Celebrities who have coped with cancer

The Australian singer was diagnosed with cancer when she was 36. An intensive treatment consisting of surgery and chemotherapy helped her overcome the illness. The visibility of Kylie Minogue's case led to a 40% increase in breast cancer screenings, researchers claimed in the Medical Journal of Australia. They called this phenomenon "the Kylie effect."

The actress from series like 'Beverly Hills, 90210' and 'Charmed' revealed in early 2020 that she had once again been diagnosed with cancer. Doherty has been dealing with outbreaks of the disease since 2015.

In 1995, Mr. T was diagnosed with T-cell lymphoma - what are the odds! This is a type of cancer that affects white blood cells and has a negative prognosis compared to other lymphomas.

Actress Christina Applegate was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007. She made her illness public while she was recovering from a double mastectomy. Even though she had a small tumor in one breast, she decided in agreement with her doctors that it was best to have both breasts removed as a preventive measure.

The feminist and environmentalist icon of cinema told her followers on Instagram that she has non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and is undergoing chemotherapy. Earlier in her life, she had already overcome breast cancer and coped with skin cancer, Bloomberg reported. Fonda told Vogue in 2019 that she had learned to live with the disease: "It's an ongoing process. It's there." In August 2022, she assured her Instagram followers that her six months of chemotherapy would not "interfere with my climate activism."

For the protagonist of 'Veep' and 'Seinfeld,' humor became the main ally in overcoming cancer. Julia Louis-Dreyfus was diagnosed with the illness in 2018. "I remember that when I had to undergo chemotherapy treatment, I would lock myself up with my friends to laugh non-stop. That was good for me," she told Vanity Fair. Today, the actress is still battling breast cancer.

Australian actor Hugh Jackman has undergone up to six operations for skin cancer. In 2017 he told the public about his basal cell carcinoma operation. "Thanks to frequent medical examinations and incredible doctors, everything is fine," he said on social media.

Jeff Bridges, acclaimed actor and forever known as 'The Dude' (The Big Lebowski) and Bad Blake (Crazy Heart), is suffering from lymphoma. It is a cancer of the lymphatic system, which helps the body fight germs, the Mayo Clinic states. Bridges announced his illness in October 2020 and said his prognosis was "good."

Rita Wilson was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 and she, too, underwent a double mastectomy. After breast reconstruction, the wife of Tom Hanks looks like her old self again.

"You have to be very careful when you spend a lot of time in the sun," actor Ewan McGregor told the BBC in 2008. He made this remark after a cancerous mole under his right eye had been removed.

The protagonist of the 2020 Netflix series 'Unorthodox' has had to overcome cancer in her younger years. Shira Haas, born in 1995, got kidney cancer when she was only two years old. From her second to her fifth year, the girl was being treated for the disease. This is the reason why she is a 'petite' woman; cancer hindered her growth in these important life years.

At a concert in 2019, British singer Rod Stewart announced out of the blue that he was a survivor of prostate cancer. "I'm coming out," he told the crowd according to 'The Mirror.' He added: "Guys, you've got to really go to the doctor" to get a preventive test for cancer.  "If you're positive, and you work through it and you keep a smile on your face… I've worked for two years and I've just been happy, and the good Lord looked after me."

Skin cancer has also affected Melanie Griffith. In mid-2018, the Golden Globe-winning actress told her social media followers about a second nose job. Rather than plastic surgery, it was cancer treatment. "Blindfolded again after dermabrasion, the final step in repairing the skin cell cancer that has been removed."

In 2010, the protagonist of 'Dexter' was confronted with Hodgkin's lymphoma, a type of cancer of the immune system. After a tough treatment, Hall put the disease behind him.

The Colombian actress from 'Modern Family' has revealed that, when she was 28 years old, she suffered from thyroid cancer. After early surgery and subsequent treatment, Vergara managed to beat this disease.

In 2010, actor Michael Douglas fought a battle against throat cancer. He emerged victorious after eight weeks of chemotherapy, radiation, and a weight loss of 20 kilos (44 pounds).

The actress from 'Sex and the City' and former candidate for New York governor has had several experiences with breast cancer. First, her mother suffered from the condition, and then, in 2006, a lump was found in Cynthia's breast as well. Thankfully, it was still small and could be removed. Nixon's tireless fight has become an inspiration to many people who suffer from this disease.

In 2003, the iconic Carmela Soprano was diagnosed with breast cancer. She did not tell the public about it until a year later. During rehearsals for the series last season, Falco was also undergoing chemotherapy. An act of great courage and commitment.

The singer Sheryl Crow told her experience with cancer in the prologue of the book: 'Kris Carr Crazy Sexy Cancer Tips'. The illness presented her with one of the "most difficult stages of her life," she wrote, but fortunately, the early detection of breast cancer made it treatable with a mastectomy.

In October 2014, Stiller was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Thanks to early detection, he was able to get rid of it.

Kathy Bates's family has a history of cancer. "My mother and niece had cancer; my aunt died from it," the actress recalls. In 2003, she was diagnosed with a tumor on her ovaries, and in 2012, she got breast cancer. It led to a double mastectomy.

In 1996, the American cyclist was diagnosed with cancer of the testicles and metastases in the lungs and brain. Although the prognosis was not favorable, Armstrong overcame the disease after a surgical intervention and subsequent chemotherapy.

When she was 25 years old, the actress from 'How I Met Your Mother' underwent several interventions to overcome ovarian cancer. Five years later, she told 'USA Today' that cancer had made her "a better person, a better mother, and a person capable of making better use of all the good things in life. In addition, this disease has given me a gift: to be able to be grateful to be alive and to be here to tell about it."

Robert De Niro was diagnosed in 2003 with prostate cancer. He made a full recovery thanks to early detection and adequate treatment. He is now cancer-free for nearly two decades.

The singer Anastacia has been diagnosed with breast cancer on two occasions. First at the age of 35, in 2003, and then a second time ten years later. After the second diagnosis, she underwent a double mastectomy.

Actor Mark Ruffalo, known for his role as Bruce Banner / Hulk, had a brain tumor in 2001. It was successfully removed with surgery, but Ruffalo suffered from partial paralysis of his face for a while and has been deaf in one ear to this day.

In 2002, this "Charlie's Angel" discovered a lump in one of her breasts during a routine examination. The solution was a mastectomy and radiation.

One day in 2009, under the shower, Antonio Banderas felt a bump on his back which he decided to get checked. Doctors found a tumor "the size of a fist" and removed it immediately. Banderas was so shocked by the finding and the operation that he did not tell the public about it for two years. Now he recommends to everyone: "Listen carefully to your body. Early detection can save your life."

The sensual French actress, singer, and model Brigitte Bardot remained discreet about the tumor which was removed from her body in 1983. After being cured, she became involved in the fight against cancer by becoming the godmother of Pink October for the League against Cancer in France.

Sadly, the queen of soul Aretha Franklin did not make it through pancreatic cancer that had struck her. These are the words of her representatives after her death, reported in People: "Franklin’s official cause of death was due to advance pancreatic cancer of the neuroendocrine type, which was confirmed by Franklin’s oncologist, Dr. Philip Phillips of Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit, MI."

Maggie Smith also discovered she had breast cancer while filming 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince' (2009). Fortunately, following surgery and a course of chemotherapy, she was able to beat it.

Ian McKellen, star of 'The Lord of the Rings,' admitted a few years ago that he had pancreatic cancer, from which he recovered. These are his words, as reported by the Mirror: "I've had prostate cancer for six or seven years. When you have got it you monitor it and you have to be careful it doesn't spread. But if it is contained in the prostate it's no big deal."

Kate Walsh, the woman who gave life to Addison Montgomery in the hit TV series 'Grey's Anatomy,' had a brain tumor in January 2015. Fortunately, it was benign and was removed. She told Cosmopolitan that as scary as it was, once she found out she was in a robotic mode. However, she was relieved because she knew she was going to be operated on by one of the most amazing surgeons in the world.

The celebrated actress, who starred in 'Annie Hall' (1977) and 'The First Wives Club' (1996), had basal cell carcinoma at the age of 21.

According to reports in People, Dustin Hoffman 2013 was stricken with throat cancer. His representative, Jodi Gottlieb, stated at the time, "It was detected early and he has been surgically cured. Dustin is feeling great and is in good health."