Breast Cancer Hall Of Fame
Anastacia - Singer
In January 2003, singer Anastacia’s cancer diagnosis was leaked to the media before she'd even had time to tell her friends, giving her no choice but to go public with her illness. She responded well to radiation treatment and was given the all-clear in June the same year. Continuing to be free of cancer, she has offered a very public example of the advantages of early detection, and since her illness, she has raised serious sums of money to encourage this through her Anastacia Fund.
Christina Applegate - Actress
Best known as Kelly Bundy on Married ... With Children and Samantha Newly on Samantha Who? Christina Applegate recently underwent a double mastectomy after cancer was discovered in one of her breasts. The 36-year-old actress decided to have a prophylactic mastectomy after testing positive for the BRCA-1 gene, which significantly raised the risk of her cancer returning. Wanting to avoid the intense chemotherapy, radiation and frequent follow-up doctor visits she watched her mom (who also suffered from breast cancer) endure, Applegate says her decision to remove her breasts was tough but she's now cancer-free.
Sheryl Crow - Singer
In early 2006, a routine mammogram showed calcifications in both breasts for this singer/songwriter and was followed by minimally invasive surgery and then radiation therapy. Crow is now happy to say that during her last check-up she got an all clear and is in breast cancer remission. At that time, Crow says she realised she needed to take care of herself by putting herself first, as opposed to the many years when her focus was on taking care of others.
Kylie Minogue - Singer
Australian pop superstar and actress, Kylie Minogue was diagnosed in May 2005 with early-stage breast cancer. On tour at the time, she stopped performing in order to undergo chemo and radiation. With the recommencement of her tour in November 2006 in Sydney, Australia Minogue discussed her illness, and said that her chemotherapy treatment had been like “experiencing a nuclear bomb”.
Cynthia Nixon - Actress
Worried about the negative impact it would have on her career, Emmy-winning Sex and the City actress, Cynthia Nixon never went fully public with her 2002 diagnosis. Instead, she has quietly campaigned behind the scenes, convincing NBC to air her prime-time breast cancer special.
Edie Falco - Actress
Edie Falco, well known on the hit series The Sopranos was diagnosed in 2003 and underwent treatment during the filming of the show's fifth season in 2004. Of surviving Falco says, “Obviously, it wasn’t meant for me to die of cancer at 40. Every day my life surprises me, just like my cancer diagnosis surprised me. But you roll with it”.
Melissa Etheridge - Singer
The Grammy-winning singer was on tour in Canada in October 2004 when she discovered a lump in her left breast. A biopsy and then surgery revealed Stage II cancer, which had spread only to one lymph node. Immediately following a rough two months of chemotherapy treatment, a bald and recovering Etheridge made a brave appearance at the 2005 Grammy Awards ceremony singing "Take a Little Piece of My Heart" during a tribute to Janis Joplin. The song then became an anthem for breast cancer survivors everywhere.
Rue McClanahan - Actress
Star of the hit sitcom, Golden Girls, Rue McClanahan became a survivor in 1997 after finding a pea-sized lump in her breast.
Linda Ellerbee - Reporter
Journalist and now survivor, Linda Ellerbee found a lump in 1991 and was treated with a bi-lateral mastectomy.
Ann Jillian - Actress
At the age of 35, actress turned motivational speaker, Ann Jillian discovered she had breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy. With the love and support of her family and friends she battled the disease courageously and successfully. Ann has become a symbol of hope and inspiration to cancer victims and their families.
Suzanne Somers - Actress
Suzanne Somers announced in Spring 2001 that she had breast cancer and she was treated with conventional surgery and radiation therapy. Instead of pursuing elective chemotherapy after her treatment, Somers chose an alternative therapy using mistletoe injections. Somers is also a supporter of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.
Richard Rountree - Actor
Best known for his role as the sex-machine private detective, John Shaft in the 1970 film, Shaft, Richard Roundtree is proof that breast cancer affects men too. Roundtree discovered a lump in his right breast in 1993 and received chemotherapy, radiation treatments and a mastectomy. Roundtree is now a breast cancer advocate, working with the Susan G. Komen Foundation to raise men's awareness of the disease, and speaks to men's groups about early detection.
Kate Jackson - Actress
Kate Jackson is best known for her role in the original Charlies Angels trio but more importantly she battled cancer in 1987 and in 1989 and kicked its butt both times.
Dame Eileen Atkins - British stage and film actress
For 14 years, Dame Eileen Atkins had breast cancer but in 2002 her oncologist said to her, "Eileen, you're fine."
Jami Bernard - American author and film critic for the New York Daily News
Jami Bernard is a survivor of breast cancer, a breast cancer advocate, and a keynote speaker who wrote a book about her experience, Breast Cancer: There and Back and writes a regular column for MAMM magazine, the magazine for women with cancer.
Sondra Locke - American actress
In 1990, Sandra Locke was diagnosed with breast cancer but she fought it and with the love and support of the few friends who remained close to her, and with what she describes as "help from God" she is now cancer free. During treatment she miraculously met a new love, a surgeon, and is now living happily with him.
Jerri Nielsen - American physician
Jerri Nielsen famously self-administered a biopsy and later chemotherapy, after discovering a breast tumour while in Antarctica.
Sandra Day O'Connor - First female U.S. Supreme Court Justice
Sandra O'Connor had a mastectomy to battle her 1988 breast cancer diagnosis, and stronger-willed and determined, returned to the bench after missing just two weeks of work.
Carly Simon - Singer
1970s icon Carly Simon underwent a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery for breast cancer in October 1997. During her recovery she wrote the autobiographical album, The Bedroom Tapes but feels that her record company treated her differently after her diagnosis and did not give the album proper promotion.
Jaclyn Smith - Actress and businesswoman
Charlie’s Angels star, Jaclyn Smith discovered a lump during a routine checkup in 2002 and underwent a lumpectomy and radiation therapy. The actress' diagnosis came 15 years after fellow Angels star, Kate Jackson's initial treatment for breast cancer.
Betsy Johnson - Fashion Designer
Famous for her bold fashions, the designer kept her 2002 breast cancer diagnosis quiet, as she was fearful about how it would affect her business. Johnson confided only in her daughter, Lulu, after the discovery of lumps following one of her saline breast implants deflating during a massage. Johnson has been doing well since her lumpectomy and radiation treatment and has since become active in fighting the disease and serving as honorary chairperson for the Fashion Targets Breast Cancer initiative.
