How these brave celebrities handled breast cancer news

Breast cancer accounts for 34 per cent of all cancer cases in Kenya. Around the world, 1 in every 8 women as per the American Cancer Society will get diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.

But as dangerous as the disease is, most people can survive breast cancer when diagnosed early. Such is the case for these famous women who bravely fought the disease and continued to lead their lives as public figures.

JULIA LOUIS-DREYFUS: EMMY AWARDS RECORD HOLDER

On 18th September 2017, one day after she won an Emmy award for her role in the TV show, Veep, actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus broke news on Twitter that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer in the most emotional way:

“1 in 8 women get breast cancer,” the 56 year old said. “Today, I am the one.”
Immediately after announcing the message, her fans and fellow celebrities poured their messages of support.

Fellow actress and a breast cancer survivor as well, Christina Applegate, immediately showed her message of support by offering to talk to Julia.

TWITTER SUPPORT

“Mama, find me. Let’s talk if you want to,” @ChristinaApplegate tweeted.

Presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and former vice president Joe Biden shared their messages of encouragement soon after.

“Julia, you’re in our thoughts and hearts,” @HillaryClinton tweeted.

“Jill and I, and all of the Biden are with you, Julia.” Former vice president Joe Biden announced. Actress Julia Louis, who has won eight Emmy awards in her career, later gave a full statement about her new condition and challenged everyone to help fight breast cancer.

“…I have the most glorious group of supportive and caring friends, and fantastic insurance through my union. The bad news is that not all women are so lucky, so let’s fight all cancers and make universal health care a reality.”

ANGELINA JOLIE PREDISPOSED TO BREAST AND OVARIAN CANCER

Arguably the most famous woman to survive breast cancer in recent times, actress Angelina Jolie has continuously championed for cancer awareness after her 2013 diagnosis with breast cancer.

Like a good percentage of women, Angelina Jolie is predisposed to cancer by a ‘faulty’ gene condition that makes her 87 per cent more vulnerable to the disease than other women. Angelina’s mother also had the same gene and died of cancer at 56.

“We often speak of ‘Mommy’s mommy,’ and I find myself trying to explain the illness that took her away from us,” Angelina said in a New York Times article in May 2013.

“They have asked if the same could happen to me. I have always told them not to worry, but the truth is I carry a ‘faulty’ gene, BRCA1 which sharply increase my risk of developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer,” Ms Angelina added.

Angelina chose to be proactive in fighting her condition and made the decision to pursue preventive double mastectomy.

She later had her fallopian tubes removed as her ‘faulty’ gene increased her risk of suffering from ovarian cancer.

‘IT WAS A BOLD CHOICE’

As show of encouragement to her children and women with breast cancer around the world, Angelina added that she felt empowered for making a “strong choice that in no way diminishes my femininity.”

“I wanted to write this to tell other women that the decision to have a mastectomy was not easy. But it is one that I am very happy that I made. My chances of developing breast cancer have dropped from 87 per cent to under 5 per cent. I can tell my children that they don’t need to fear they will lose me to breast cancer,” Angelina told the New York Times.

“For any woman reading this, I hope it helps you to know you have options. I want to encourage every woman, especially if you have a history of breast or ovarian cancer, to seek out the information and medical experts who can help you through this aspect of your life and to make your own informed choices,” Angelina added.

WANDA SYKES-BLACKISH TV SHOW ACTRESS AND OTHER WOMEN

Blackish TV show actress, Wanda Sykes announced in 2011 that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer-coincidentally-as she sought to reduce the size of her bust.

“I was having breast reduction, actually, Wanda told TV show host, Ellen DeGeneres. “It wasn’t until after the reduction that in the lab work, that they found that I had DCIS in my left breast…” DCIS is stage zero of breast cancer.

Like Angelina Jolie, comedian and actress Wanda Sykes chose a double mastectomy procedure to eliminate the risks of acquiring breast cancer later. Wanda also comes from a family that has had a history with cancer.

Other famous women with significant accomplishments in their careers to have fought breast cancer include the late Nancy Reagan, former actress and wife to former US president Ronald Reagan and Grammy award winner Melissa Etheridge.