ending. “I didn’t deal with it gracefully or stoically in any respect — I utterly fell aside. I feel there was a pant,” she advised Cure Today in 2018. “It shook me to my core.”

It was really an on-air mammogram on Good Morning America that led to Robach’s most cancers being found — which, to an extent, pressured Robach to undergo the expertise publicly. “It was scary to be public, however I don’t know the way I’d have gotten by it if I didn’t have the help from 1000’s of girls who have been writing, emailing, texting and tweeting me,” she mentioned of the expertise. “It felt stunning.”

She underwent a double mastectomy (towards her physician’s recommendation) and plenty of rounds of chemotherapy. She continued working all through chemo therapies, which she says helped her maintain her head collectively. “It was necessary to me to be one thing aside from a most cancers affected person, and going to work gave me one thing to get up for that wasn’t cancer-related.”

However the bodily and psychological results shook her to her core nonetheless. “You lose your reminiscence, and also you don’t actually keep in mind what you’re doing…Sizzling flashes, temper swings, battling weight acquire — it feels very overwhelming. I felt like I turned 40 and misplaced 20 years. I needed to mourn the lack of who I used to be earlier than and settle for who I’m now bodily,” she recollects. “I used to be advised and warned that when your therapies are over, you’re not going to be celebrating. You would possibly for someday, however then the worry hits you. I’d see grandparents taking part in with their grandchildren and have darkish ideas: “Will I do know mine? Will I play with mine? Will I be that previous?”

Her recommendation to most cancers sufferers now? “There’s life throughout most cancers therapies, and there may be life after most cancers therapies.” Personally, she’s making an attempt to dwell every second to the fullest: “I dwell like I’m dying. I do know it appears like a rustic music music, however it’s how I dwell. That’s how I’ve impressed my kids to dwell. Everybody round me lives higher. We do what we need to do now — we don’t say 10 years from now.”

Miranda McKeon

Anne With an E actress Miranda McKeon was recognized with Stage 3 breast most cancers when she was solely 19 — an exceedingly uncommon analysis and a stunning one for the then-freshman at USC. After discovering a lump the dimensions of a jelly bean in her breast again in Might 2021, McKeon endured eight rounds of chemotherapy, a double mastectomy, and 25 rounds of radiation. One of many hardest elements, the actress advised People in 2024, was feeling so totally different than her friends.

“I felt so emotionally remoted,” she recalled. “Taking a look at different younger ladies who I may establish with and seeing them undergo therapy was actually one of many solely issues that acquired me by.” That have impressed McKeon to share her personal journey, which additionally included freezing her eggs earlier than beginning chemotherapy and coping with excessive ache, fatigue, and hair loss from the therapies. Now cancer-free, McKeon says the ordeal gave her a brand new perspective on life. “There’s a lot good occurring in my life on account of all of the hardship,” she mentioned. “I’ve turn into conscious about the time that we’ve on this earth — and that’s one thing that I’m so grateful for.”

Kylie Minogue

Singer Kylie Minogue was recognized with breast most cancers in 2005 after an preliminary misdiagnosis. On The Ellen DeGeneres Present, per Daily Express, Minogue revealed that she was initially advised she was clear after a mammogram, however then found a lump weeks later that, following a lumpectomy, turned out to be breast most cancers. “Early analysis and immediate therapy is the important thing for any girl recognized with breast most cancers,” Minogue now advises.

The singer underwent surgical procedure and chemotherapy, however one of many hardest features of her restoration has been accepting that she’s unlikely to have kids. “I don’t need to dwell on it, clearly, however I’m wondering what would have been like,” she advised London’s Sunday Occasions, per Belfast Telegraph. “I simply should be as philosophical about it as I can. You’ve acquired to simply accept the place you’re and get on with it.”

Edie Falco

Sopranos star Edie Falco talked to Well being about her breast most cancers analysis in 2008 — and why she saved it a secret so long as she did.

“The second a health care provider says ‘Now we have dangerous information’ is life-changing. For me, time stopped. I couldn’t stroll. I couldn’t breathe,” she mirrored, per CNN. “It was essential for me to maintain my analysis below the radar, even from the solid and crew of The Sopranos, as a result of well-meaning folks would have pushed me loopy asking, ‘How are you feeling?’ I’d have wished to say, ‘I’m scared, I don’t really feel so good, and my hair is falling out.’”

Falco’s most cancers went into remission a 12 months later, she advised Fortune in 2019, and it modified her outlook on life. “I survived most cancers, for heaven’s sake. How may you not be grateful?”

Betsey Johnson

In 1999, Betsey Johnson found a lump in her breast a couple of weeks after surgical procedure to take away her breast implants — a call she mentioned was lengthy overdue in a 2017 interview with Bustle. After discovering a “grape-sized” lump, Johnson rushed to a clinic: “Whenever you go get a mammogram or sonogram they usually don’t allow you to go dwelling, you understand you’re in hassle …That’s what occurred.”

Johnson had a lumpectomy later that 12 months. She additionally underwent weeks of radiation, all of the whereas conserving her analysis a secret from everybody near her, together with her personal daughter. Right here’s why she determined to maintain this huge secret: “My greatest worry was that individuals have been gonna suppose I used to be going to die …That I wasn’t going to pay my payments. That I’m not going to design. That I’m not going to really feel good. That it was over.”

It was till late 2000 that Johnson shared her analysis with family and friends, sharing her story with the general public a couple of days later. Then and now, Johnson’s objective in going public was to maintain the give attention to survival — and early detection. “I nonetheless attempt to keep in mind to inform [customers], ‘Get your rattling mammogram. Don’t idiot round with this. Simply get it carried out,’” she says. “I like being an actual advocate, actually pushing my prospects to care for enterprise. Don’t be fearful of it. Simply get examined. In case you’ve acquired it, do one thing about it.”

Hannah Storm

ESPN anchor Hannah Storm wasn’t experiencing any signs of breast most cancers when she was recognized with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), a non-invasive, “stage zero” most cancers. “I’ve no household historical past. I had no ache. I had no lumps,” she advised Individuals in March 2024.

Storm was recognized through an ultrasound after her routine mammogram confirmed that she had dense breasts, making it troublesome to differentiate tumors from breast tissue. She caught the most cancers early sufficient that her docs have been capable of clear all of the cancerous cells through a lumpectomy, and wished to share her story to encourage others to maintain on prime of their screenings. “That is simply to say how necessary it’s to decide to your personal well being and get your lifesaving screening,” she mentioned. “Breast most cancers survival charges simply maintain climbing and early detection is a large a part of that so give your self one of the best probability potential.” 

Suzanne Somers

Suzanne Somers has turn into recognized for her suggestion of other therapies since her most cancers analysis. In 2001, she revealed that she was taking a mistletoe extract complement to spice up her immune system after a lumpectomy and radiation remedy to deal with her breast most cancers, the New York Post reported.

In her 2012 guide Knockout, Somers talks about her option to pursue nontraditional therapy: “Whenever you obtain a most cancers analysis, you’re extra susceptible than at some other time in your life. I’ve personally had the expertise twice…My solely hope for survival was alternate options. However that was my determination, what I believed was greatest for me.”

In July 2023, Somers revealed on Instagram that her most cancers had just lately come again. “I had breast most cancers 20 years in the past, and once in a while it pops up once more, and I proceed to bat it down,” she wrote. “I’ve used one of the best various and traditional therapies to fight it. This isn’t new territory for me. I understand how to placed on my battle gear and I’m a fighter.”

Somers handed away on Oct. 15, 2023. Per CNN, a press release from the star’s publicist learn, “Suzanne Somers handed away peacefully at dwelling within the early morning hours of October fifteenth. She survived an aggressive type of breast most cancers for over 23 years.”

Sandra Lee

In 2015, Meals Community star Sandra Lee discovered she had early-stage breast most cancers (particularly, DCIS). After weighing her choices, she determined to bear a double mastectomy, regardless of the most cancers solely being in a single breast on the time. “I didn’t need to take any possibilities,” she says in her 2019 HBO documentary, Rx Early Detection: A Cancer Journey with Sandra Lee. “My most cancers was in three separate locations, and there was the likelihood it may come again within the different breast.”

Whereas the surgical procedure was profitable and Lee required no additional therapy for the most cancers, she struggled emotionally and bodily within the weeks that adopted, later growing a life-threatening an infection in a single breast that left her bedridden. “I couldn’t depart the home — I couldn’t even transfer, I used to be in a lot ache,” she shares.

Now, Lee has devoted herself to sharing assets and elevating consciousness about early detection. Alongside together with her illuminating documentary, Lee labored arduous to go New York State’s No Excuses legislation, a sophisticated cancer-screening program. “The sooner you catch it, the longer you get to dwell,” Lee advised Good Housekeeping in 2018. “Interval. Finish of story.”

Nicole Eggert

Nicole Eggert was diagnosed with stage 2 breast most cancers in December 2023 after discovering a lump throughout a self-exam. “It actually was throbbing and hurting,” she advised People in January 2024, whereas ready to bear surgical procedure, chemotherapy, and radiation. “I’ve panics the place I’m like, simply get this out of me,” the Baywatch alum added.

As a single mother of two daughters, Eggert mentioned her “greatest worry” was not having the ability to care for her children — particularly her youngest, 12-year-old Keegan. “It instantly made me understand, there’s simply no succumbing to this,” she mentioned. “That is one thing I’ve to get by. That is one thing that I’ve to beat. She wants me greater than something and anyone.”

Kim Zimmer

Guiding Gentle star Kim Zimmer was recognized with breast most cancers in November 2023. The actress underwent a mastectomy and chemotherapy, she revealed at a Might 2024 Stand As much as Most cancers occasion, per Individuals. She spoke actually about how troublesome the method was, noting that she “would’ve fallen aside” if not for the help of her household.

“It’s so necessary that you simply discover a help system,” Zimmer mentioned. “Discover somebody you can converse actually and in truth to [who] will take heed to you.” She additionally advocated for testing and staying on prime of breast most cancers check-ups. “I’m right here to say early detection, early detection, early detection, early detection,” Zimmer emphasised. “Get your mammograms, get them quickly.”

Lisa Lisa

’80s pop star Lisa Lisa was recognized with breast most cancers and went by chemotherapy at 21 years previous — when the singer was on tour. “I needed to cover it,” she mentioned on a Might 2024 look on the Tamron Hall Show. “It was arduous to speak about again then… The blokes used to ask me, ‘Are you gaining weight? Are you pregnant?’ I used to be like, ‘No I’m going by chemo.’ Nobody knew… my mother didn’t even know.”

Lisa Lisa defined that she discovered unusual bruising on her physique and went to a health care provider throughout a tour cease, which is when she was recognized with ductal carcinoma —  a non-invasive, stage zero most cancers contained in the milk ducts. She continued touring towards her physician’s suggestions. “I’ve to work as a result of I’ve payments to pay,” the now 57-year-old remembered saying.

Donna Lewis

Songwriter and artist Donna Lewis was shocked when she was recognized with breast most cancers in 2021, and instantly mirrored on her determination to skip a mastectomy appointment because of COVID. “I at all times used to get my mammogram frequently, and I missed my mammogram throughout COVID,” the “I Love You At all times Perpetually” singer advised People in 2024. “After all, after I did go for my mammogram, there was one thing.”

Lewis’ docs discovered two tumors in considered one of her breasts, and the star opted to undergo a double mastectomy along with chemotherapy and radiation. “I simply wished to be carried out with it,” Lewis defined. “I made a decision to not go for reconstruction both. I simply wished to get this over with after which get on with my life. All of the most cancers was taken away.” One constructive from the difficiult expertise: it fueled Lewis’ 2024 album Rooms With a View. “My music grew to become my remedy,” she mentioned. “The writing and the recording of this album actually grew to become a lifeline for me. It was extraordinarily therapeutic.”

Guerdy Abraira

Actual Housewives of Miami star Guerdy Abraira was recognized with stage 1B estrogen-receptor-positive breast most cancers in March 2023. Whereas docs initially thought the 47-year-old wouldn’t want chemotherapy, additional testing confirmed that the most cancers had greater than a 1 in 3 probability of returning — which meant that Abraira, after present process a lumpectomy, went by 4 classes of chemotherapy and 20 rounds of radiation. “It’s a curler coaster you simply need to get off of,” she recalled to People in 2024.

The high-end occasions planner determined to share her most cancers journey on RHOM and has embraced her function as an “ambassador” to lift consciousness for the illness. “Now greater than ever I’m going to discuss it,” mentioned Abraira, who has been cancer-free since November 2023.

Kelly Hyland

For Dance Mothers alum Kelly Hyland, the primary signal of one thing mistaken was her sudden, unplanned weight reduction. “I misplaced sufficient that others observed and would ask for my weight-reduction plan hacks, however there was nothing I had modified in my day-to-day to trigger the loss,” Hyland advised E!News in 2024. Then, in late March of that 12 months, Hyland discovered a lump in her breast. Regardless of having carried out a mammogram just lately (and receiving a clear invoice of well being), Hyland booked one other appointment, and docs discovered a malignant mass in her breast.

Hyland was recognized with a fast-moving type of breast most cancers (invasive carcinoma stage 1, grade 3), and mentioned she was “shocked” and “scared” after receiving the analysis. Regardless of being “a really unbiased individual,” Hyland mentioned she knew she wouldn’t be capable of tackle this problem by herself. “I’m rapidly studying I’m on a really lengthy and hard highway,” she mentioned, “so I’m going to wish to be taught to simply accept folks’s assist as a result of I’m very fortunate to have those who need to care for me throughout this time.”

Janice Dickinson

Mannequin and TV persona Janice Dickinson recollects having “a sense of detachment” when she was recognized with breast most cancers in Might 2024, adopted by fear and worry of “leaving my household,” she advised People. Dickinson finally underwent two lumpectomies and two months of radiation, and wished to make use of her expertise to encourage others to remain on prime of their well being. “In case you really feel one thing’s not proper, get a second opinion,” mentioned Dickinson, who mentioned she “simply felt off” for months earlier than going to the physician, and hadn’t been doing self-exams as usually as she ought to’ve.

“This battle isn’t behind me,” added the mannequin, as she hadn’t been formally declared cancer-free on the time of the interview, however her mindset has shifted all the identical. “I’ve a brand new objective: to verify folks get examined. If I can attain only one individual, I’ve carried out my job.”

Linda Perry

Singer and songwriter Linda Perry was recognized with fast-growing triple-negative breast most cancers in 2021, which docs discovered by evaluating the tissue after an elective breast discount surgical procedure. Discovering the most cancers early left Perry with a profound sense of gratitude. “I really feel so fortunate,” she advised People in 2024 after the discharge of her documentary, Linda Perry: Let It Die Right here, which follows her most cancers journey.

“My physician mainly mentioned the most cancers that I had was the type that she finds in folks the place they’ve six months to possibly two years to dwell,” she defined. “And I’d’ve by no means discovered it [without the elective surgery.]”

Melissa Etheridge

Grammy winner Melissa Etheridge discovered a lump in her breast at age 43, whereas on tour in Canada. She may each really feel and see the lump, she advised Dateline in 2005, describing the exprience as “alarming as a result of I hadn’t seen it the day earlier than.  And I didn’t fairly perceive what it was.” 

Etheridge was finally recognized with stage 2 breast most cancers and underwent surgical procedure to take away the lump from her breast and a number of lymph nodes, the place the most cancers had unfold. She additionally went by chemotherapy, which Etheridge mentioned was “the closest to demise I’ve ever been.” After therapy and being declared cancer-free, Etheridge mentioned she was in a position to make use of her most cancers expertise to enhance her life-style general. “I’ve taken what I contemplate toxic factor[s] out of my life,” she defined. “Out of my meals, out of my work, out of my social circle, out of every thing. As a result of I desire a clear, cancer-free life. And I consider I can have that.”

Tracy Bonham

Musician Tracy Bonham was recognized with stage 1 breast most cancers in 2024, at 57. “Bodily, I didn’t really feel like something was mistaken,” she advised People later that 12 months, however “possibly spiritually and mentally, there was one thing there. One thing was sending me to get checked.” Bonham mentioned she was joyful that her docs caught the most cancers early, and he or she underwent a lumpectomy and lymph gland elimination a couple of weeks later.

Forward of continuous radiation therapies and hormone therapies to forestall recurrence, Bonham mentioned she was managing her worry and anxiousness by taking good care of herself. “I’ve remedy,” she mentioned. “And by chance, I used to be given lots of books to learn. I’m surprisingly having fun with the give attention to myself and the therapeutic, as a result of I feel as ladies, we’re at all times occupied with others and even how others understand us, and that expends a lot power.”

Bridget Bahl

Style and life-style influencer Bridget Bahl discovered she had breast most cancers throughout an particularly delicate time: whereas making an attempt her sixth IVF retrieval. In an emotional Instagram video posted in September 2024, Bahl mentioned she was “possibly two or three days into the [hormone] pictures [for IVF]” when she felt “one thing” in her breast. She instantly acquired imaging carried out on her physician’s recommendation, and following a biopsy, Bahl was recognized with breast most cancers that had unfold to a lymph node. 

The next weeks, Bahl mentioned, have been “nothing in need of a nightmare,” as she discovered she’d must bear chemotherapy, surgical procedure, and presumably radiation. “I do know that I’m going to be OK, and I simply additionally know there’s a very scary highway forward,” defined Bahl, who added that she nonetheless deliberate to complete her spherical of IVF. “And I don’t need to do [the cancer treatment], however I consider by the grace of God I can do it.”