Warrior Rancic: Celebrity Battles With Breast Cancer Raising Awareness

Entertainment reporter and reality television star Giuliana Rancic announced last Monday that she was diagnosed with breast cancer. After undergoing a mammogram for her third in vitro fertilization attempt, she found out that she was in the early stages of breast cancer. Last Thursday she underwent a successful double lumpectomy which will be followed up by six weeks of radiation therapy.

Rancic and her husband Bill have a reality TV show which, among other things, has chronicled their multiple attempts at trying to have a baby. She was informed by her IVF doctor that precautionary measures needed to be taken before the third round of IVF, because the injected hormones would speed up any growth of cancer. What she thought was just another check mark on the list of to-dos turned out to be a shocking discovery; she would have to put her pregnancy attempts on hold while she battled breast cancer.

Although she did not divulge what specific type of breast cancer she had, she emphasized the importance of early screening. Being only 36-years-old and having no family history of breast cancer, the IVF hoop-jumping most likely saved her life.

Rancic has said that she is ready to get back to work and as of this past Monday, showed that she meant it. Viewers were excited to see her back alongside co-host Ryan Seacrest at the E! news desk where she thanked her husband, her co-workers, and fans for all their support. To the fans, she specifically tweeted, “THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for your love & support this past week. Your words got me through this more than you’ll ever know.”

Giuliana Rancic is not the first well-known face to have battled breast cancer. In recent years, there have been a number of celebrities who have heard this heartbreaking diagnosis and still come out on top. Just last month, comedian Wanda Sykes revealed that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy.

In 2008, actress Christina Applegate shared that she received this diagnosis – also at 36 – and had a bilateral mastectomy instead of chemotherapy or radiation.

Musical artists Melissa Etheridge, Kylie Minogue, and Sheryl Crow, actress Cynthia Nixon, and Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts have also battled the disease.

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women and the American Cancer Society recommends that women age 40 years and older have a mammogram every year. Women under 40 should still be just as proactive with their self exams (and overall self awareness), but are not recommended to have mammograms as often as their over 40 counter parts unless they have a history of cancer in their family.

“I still have a long road ahead,” Rancic told her E! audience, “but thanks to everyone’s overwhelming love, support and prayers, it will be an easier journey.” A journey that millions of women can attest, she does not have to travel alone.

- Jordan Lints

Share

Related posts:
Comments
October 28th, 2011 | Mara | Comments Off |