INSPIRING STORIES: CELEBS WHO BEAT BREAST CANCER AND SUCCESSFULLY RECOVERED

  • 29 Oct - 04 Nov, 2022
  • Mag The Weekly
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Many celebrities have experienced breast cancer, including Nadia Jamil, Christina Applegate, Sonali Bendre, Palwasha Yousuf ,Shannen Doherty, and Wanda Sykes. Read about how these breast cancer survivors and others are using their star power to raise awareness.


Sheryl Crow

The singer underwent a lumpectomy and radiation after receiving her breast cancer diagnosis in 2006. A decade after she became a survivor. The Every Day Is a Winding Road singer is still dedicated to working with Stand Up to Cancer.


Wanda Sykes

During follow-up care for a breast reduction surgery in 2011, the comedian’s doctors discovered she had stage zero breast cancer. Sykes decided not to take any chances, and underwent a preventive double mastectomy.


Kylie Minogue

The Australian singer received her diagnosis in 2005 in the midst of a worldwide tour. She underwent a partial mastectomy as well as chemotherapy and radiation before her doctors declared her cancer-free a year and a half later.


Maura Tierney

When she found a lump at the age of 44, the Affair actress almost didn’t seek help. "I was so, so scared of going to the doctor. I felt something, and my boyfriend at the time made me go," she later told media. "He said, 'You've got to take care of this,' because I was afraid. That's the one thing I will say: Don't be afraid to go to the damn doctor. Just go!"


Christina Applegate

Though her breast cancer was found early, the actress chose to have a double mastectomy in 2008 because she tested positive for the breast cancer gene, BRCA1. "I didn't want to go back to the doctors every four months for testing and squishing and everything," the actress told Good Morning America that year, adding that the choice “was a tough one.”


Palwasha Yousuf

Syra Sheroz’s younger sister and renowned hair stylist Palwasha Yousuf also suffered from Breast cancer. She fought it out bravely and is now cancer free, even though this illness claimed life of her elder sister Ruqaiya Yousuf.


Uzma Gilani

Senior actress Uzma Gilani was also diagnosed with cancer but fought it valiantly and recovered following the treatment. She is back on her feet and is even appearing several TV series. She is also the recipient of Pride of Performance award in 1982.


Naila Jaffery

Naila Jaffrey was acclaimed actress who lost her life after fighting with the deadly disease of cancer. She fought with the cancer till her last breath and always kept a beautiful smile on face even while dealing with illness.


Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Nearly a year after she revealed her diagnosis – “1 in 8 women get breast cancer. Today, I’m the one,” she wrote on Instagram in September 2017 – the Veep star revealed she’d beaten the disease. Returning to film the last season of her hit HBO show, she told media, “I feel good. I feel strong. I’ve got energy and, yeah, back to my old tricks. It feels like I never left.”


Nadia Jamil

Pakistan’s seasoned actress Nadia Jamil was diagnosed with breast cancer and successfully recovered from it after a tough treatment. The courageous actress often spoke about her struggle with breast cancer with her fans and how it helped her to become a better human being.


Tahira Kashyap

In 2018, filmmaker and author Tahira Kashyap, who is married to actor Ayushmann Khurana, was diagnosed with Stage 0 breast cancer. When she was diagnosed, she didn’t hide it; she decided to document it in order to inspire other women in the world. She finished her treatment in January 2019 and is now cancer-free! Tahira’s story and struggle have given her a lot of encouragement and it has provided a deeper belief in one’s self-power.


Dr Yasmeen Rashid

Punjab Health Minister, Dr. Yasmin Rashid underwent breast cancer surgery at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital. Reportedly, the surgery was successful and she recovered from the disease.


Dr. Fehmida Mirza

Former National Assembly speaker, Dr Fehmida Mirza also suffered from breast cancer. Following her treatment, she joined the Pink Ribbon Movement to become beacon of hope for breast cancer survivors.


Sonali Bendre

The 46-year-old actress was diagnosed with metastatic cancer in July 2018. After her cancer diagnosis in 2018, SonalI Bendre flew to New York for treatment. She returned to Mumbai in December 2018 after her treatment.


Barbara Mori

Actress Barbara Mori is known for her steamy chemistry with Hrithik Roshan in Kites, but a few people are aware that she is also a cancer survivor. Barbara has been actively involved in raising awareness among women to take care of themselves and has had frequent checkups since then. She was diagnosed with breast cancer stage I quite early in her career.


Mahima Chaudhry

Speaking to her fans in a video shared by Anupam Kher, Mahima Chaudhry, who's known for films like Pardes, Dhadkan and Lajja among others shared that she has been diagnosed with breast cancer. The actress broke down sharing that over the past few months she has been offered a number of roles in films and web shows but she couldn't go forward with them. The actress was in the early stage of breast cancer when she went ahead with the treatment.


Cynthia Nixon

In 2006, the actress, who had recently finished her run as Miranda on Sex and the City, was diagnosed with breast cancer after a routine mammogram. Nixon, who later launched a gubernatorial campaign in New York, underwent surgery and six-and-a-half-weeks of radiation – revealing her battle in 2008 once she had become a breast cancer survivor.


Robin Roberts

The Good Morning America anchor announced on air in 2007 that she had breast cancer. She became a survivor before being diagnosed with the rare blood disorder, myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). After a bone marrow transplant and chemotherapy, Roberts beat that too. “I definitely felt that I was getting another chance at life," she said once she was in remission for five years.


Dame Maggie Smith

Filming Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince while undergoing chemotherapy was grueling, the British actress, who starred as Professor Minerva McGonagall, has admitted. "Some people say you have to fight cancer. But it was fighting me," she explained nearly a decade after she received her 2008 diagnosis at the age of 73. "The cure was worse than the disease, and it left me totally exhausted and depressed.” But after she became a survivor, she came back full force and went on to play many memorable characters, including the dowager in Downton Abbey. 

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