10 Stars Who Faced Breast Cancer

10 Stars Who Faced Breast Cancer

Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re spotlighting 10 Stars Who Faced Breast Cancer.

For this list, we’ll be looking at big names who have directly confronted breast cancer. Some of these stories have sadder outcomes than others, but all of these stars are inspirations.

Have you or a loved one ever faced breast cancer? Share your experiences in the comments.

Shirley Temple Black

We think of Shirley Temple as a perpetual child star, but the truth is that movies like “Curly Top” only made up part of her life. After retiring from film acting at age 22, Temple went on to have a successful TV career, become a U.S. diplomat, and raise breast cancer awareness. Temple was in her mid-40s when she discovered a lump that turned out to be breast cancer. She soon underwent a life-saving mastectomy, removing her left breast. At a time when breast cancer was stigmatized, Temple invited the press into her hospital room, encouraging people not to “sit home, and be afraid” if they found a strange lump. She further stressed that people “go to a doctor immediately and get it diagnosed.”

Edie Falco

Edie Falco is known for her powerful presence on “The Sopranos,” but she’s just as resilient behind the scenes. Falco was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003. The Emmy-winning actress had to be on set later that afternoon to shoot an intense scene with James Gandolfini. And, understandably, she struggled to get through work that day. She kept her diagnosis private, only telling family and close friends, including executive producer Ilene Landress. For a year as she underwent treatment, the show scheduled shooting around Falco’s chemo. Relieved to learn that she would survive, Falco realized that she wanted to be a mother. With a new lease on life, she was motivated to adopt her son in 2005 and her daughter three years later.

Jane Fonda

In addition to her prolific film career, Jane Fonda is iconic for her best-selling workout videos. Even when somebody appears to be in perfect shape, cancer has its way of sneaking through. In 2010, the 72-year-old Fonda went in for a routine checkup. A small, non-invasive tumor was found in her breast. After a lumpectomy, Fonda was declared “100% cancer free.” This wouldn’t be the end of Fonda’s cancer experience, however. Over the ensuing years, Fonda would have a cancerous growth taken out of her lower lip and underwent chemo following a non-Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis. Thankfully, Fonda announced in late 2022 that she was in remission with no need to continue chemo. Now in her mid-80s, Fonda continues to act and promote good health.

Cynthia Nixon

“Sex and the City” fans will be familiar with Samantha’s breast cancer story arc. In reality, another cast member would soon face the disease. Cynthia Nixon was barely a teenager when her mother was first diagnosed with breast cancer. Due to her family’s history, Nixon started getting mammograms at age 35. When she was 40, Nixon learned that she had stage one breast cancer. Undergoing a lumpectomy and radiation, Nixon kept her diagnosis private for almost two years. Emerging cancer-free, Nixon opened up about her experience, going on to become a Susan G. Komen for the Cure ambassador. In 2014, Nixon’s mother died after enduring breast cancer for the third time. Shortly after, Nixon starred in the film “James White,” playing a mother with cancer.

Wanda Sykes

Dropping by “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” in 2011, comedian Wanda Sykes made a surprising announcement. A while back, Sykes chose to have breast reduction surgery. This would be a life-changing decision in ways that Sykes never anticipated. The doctors found that her left breast possessed Ductal Carcinoma in Situ. Though minor, this discovery was a potential sign of worse things to come. Getting ahead of any further health problems, Sykes opted to have a double mastectomy, removing both of her breasts. This radically decreased Sykes’ odds of ever hearing the words “breast cancer” from another physician. It also helped ensure that she’d be around to watch her children grow up and keep audiences smiling.

Bette Davis

Like all Golden Age Hollywood stars, Bette Davis’ career had its ups and downs. Yet, few stars kept audiences coming back for decades as Davis did. Even when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in the early 80s, she continued to appear in film and television for several years. Collapsing at the 1989 American Cinema Awards, Davis learned shortly after that her breast cancer had returned. Her health continued to deteriorate at the San Sebastián International Film Festival, so much so that she couldn’t return to the U.S. Davis only made it as far as France where she passed away at age 81. Although this marked the end of her life journey, nobody can say that Davis was anything less than a survivor.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

From “SNL,” to “Seinfeld,” to “Veep,” Julia Louis-Dreyfus has been a comedy superstar for over 40 years. She showed no signs of slowing down after winning a sixth consecutive Emmy for playing Selina Meyer. The next day, however, Louis-Dreyfus received a stage two breast cancer diagnosis. The actress initially laughed when she told her husband, which was followed by tears. She didn’t wait long to go public with her condition, expressing her gratitude for her friends, family, and union insurance. Over the next year or so, she had a double mastectomy and six rounds of chemo, coming out cancer-free. Now in her 60s, Louis-Dreyfus continues to bring the laughs while also demonstrating her dramatic range.

Christina Applegate

Christina Applegate is another comedy legend with a career spanning TV, film, and even theatre. Many were caught off guard when news broke of the 36-year-old actress’ breast cancer diagnosis in 2008. Applegate’s mother, actress Nancy Priddy, also had breast cancer at a young age. Like her mother, Applegate would survive this ordeal. While the cancer was only located in one beast, Applegate decided to have a double mastectomy. Since Applegate carries the genetic BRCA1 mutation, she also had her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed after giving birth to her daughter. Applegate has remained an advocate for breast cancer awareness and research. Just as she was with cancer, Applegate has been candid about living with multiple sclerosis, which she was diagnosed with in 2021.

Carly Simon

This Grammy-winning singer is no stranger to cancer. Her brother Peter died from lung cancer in 2018. Thyroid cancer claimed her sister Joanna’s life four years later. The next day, her other sister Lucy succumbed to metastatic breast cancer. Carly Simon herself received a breast cancer diagnosis back in 1997, the same year she released her “Film Noir” album. Shockingly, the lump had been present for years with doctors advising against operating. Finally, one doctor told Simon, “I’d rather see it in a jar than in your breast.” After surgery, it was confirmed to be cancer, which thankfully hadn’t spread to her lymph nodes. Simon’s double mastectomy was followed by chemo just to be safe. Almost 25 years later, the 80-year-old Simon remains cancer-free.

Olivia Newton-John

Olivia Newton-John became a vocal breast cancer advocate after being diagnosed in 1992. Although she would be in the clear after nine difficult months, this unfortunately wasn’t the end. Her breast cancer returned in 2013, spreading to her shoulder, a development that she chose to keep private. In 2017 she revealed a third diagnosis with the cancer spreading to her lower back. She remained strong and candid even as the cancer approached her bones, reaching stage four. In 2022, 30 years after her first diagnosis, Newton-John died at age 73. In her honor, AMC brought “Grease” back to theaters with proceeds going to breast cancer research. Newton-John will not only continue to touch lives through her music and movies, but her cancer wellness and research center as well.