Tag Archives: breast cancer

Jane Fonda believes she was blessed to survive breast cancer

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Jane Fonda the fitness queen

Actress and fitness guru Jane Fonda recovered from an operation to remove a cancerous growth from her breast and a few years on is back in good spirits, working on more lifestyle books and DVDs aimed at inspiring others to keep fit and healthy.

At the time she said that she was lucky that her cancer scare wasn’t more serious and she was quick to praise her doctors who managed to spot the problem early. Of course all cancer should be taken seriously but some cases are more treatable than others.

She is probably best remembered for her role as Barbarella in the eponymous film and the following glut of health and fitness videos she produced in the following decades.

Jane Fonda as Barbarella

Jane Fonda as Barbarella. Thank you god.

She underwent surgery in 2010 to have a lump removed from her breast after her physician discovered a small “non-invasive” tumour during a general health check. He was quick to spot the danger and put her in for surgery almost immediately.

Still looking great at an incredible 74 years of age, the Oscar winning Fonda is now enjoying a clean bill of health after her doctors assured her she is completely free of cancer, news which she still feels is a blessing thanks to the early diagnosis.

At the time of her all-clear she posted a message on her official website which read: “As the press has reported… I had a scare with a non-invasive breast cancer but it is ALL OUT NOW! I am so lucky. We got it early and it was, as I said, non-invasive. I want to thank my friends and fans who have written beautiful letters. It has meant a lot to me.”

From the operating theatre to the ground mat, Jane is now promoting her latest fitness DVD, proof if any was needed that she’s back to full health and ready once again to inspire others in their fight against their own health issues.

Nancy Reagan won fight with breast cancer

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nancy reagan

From an actress to the First Lady of the United States of America through her husband Ronald, she transitioned beautifully from one varied role to the next. Establishing trends, openly and actively supporting causes and standing strong in the face of challenges, Nancy Reagan was never far away from the news.

She was involved in the renovation of the white house, wore elegant fashion and displayed incredible grace and was been a terrific influence on the stuttering, almost bumbling Ronald Reagan. It is said that through her indomitable spirit she played a vital role in shaping his life.

A fantastic communicator and a great actress, Nancy Reagan championed the ‘Just Say No’ drug awareness campaign in 1982. She involved herself in a huge array of social campaigns which helped the unemployed, poverty stricken masses and those affected by family dissolution.

In early 1989, after the Reagan’s presidential reign came to an end, she formed the Nancy Reagan foundation to educate people about the ill-effects of consuming drugs.

Nancy Reagan was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987

Nancy Reagan was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987

It was in the year 1987 that she was diagnosed with breast cancer after a routine mammogram turned up a growth. Under the guidance of her doctors she immediately underwent major surgery to have her malignant breast removed, their opinion being that a mastectomy would triumph over a lumptectomy. Like Betty Ford, her public battle with breast cancer led women across the United States to get mammograms done, hence raising the nationwide awareness of breast cancer even more.

After former President Ronald Reagan passed away in 2004 through ten years of suffering with Alzheimer’s disease, she carried his vision forward with immense pride and fortitude. Of late Nancy Reagan’s health has been an area of concern and even though she may seem dogged down by the various ailments that plague her she still constantly aids others in their time of need. At 91 she still continues to work with the same tenacity that saw her through every obstacle she has ever faced, all for the good of her society. Hers is a story of determination and conviction; a true warrior soul.

Kylie Minogue breaks down in interview about breast cancer

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Kylie Minogue in tears

In what is being touted her most raw and candid interview ever, Kylie Minogue opened up about her harrowing battle with breast cancer with her close friend Molly Meldrum on an Australian television program, to share her story of recovery with other women suffering with the illness.

The emotional interview, during which the diminutive singer broke down before leaving the room to recover, took place on the eve of her spectacular Aphrodite World Tour, the night which also marked her hugely significant five year, all clear mark.

Meldrum complimented Kylie on her “brave” battle with the disease, but she corrected him: ‘You might have seen the bravery. I don’t think the public saw… well, I stayed indoors.

“My family got me through really rotten, dark moments.”

Kylie Minogue in not so dark times

Kylie Minogue in not so dark times

When Meldrum referred to the moment Kylie met up with a sick child and its parents in a children’s hospital, Kylie struggled to compose herself, as tears welled up in her eyes:

“I was talking to some parents across the other side of a bed and their child was there.

“I was saying the things that I would normally say in that situation, just making conversation with the child, with the parents, giving them some support as well.

“And then, they really caught me off guard, they just eyeballed me and said, “How are you, and we hope you get through it” and it’s like…”

“The reason that that gets me is, and the greatest part of my job and what I do is the humanity of it, and there’s certain moments where that really cuts through.”

In an interview with the Herald Sun, a week earlier, Kylie said: “The five-year mark is the end of this month and I feel like I’m back

“I’ll have a few mixed emotions on the day. I wanted to do a concert but now I’m on tour myself. I don’t know what to do. Obviously, it’s going to be exciting but it’s also going to be surreal and momentous and a bit scary.

“You stop taking medication you’ve been dependent on; that’s your safety net. We’ll see … ”

One thing the feisty star does know with certainty is that she would like to have children one day, although she knows that her chances of conceiving are very slim due to the aggressive treatment she had to undergo to treat her breast cancer.

Breast cancer is the most prominent form of cancer for woman in the US and the UK, with two out of three woman surviving the disease beyond 20 years.

When asked by Spain’s Grazia magazine whether she would ever consider surrogacy or adoption, the 43-year-old pop star said: “I do think about them and I would absolutely look into those options because children and family are very important to me. It’s something in my mind.”

At the time she was hugely enamoured with Andres Velencoso, and asked whether there’d be wedding bells the star said: “I have a very special man. I might get married, you never know…”

Kylie kicked off her Aphrodite Les Folies world tour in Denmark and performed a total of 36 concerts in Europe before moving onto Asia and North America.

Kylie Minogue opens up about breast cancer

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Kylie Minogue

In her most candid interview ever, pint-sized, lovely pop star Kylie Minogue has opened up about her horrifying battle with breast cancer during an interview with Molly Meldrum on the Australian television program Sunday Night.

In the moving interview that took place the evening before the opening night of her new Aphrodite World Tour, the wee songstress broke down at one point and had to leave the room whilst she regained composure.

Close friend Meldrum complimented Minogue on her “brave” battle with the disease, but she corrected him: ‘You might have seen the bravery. I don’t think the public saw… well, I stayed indoors,” she said. And continued “My family got me through really rotten, dark moments.”

When Meldrum brought up the time Kylie met up with a sick child and its parents in a children’s hospital, Kylie struggled to compose herself, as tears welled up in her eyes:“I was talking to some parents across the other side of a bed and their child was there.

“I was saying the things that I would normally say in that situation, just making conversation with the child, with the parents, giving them some support as well.

“And then, they really caught me off guard, they just eyeballed me and said, “How are you, and we hope you get through it” and it’s like…”

“The reason that that gets me is, and the greatest part of my job and what I do is the humanity of it, and there’s certain moments where that really cuts through.”

One thing the feisty starlet does know with certainty is that she would like to have children one day, although she knows that her chances of conceiving are very slim due to the aggressive treatment she had to undergo to treat her breast cancer.

Breast cancer is the leading cancer for woman in the US and the UK, with two out of three woman surviving the disease beyond 20 years.
image: starpulse.com

10 Celebrities who battled breast cancer

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There have been many celebrity women who have had to cope with fighting breast cancer and super famous or not, all women battling the disease need our support.You know their faces and you may have heard they’ve had breast cancer. Here are their stories…

Martina Navratilova

In early 2010, tennis champion Martina Navratilova was diagnosed with an early form of breast cancer. After six weeks of radiation therapy, Martina happily reported in late September that she is cancer free.

Kylie Minogue

(Diagnosed in 2005 at age 36). It took two rounds of tests for doctors to find a cancerous lump in the Australian singer’s left breast — she was misdiagnosed the first time. She received a partial mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiation. The singer now urges women to trust their gut when they go to the doctor. “Just because someone is in a white coat and using big medical instruments doesn’t necessarily mean they’re right,” she told Ellen DeGeneres in 2007. (Health.com)

Hoda Kotb

(Diagnosed in 2007 at age 42) A routine checkup at the gynecologist turned up a lump in the NBC Today Show co-host’s breast. Kotb underwent mastectomy and reconstructive surgery in March 2007, and, she wrote in a personal essay, “The world just suddenly snapped into focus. Everything that was important became totally clear.” She said she wants to bring awareness to the disease and attention on the need for a cure. ( MSNBC)

Cynthia Nixon

(diagnosed 2006 at 40)- At first, Sex and the City star Cynthia Nixon was hesitant to reveal that a cancerous tumor had been discovered in her right breast during a routine mammogram. Nixon, best known for playing the responsible Miranda Hobbes, didn’t want her condition to become public during her treatment. “I didn’t want paparazzi at the hospital, that kind of thing,” Nixon told the New York Daily News after treating her cancer with a lumpectomy and radiation. But Nixon, whose mother also survived breast cancer, decided to tell her story when she realized it might serve as an inspiration for other women at risk.

Melissa Etheridge

(Diagnosed in 2004 at age 43) The singer found a lump in her left breast during a self-breast exam in the shower. After undergoing chemotherapy and radiation following a lumpectomy, she was inspired to write the song “I Run for Life” about her battle against breast cancer. (Health.com)

Christina Applegate

(Diagnosed in 2008 at age 36.) When the actress was diagnosed in 2008 through MRI, she decided to undergo a double mastectomy to reduce the chance that the cancer could spread or come back. Applegate, whose mother is a repeat breast cancer survivor, had breast reconstruction surgery and plans to launch a foundation for high-risk women who can’t afford MRI testing. (Health.com)

Olivia Newton-John

(Diagnosed in 1992 at age 51). When the singer and actress was first diagnosed, she considered foregoing chemotherapy in favor of alternative treatments like homepathy and acupuncture. She later said, “Common sense prevailed,” and finally had chemo after a modified radical mastectomy. She now advises those diagnosed, “Don’t go it alone,” and recalls her husband with her at the doctor’s office was better able to focus and ask questions about hte best treatment options.

Robin Roberts

(Diagnosed in 2007 at age 46). The ” Good Morning America” anchor discovered a lump while conducting a self-breast exam. After completing eight chemotherapy treatments, combined with radiation, she’s now considered cancer-free. She shared her story with viewers beginning with her diagnosis. (Health.com)

Maura Tierney

(Diagnosed in 2009 at age 44). The actress publicly said she was optimistic as to the outcome following her diagnosis. She had a breast tumor removed in the summer of 2009, and put acting on hold while she focused on her treatment. “I didn’t want that phase of my life documented on film,” she told the New York Times of her decision to drop out of the television series “Parenthood.” She returned to acting in the spring of 2010, hitting the stage for a production of “North Atlantic.”

Sheryl Crow

(Diagnosed in 2006 at age 44) A routine mammogram caught suspicious calcifications in both of the singer’s breasts in October 2006. Crow immediately went on the offensive, canceling a tour to undergo surgery and seven weeks of radiation supplemented with acupuncture and herbal teas. Crow was able to skip chemotherapy because her cancer was caught early. In 2007, she petitioned Congress to fund research into possible links between breast cancer and environmental factors. (Health.com)

Read more Personal Health, Diet Fitness stories on www.healthmeup.com

Breast Cancer: new study recommends less mammograms

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Tits out for the (medical) lads. Or maybe not.

It’s all about boobs today as according to a new study, some women should have mammograms to detect for breast cancer more frequently than others, depending on their individual profiles and genetic chances of cancer. Just as women have varying breast sizes, they also have different propensities for developing cancer and therefore each woman’s strategy should be looked at individually.

At the moment, mammograms are given based on a woman’s age rather than her potential for the ‘c’ word. In recent years, this age-based approach has been subject to controversy as health experts contended the age=mammogram approach, recommending that some women require more frequent tests than others. Meaning that some women are having more than they should and some less, under the current standard.

Healthy breasts

More complex approach to breast cancer screening could keep these and more like them happy and healthy.

The approach these health experts recommend is more complex and personalised, and involves looking at the individual risk factors of each woman independently such as breast density and her family history of cancers, along with age and lifestyle considerations.

Current protocol recommended by the medical experts and the American Cancer Society involves women having a breast screening every two years from the age of 40 onwards, regardless of whether there is a higher risk due to the patient’s family history. The Preventive Services Taskforce has previously suggested that women aged 40-49 should be screened depending on their families’ health history, and whether they are deemed personally at risk and that only women over 50 should have mammograms every two years regardless. The taskforce went on to say that the ‘over-screening’ of women deemed ‘unlikely’ to have cancer had not only a financial implication but also exposed these women to unnecessary radiation along with anxiety related to the test and its possible outcome.

Kylie Minogue battled breast cancer and won

Kylie Minogue used to be famous for her bottom, until 2005 when her boobs got jealous and went all cancer on her.

Research has shown that the denser the breast tissue, the less fat and the higher the risk of cancer. The study itself involved a computer model that was able to compare the health benefits and costs of women who had mammograms every year, against those that undertook them every two, three, four years or had never undertaken one. The computer model was also able to look at the risk factors of the individual and assumed six different outcomes such as healthy, cancer potential and, the least popular, death.

The study looked at how many additional mammograms would be necessary over a decade to prevent a single death from breast cancer in those undertaking the screening every year or less .

Doctors may choose to move to a more personal approach or they may wait for guidelines from medical organizations to be published. The new recommendation would necessitate more in depth consideration of each patient and would require more administration than the current method.

Risk factors include: genetics, diet, alcohol consumption, weight, smoking and oestrogen.

Keep breast cancer at bay with plenty of raw fruit and vegetables

Go on! Your breasts will thank you for it.

Keep your bouncers healthy with a diet low in animal protein and animal fats and high in fruits and vegetables. Is that Big Mac and milkshake really worth losing a tit for?

Celebrities who have been diagnosed with el cancer del boob include pop princess Kylie Minogue, Christina Applegate, Sheryl Crow and Charlie’s Angel Jaclyn Smith.

If you would like to make a big bouncy comment about this article, please use the big bouncy comments box below:

 

Images: self.com, lithium–x.deviantart.com, wingfantasy.com, brendadavisrd.com

 

Jennifer Aniston to direct movie about breast cancer

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Jennifer Aniston will be switching roles and this time getting behind the camera for her latest project which will see her, together with Demi Moore and Alicia Keyes, direct a collection of short films exploring the impact of breast cancer on people’s lives as part as a five-part series called Project Five.

Breast cancer is the second most common type of cancer after lung cancer and the leading cancer for woman in the US and the UK, with two out of three woman surviving the disease beyond 20 years.

“Our hope with Project Five is to entertain, inform and inspire dialogue, research and prevention. Otherwise, our goals are small,” Jennifer, who has previously directed a short film, told Us Weekly. “We want these films to move people and empower those affected by breast cancer to stand tall through this challenge, which impacts all of our lives, no matter who we are.”

The film will air on  the Lifetime channel later this year.

Read here about Kylie Minogue, who was recently given the all clear, and about her emotional interview about living with the disease.

Other celebrities who have suffered from breast cancer include:

Images: Wikimedia Commons and PR Photos

 

Kylie Minogue breaks down in emotional interview about breast cancer

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In what is being touted her most raw and candid interview to date, Kylie Minogue opened up about her harrowing battle with breast cancer with her close friend Molly Meldrum on the Australian television program Sunday Night.

The  emotional interview, which sees the singer break down at one point and leave the room to recover, took place one night before the opening night of her spectacular Aphrodite World Tour,  the night which also marked her hugely significant five year, all clear mark.

Meldrum complimented Kylie on her “brave” battle with the disease, but she corrected him: ‘You might have seen the bravery. I don’t think the public saw… well, I stayed indoors.

“My family got me through really rotten, dark moments.”

When Meldrum brought up the time Kylie met up with a sick child and its parents in a children’s hospital, Kylie struggled to compose herself, as tears welled up in her eyes:

“I was talking to some parents across the other side of a bed and their child was there.

“I was saying the things that I would normally say in that situation, just making conversation with the child, with the parents, giving them some support as well.

“And then, they really caught me off guard, they just eyeballed me and said, “How are you, and we hope you get through it” and it’s like…”

“The reason that that gets me is, and the greatest part of my job and what I do is the humanity of it, and there’s certain moments where that really cuts through.”
In an interview with the Herald Sun, a week earlier, Kylie said:“The five-year mark is the end of this month and I feel like I’m back

“I’ll have a few mixed emotions on the day. I wanted to do a concert but now I’m on tour myself. I don’t know what to do. Obviously, it’s going to be exciting but it’s also going to be surreal and momentous and a bit scary.

“You stop taking medication you’ve been dependent on; that’s your safety net. We’ll see … ”

One thing the feisty star does know with certainty is that she would like to have children one day, although she knows that her chances of conceiving are very slim due to the aggressive treatment she had to undergo to treat her breast cancer.

[adsense] Breast cancer is the leading cancer for woman in the US and the UK, with two out of three woman surviving the disease beyond 20 years.

When asked by Spain’s Grazia magazine whether she would ever consider surrogacy or adoption, the 42-year-old pop star said: “I do think about them and I would absolutely look into those options because children and family are very important to me. It’s something in my mind.”

And as to whether she plans walk down the aisle with her Spanish model boyfriend of three years, Andres Velencoso, the star said: “I have a very special man. I might get married, you never know…”Kylie kicked off her Aphrodite Les Folies world tour in Denmark last week and she will perform a total of 36 concerts in Europe before moving onto Asia and North America.

Read here about how Kylie slipped into depression after her cancer diagnosis and about her comeback.

Imahes: PR Photos and chartriggerblogspot.com

World tour: Kylie Minogue just days away from all-clear on cancer

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In just a few days Australian pop singer Kylie Minogue, currently on an extravagant and ambitious Greek mythology-themed world tour, will be celebrating the crucial all-clear after being cancer-free for five years.

“The five-year mark is the end of this month and I feel like I’m back with all guns blazing,” Minogue told the Herald Sun in Helsinki yesterday.

“I’ll have a few mixed emotions on the day. I wanted to do a concert but now I’m on tour myself. I don’t know what to do. Obviously, it’s going to be exciting but it’s also going to be surreal and momentous and a bit scary.

“You stop taking medication you’ve been dependent on; that’s your safety net. We’ll see … ”

One thing the feisty star does know with certainty is that she would like to have children one day, although she knows that her chances of conceiving are very slim due to the aggressive treatment she had to undergo to treat her breast cancer.

Breast cancer is the leading cancer for woman in the US and the UK, with two out of three woman surviving the disease beyond 20 years.

When asked by Spain’s Grazia magazine whether she would ever consider surrogacy or adoption, the 42-year-old pop star said: “I do think about them and I would absolutely look into those options because children and family are very important to me. It’s something in my mind.”

[adsense] And as to whether she plans walk down the aisle with her Spanish model boyfriend of three years, Andres Velencoso, the star said: “I have a very special man. I might get married, you never know…”

Kylie kicked off her Aphrodite Les Folies world tour in Denmark earlir this week and she will perform a total of 36 concerts in Europe before moving onto Asia and North America.

Read here about how Kylie slipped into depression after her cancer diagnosis and about her comeback.

Countless numbers of children are diagnosed with cancer every day, just like the child whose parents Kylie spoke to in this story. Parents often feel helpless when they have a child going through a serious illness like cancer, but they need to know that there are support systems available to them. The Jennifer Tresh foundation, created in honor of her daughter, reaches out to parents facing this type of situation to provide them with the help and support they need in order to be there for their child.

Imahes: PR Photos and chartriggerblogspot.com

Christina Applegate welcomes baby daughter

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Christina Applegate has been keeping fans up to date with her pregnancy on Twitter and now finally the big moment has arrived: The first time mom and her fiance, musician Martyn LeNoble, are the proud parents of a baby girl.

Just two weeks ago the Emmy-nominated actress tweeted: “Believe me, I am asking the same question ‘holy crap, is that chick still pregnant?’ It takes almost 10 months to make a person FYI.”

Well, as confirmed by the star’s rep, that little person — Sadie Grace Le Noble — made her entrance to the world on Thursday in Los Angeles. “Mother and daughter are doing great.”

“She’s a beautiful little girl, and they are so happy and in love with her,” a family friend told People, which reported in August last year that Applegate thought she would “probably be a little hippie and a little Type A” when it comes to be ing a mom. “I’ll take from my mother, who was way hippie and like ‘Do what you wanna do,’ and bring in things I know from watching my friends raise their kids.”

LeNoble, who sealed the deal on Valentine’s Day last year, was by the star’s side when Sadie was born and later announced on his Facebook that she weighed in at 7 lbs., 8 oz.

The couple have been dating for nearly three years, and it will be the second marriage for both of them. The Married…With Children star, 39,  previously split from her husband Jonathon Schaech in 2005 after four years of marriage.

Click here to read about Christina Applegate’s 2008 battle with breast cancer and her double masectomy.

Other stars expecting a baby this year include  Selma Blair,  Natalie Portman, Kate Hudson,Victoria Beckham, Penelope Cruz and Marion Cotillard.

Images: PR Photos