A tribute to young female celebrities who have used their battles with breast cancer and their fame to bring attention to the disease.
Breast cancer does not discriminate. Young or old, gay or straight, famous or not, anyone can get the disease. One in nine women will battle breast cancer in her lifetime. Famous women are in a unique position in that, often, their disease is high profile, and they have the opportunity to use their fame to raise awareness of the disease.
There are a number of famous breast cancer survivors, and many of them are under the age of 45. Some of these survivors have made huge contributions to raising awareness about breast cancer, and more importantly have focused attention on the reality that the disease can hit women in the prime of their lives. Their hard work, courage, and kick-ass attitudes cannot be ignored!
Melissa Etheridge
Etheridge went public with her fight against breast cancer in a big way, appearing on stage at the 2005 Grammy Awards after losing her hair to chemotherapy. She was 43 at the time of her diagnosis. Her Grammy appearance paved the way for people to talk openly about the disease, and the media coverage that has followed has brought a huge amount of attention to the disease.
Melissa’s fight inspired the creation of the Pink Bracelet Fund – a not-for-profit organization started by her fans to raise money for breast cancer research.
Kylie Minogue
The Australian singer was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 at the age of 37. Her age and visibility among a younger demographic has done a lot to raise awareness of the disease in women under 40. Kylie has gone through the entire gamut – from surgery to chemotherapy. Although she was out of the limelight during her treatment, she has come out the other side fighting, moving forward, and speaking candidly about her journey.
An in-depth interview with the singer can be found here http://www.skyone.co.uk/showbiz/kylie/ .
Ann Jillian
In 1985, at the age of 35, actress Ann Jillian was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy. At the time, Jillian had cemented her status as a Hollywood sex symbol, even taking on the role of the iconic Mae West for a TV movie. Rather than seeing her diagnosis as a career-ender, she instead became a voice of awareness, speaking out about cancer prevention and treatment.
Over the last 20 years, Ann has continued her advocacy, and tours extensively as a motivational speaker and lecturer. http://www.annjillian.com/
Bif Naked
Canadian punk-rocker Bif Naked announced on January 6, 2008 that she has breast cancer. Never one to back down from a fight, the 36-year-old singer is approaching her battle with the disease with a no-nonsense, take charge attitude. She is speaking out, urging women to schedule regular screenings and making a strong point that cancer is non-discriminatory, affecting even those in great health.
She plans to record and work during her treatment, and will most certainly continue to speak out about breast cancer and the impact it has had on her life. http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=6c623bb5-82d9-407a-9c47-ea36c8d975f8
Thousands of women around the world are facing breast cancer, and being famous does not exempt anyone from the disease. Celebrity status does not give a diagnosis more import, but it does provide these women with a unique opportunity to speak out. Kudos to these well-known breast cancer survivors for their bravery and candor, and their dedication to continuing the fight against a disease that affects so many.
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