Which Female Celebs Are Breast Cancer Survivors?
According to Breastcancer.org, one in eight women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. It's the second deadliest cancer for women in the United States, with only lung cancer causing more deaths in females. However, thanks to early detection and new treatments, those death rates are declining.
Like other diseases and health problems, breast cancer doesn't discriminate, and the rich and famous are not immune to becoming sick. Even some of the most well-known female celebrities around the world have received breast cancer diagnoses during their lifetimes. Luckily, many of them have successfully fought the disease and gone on to live happy, healthy, cancer-free lives.
Sheryl Crow
Singer Sheryl Crow was just 44 in 2006 when she received her stage zero breast cancer diagnosis. Already a Grammy Award-winner, the high-profile musician was also going through a breakup with cyclist Lance Armstrong at the time, making the situation even more difficult. Thankfully, her doctors found the cancer very early.
After surgery and undergoing radiation treatment, she moved to Nashville in hopes of finding some privacy. She also adopted two sons, Wyatt and Levi, over a period of several years, and they helped her get through that difficult period in her life.
Cynthia Nixon
Sex in the City star Cynthia Nixon was only 40 when she received her breast cancer diagnosis after a regular mammogram. Because her mother had suffered from the disease, Nixon made sure she got mammograms regularly once she turned 35.
She was in a play at the time of the diagnosis, so she scheduled a lumpectomy for a day when she had no performances, and she tried to keep her diagnosis private. She also received radiation treatment after the surgery. Her treatment choices paid off, and Nixon is still healthy and strong today. She even ran for governor of New York in 2018.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Julia Louis-Dreyfus is best known for her comedic work on shows like Saturday Night Live, Seinfeld and Veep. In 2017, she announced to the world that she was battling stage two breast cancer. She shared her status first on her personal Twitter account. The actress said she knew it would be impossible to keep her diagnosis private, because she had to undergo chemotherapy in the midst of filming her hit show, Veep. Today, Louis-Dreyfus is an advocate for healthcare.
Suzanne Somers
Actress Suzanne Somers received her breast cancer diagnosis in 2001, and in an interesting twist, she claims it was the beginning of a new life. Instead of undergoing chemotherapy treatments, she opted for holistic treatments. Many experts and fans were skeptical, but according to Somers, those treatments helped her beat the disease.
Somers also changed her lifestyle at the same time, focusing on healthy organic foods and exercise. She has since written many books about her journey and her new healthy lifestyle.
Kathy Bates
Kathy Bates isn't just a breast cancer survivor — she’s an ovarian cancer survivor too! She first beat ovarian cancer in 2003. Then, after undergoing a double mastectomy in 2012, she beat her stage two breast cancer as well. The Academy Award-winning actress admits that her journey hasn't been easy. She now uses her celebrity status to advocate for other men and women going through similar diagnoses and treatments.
Wanda Sykes
Comedian Wanda Sykes appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2011 and chose to share that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer earlier in the year. She also announced that she chose to have a double mastectomy in an effort to keep her cancer from coming back. Sykes learned she had the disease after she had breast reduction surgery. Doctors discovered the cancer when they performed routine pathology testing after the surgery.
Maggie Smith
While many of the celebrities on the list were younger when they received their breast cancer diagnoses, Maggie Smith was in her 70s when she got the scary news in 2007. After radiation and chemotherapy treatments, the British actress says that she felt tired and lacked the energy to return to the stage. By 2009, she announced that she had beaten the disease. She ultimately returned to film and TV acting, most notably starring in the Harry Potter franchise and Downton Abbey on the BBC.
