15 Famous Breast Cancer Survivors

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This month we pay tribute to 15 amazingly strong and inspiring women who have survived breast cancer. 

Anastacia

Singer & Songwriter Anastacia was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003 after a routine mammogram and successfully completed surgery and radiotherapy. She established the Anastacia Fund to help promote the awareness of breast cancer among young women. 

Christina Applegate 

Actress Christina Applegate announced in late 2008 that she had breast cancer but after a double mastectomy, she is now cancer free. Her mother is also a breast cancer survivor. In 2009 she founded Right Action for Women, a charitable foundation dedicated to breast cancer screening for women. 

Brigitte Bardot

French film actress Brigitte Bardot is a breast cancer survivor.

Sheryl Crow 

Singer & songwriter Sheryl Crow was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer in 2006, after surgery she was treated with radiation therapy. She is now cancer free. 

Melissa Etheridge 

Singer Melissa Etheridge was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004 and underwent chemotherapy. The following year she was praised for her performance of "Piece of My Heart" at the Grammy Awards, where she appeared bald after her chemotherapy. 

Edie Falco

The Sopranos star Edie Falco was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003. She kept her battle with cancer a secret while filming The Sopranos and having cancer treatment.  A few  years later after her cancer went into remission she started a family and adopted 2 children. 

Kylie Minogue

 

Australian singer and actress Kylie Minogue was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2005. After postponing her Showgirl Tour she underwent surgery and then commenced chemotherapy treatment in Paris soon after. 

Olivia Newton-John

Australian Actress and Singer Olivia Newton-John started her battle with cancer in 1992. Olivia underwent a partial radical mastectomy followed by 8 months of chemotherapy. She successful overcame breast cancer and after donating album sales to various Breast Cancer Charities she started the Olivia Newton-John Cancer & Wellness Centre in 2008. 

Olivia: "I feel so fortunate and grateful to be a survivor of breast cancer. I see it as a gift". 

Melissa Cyntia Nixon

Sex & The City actress Cynthia Nixon was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006 and underwent a lumpectomy followed by radiation treatment. She announced her cancer recovery in 2008 and is now a breast cancer activist and ambassador for Susan G. Komen for the Cure. 

Jaclyn Smith

Charlie's Angels actress Jaclyn Smith was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002 and had a lumpectomy and radiation treatment. Her Charlie's Angels co-star Kate Jackson is also a breast cancer survivor. 

 

Melissa Suzanne Somers

American actress Suzanne Somers was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001. She had a lumpectomy and radiation but chose not to undergo chemotherapy. She wrote a book about alternative treatments to chemotherapy titled Knockout. 

Wanda Sykes 

American actress and comedian Wanda Sykes announced her she had been diagnosed with stage zero breast cancer this year. She had a bilateral mastectomy to remove the chances of ever getting cancer. 

Shirley Temple

Hollywood actress Shirley Temple was diagnosed in 1972 with breast cancer at the age of 44. The former child actress became the first celebrity to speak openly about breast cancer. 

Maura Tierney

America actress Maura Tierney had a tumor removed from her breast after she felt a lump in her breast during a self examination. After undergoing surgery and chemotherapy, Maura is now cancer free. 

Melissa Giulianna Rancic

 

Journalist and TV host Giuliana Rancic announced earlier this month that she had been diagnosed with early stage breast cancer. She has already had a lumpectomy, which will be followed by radiation treatment and she is now recovering. We wish her the best and are keeping her in our prayers that she will make a full recovery. 

This article is featured in Eco Glamazine October 2011