As all you health-conscious Collegiettes must know, October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In honor of this, we’re highlighting 10 courageous celebrities you didn’t know battled breast cancer, thus proving that yes, breast cancer can affect anyone…
#1 Giuliana Rancic
The beautiful E! News TV personality Giuliana Rancic was diagnosed at age 36 just two years ago. She discovered her breast cancer through a mammogram requested by her doctor before undergoing her third stage of in vitro fertilization treatment. Rancic first had just a double lumpectomy, but later a double mastectomy as well. She is now fully recovered, back on E! News, and has just welcomed her first child with husband Bill Rancic through a surrogacy. She has also teamed up with General Mills’ Save Lids to Save Lives, which donates to the Susan G. Komen Foundation for every box top collected.
#2 Christina Applegate
Married With Children, Samantha Who?, and Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundry star Christina Applegate revealed her breast cancer diagnosis in a Good Morning America interview in 2008. Applegate knew her susceptibility to the disease because of her mother’s battle with it, and had regular mammograms. In 2007, one revealed a cancerous lump in her left breast. Further tests also confirmed she was positive for the BRCA gene, or the breast cancer gene. Applegate made the drastic preventative decision to get a bilateral mastectomy, but not before one glamorous nude photo shoot (you go, girl!). Christina went on to launch the Right Action for Women foundation, which funds MRIs for high-risk young women who are uninsured or underinsured.
#3 Kylie Minogue
International pop diva Kylie Minogue was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2005 and underwent chemotherapy. She went into remission in 2006 and admits the cancer still affects her every day. Minogue finally, after much hesitation, spoke out about her battle at the EIF Women’s Cancer Research Fund’s 16th Annual “An Unforgettable Evening” presented by Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills, California this past May. She was supported warmly by her colleagues and received the 2013 Courage Award.
#4 Suzanne Somers
Iconic actress Suzanne Somers from Step by Step and Three’s Company was diagnosed in 2001. Somers rejected conventional treatment in favor of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. This unconventional medicine is a controversial topic in the medical world and far too complicated for me to attempt to explain, but you can learn from Suzanne in her best-selling self-help book, Ageless: The Naked Truth about Bioidentical Hormones, as well as her other autobiographies, diet books, and a book of poetry.
#5 Cynthia Nixon
Best known as the sassy red-head Miranda on Sex and the City, actress Cynthia Nixon was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006 at age 40. Her mother is a breast cancer survivor as well, so luckily they caught it at an early stage during a routine mammogram. Nixon is now a strong and healthy ambassador for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation and spokeswoman for Curél’s “Share the Gift of Caring” campaign to benefit the American Red Cross.
#6 Betsey Johnson
The boldly unique and beloved fashion designer Betsey Johnson hid her battle with breast cancer for years before releasing the news to the public. In fact, Betsey shared the truth only with her daughter LuLu, and told everyone else her scans had come back negative in fear of it affecting her business. Only after a lumpectomy, radiation, and finally, receiving cancer-free results, did she open up to her coworkers and fashionista fans. Johnson now holds in-store parties during the month of October where she sells adorable breast cancer awareness products like her “I’m a Survivor” tee shirt and hot pink “We Can Do It” panties and socks to raise money for the cause.
#7 Judy Blume
If you’re anything like me, you were a huge fan of Judy Blume’s young adult novels such as Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, Superfudge, and It’s Not the End of the World. The award-winning novelist was diagnosed with breast cancer in August 2012 and months later, with cervical cancer as well. Blume has battled both diseases and is now happily married with one child and living in the Key West, hopefully writing long-awaited sequels to our favorite middle school reads!
#8 Sheryl Crow
Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Sheryl Crow received news of her breast cancer at age 44, shortly after her split with professional cyclist Lance Armstrong. Despite this, Crow battled her cancer strongly, returning to her tour as soon as possible after recovering from surgery and radiation therapy. Crow continues to write music, support cancer awareness and ecological causes, and raise her two adopted sons in her home in Tennessee.
#9 Hoda Kotb
NBC Today Show news anchor and TV host Hoda Kotb also kept her breast cancer diagnosis to herself for quite a while after receiving it in 2007. Hoda says it took two eye-opening events for her to open up to the public about her battle. The first happened after a conversation with a stranger on a plane, who told her “Don’t hog your journey.” She then realized how many lives she could touch with her story. The second was witnessing a fundraising walk by hundreds of women wearing bright pink in Central Park to raise awareness and money for breast cancer research. They were all connected; whether they were currently battling the disease, survivors of the disease, or close friends or relatives of those who had not been so lucky. She knew she was connected as well, but admitted she was “standing on the sidelines” rather than “getting in the game, the game to help survivors.” Hoda’s story was soon after documented and shown as a special on the Today Show.
#10 Olivia Newton-John
The blonde bombshell actress, singer and songwriter Olivia Newton-John has a particularly inspiring story of her battle with breast cancer. Her positive biopsy results came in 1992, just days after the news of her father’s death, and days before she was scheduled to embark on a U.S. tour promoting her collective album, Back to Basics: The Essential Collection, including the greatest hits from her 21 years in the business. Olivia was forced to cancel the tour to undergo surgery and eight months of chemotherapy. Since becoming cancer-free, she has been involved in numerous advocacy efforts for both environmental and health issues. Her biggest project was the opening of the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Center in her hometown of Melbourne, Australia. She also created a product called Liv Aid, which is designed to make self-breast examinations easier for women. Newton-John has been honored with the American Red Cross Woman of the Year, the Medal of the Order of Australia, induction into the U.S. and Australian Music Halls of Fame, the Lifetime Achievement Award, and the invitation to carry the Olympic relay torch after performing at the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
In celebration of Breast Cancer Awareness month, have a Sex and the City rerun marathon with Cynthia, blast “Soak up the Sun” by Sheryl, watch Olivia in our favorite musical classic, Grease, but most importantly, inform yourself. We may think we’re way too young to worry about this, but doctors suggest that women start performing self-breast examinations in their 20’s! You should also take a minute to do some research on your family history of breast cancer, as it is a highly genetic disease.
Stay healthy and happy this October, Collegiettes, and remember to think pink!