20 Celebrities You didn’t Know Had Cancer

61st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards - Arrivals

In the United States alone, there are more than 13 million people who are battling cancer.  Coming in many different forms, the disease strikes people without discrimination, and sometimes without warning.  Even the biggest celebrities in the world can’t, with all of their access to modern medicine, can’t always avoid the horrible disease.  Over the years, countless celebrities have been diagnosed with various forms of cancer, and unfortunately, some were not able to survive the disease.  But each year, there are many celebrities who are able to successfully fight the disease, some of whom choose to keep their battles out of the public eye as much as possible.  Here are 20 celebrities you didn’t know had cancer.

(Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Anchorman 2 Premiere, Sponsored By Buffalo David Bitton

Christina Applegate

Christina Applegate rose to fame during the late 80s as a cast member on the sitcom, Married…with Children.  In 2008, it was reported that Applegate had been diagnosed with breast cancer.  Fortunately, she was diagnosed at a very early stage and was able to be treated effectively. After her diagnoses, Applegate stated: “I was just shaking and then also immediately, I had to go into ‘take-care-of-business-mode’ which included a change to a more healthy diet.”

 (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for Buffalo David Bitton)

41st Annual NAACP Image Awards Nomination Announcement

Wanda Sykes

Comedian Wanda Sykes is all about a good laugh.  However, things weren’t so funny when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.  Upon her diagnoses, Sykes decided to undergo a double mastectomy in an order to raise her chances of survival.  According to Sykes, “I made my decision because I love life.”  Since her procedure, Sykes says that she is finally feeling “whole” again.

 (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images)

Jackman Furness Foundation Launch

Hugh Jackman

Tony Award winning actor, Hugh Jackman, has been a big advocate for sunscreen since being diagnosed with skin cancer.  After his diagnoses, Jackman was treated several times for the disease.  During an interview, Jackman said, “…I don’t remember ever being told to put sunscreen on. But the beauty of this is it’s all preventable, it’s just about getting proper check-ups. I can be typical man, a little lazy, I couldn’t be bothered and now I’m not lazy at all.”

(Photo by Stefan Gosatti/Getty Images)

Affinity Real Estate Shooting Stars First Round

Richard Roundtree

Richard Roundtree rose to fame during the 70s for his role as Shaft, the baddest mother (shut your mouth) on the planet. Unfortunately, off-screen, Roundtree wasn’t as invincible as the character he was known to portray.  In 1993, Roundtree was diagnosed with cancer.  For nearly five years, Roundtree kept the diagnosis to himself. Since then, he has worked hard to bring awareness to the fact that men can suffer from breast cancer as well.

(Photo by Getty Images for Shooting Stars Benefit)

CNN Worldwide All-Star 2014 Winter TCA Party

Dr. Drew

Radio and talk show host, Dr. Drew, is well-known for dispensing advice to people in need.  Whether hosting a reunion show or his own talk show, Dr. Drew has become somewhat of a fixture on reality TV without being a reality TV star.  In 2013, Dr. Drew revealed that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer, noting that he had to undergo surgery to save his life.

 (Photo by Angela Weiss/Getty Images)

Premiere of HBO's "Luck" - Red Carpet

Dustin Hoffman

Dustin Hoffman is one of the most legendary actors of his generation.  He is well-known for his role in films such as Rain Man and Kramer vs. Kramer.  In 2013, reports stated that Hoffman had been suffering from early stages of cancer, but was ‘cured’ after undergoing surgery.

(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Television Academy Presents An Evening With The Women Of "American Horror Story" - Arrivals

Kathy Bates

Kathy Bates has been very successful over the course of her career. Not only has she worked with some of the biggest names in the industry, but she has become one of the biggest names in the industry.  Sadly, Bates was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2003, and 12 years later she was also diagnosed with breast cancer.  In order to treat the cancer aggressively and to be proactive, Bates underwent a double mastectomy.

 (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)

2014 National Board Of Review Awards Gala - Outside Arrivals

Edie Falco

Edie Falco is well-known for her role on HBO’s Oz and The Sopranos.  In 2003, Falco was diagnosed with cancer; however, she did not reveal the news to the public until 2004. Falco was able to successfully battle the illness, and said that it has helped her form healthier lifestyle habits.

 (Photo by Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images)

Giuliana Rancic

Giuliana Rancic is well-known for her work on the E! network, including her role as a co-host on the show, Fashion Police. In 2011, Rancic announced that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer.  During an interview, Rancic who has been struggling to get pregnant, revealed that a pregnancy could have been actually caused her cancer to progress.

(Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

NASHVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 09: Scott Hamilton and Sheryl Crow attend the Feeding America Kick Off for Hunger Action Month at the Second Harvest Food Bank Of Middle Tennessee on September 9, 2014 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Feeding America)

Scott Hamilton

Retired Olympic figure skater, Scott Hamilton, was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 1997.  However, within a year, Hamilton made a triumphant return to the ice, and all seemed well.  Unfortunately, in 2005, reports began to surface indicated that Hamilton may be suffering from cancer again.

(Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Feeding America)

Comic-Con International 2012 - Showtime's "Dexter" Red Carpet Photo Op

Michael C. Hall

Michael C. Hall is best-known for his role as the title character on the Showtime series, Dexter.  In 2010, Hall revealed that he had been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and was undergoing treatment at the time.  Fortunately, the cancer was found in its very early stages which made it much more treatable.

(Photo by Alexandra Wyman/Getty Images)

'Behind The Candelabra' Photocall - The 66th Annual Cannes Film Festival

Michael Douglas

Academy Award winner Michael Douglas, has found a lot of success in front of the camera.  However, despite his star power, Douglas was brought back to reality in 2010 when he was diagnosed with cancer.  Initially believed to be suffering from throat cancer, it was later revealed that Douglas had stage four tongue cancer. Despite the severity of his illness, doctors worked aggressively and were able to treat Douglas successfully.

(Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)

42nd AFI Life Achievement Award Honoring Jane Fonda - Arrivals

Jane Fonda

Actress and workout queen, Jane Fonda, has worked hard to live a very healthy lifestyle.  Unfortunately, even her best efforts couldn’t keep sickness away. In 2010, at 72 years-old, doctors found a cancerous tumor in Fonda’s breast tissue.  Luckily, they were able to remove the tumor with surgery, and Fonda was given the okay shortly after the procedure.

 (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images for AFI)

"New Year's Eve" New York Premiere - Outside Arrivals

Robert DeNiro

Robert DeNiro is a Hollywood legend.  Due to his role in films such as The Godfather, DeNiro has built an untouchable image. However, in 2003, DeNiro proved to be well within reach when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.  Fortunately, the cancer was dedicated early, and DeNiro was in otherwise perfect help, making it easier for doctors to treat him successfully.

(Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images)

61st Berlin Film Festival - 'Sing Your Song' Premiere

Harry Belafonte

Harry Belafonte has been in the entertainment industry for more than 50 years. Over the course of his career, he has become one of the most beloved figures for his work as both an entertainer and an activist.  In 1996, Belafonte was diagnosed with prostate cancer and treated immediately.  Since then, he has worked hard to raise awareness to the disease.

(Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

39th Annual Gracie Awards - Red Carpet

Brooke Burke

Dancing with the Stars winner, Brooke Burke, was faced with a completely new challenge when she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2012. Fortunately, just a month after the diagnoses, Burke revealed that she was cancer free.

(Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

2014 Winter TCA Tour - Day 1

Pam Grier

During the 70s, Pam Grier was the foxiest lady around.  She rose to fame for her role in films such as Coffy and Foxy Brown where she played tough; no-nonsense characters.  Fortunately for Grier, she’s just as tough in real life. While in her late 30s, Grier was diagnosed with cervical cancer which she fought successfully.  Several years later, Grier was also diagnosed with breast cancer. She again rose above cancer, and credited her return to health with the help of Chinese medicine.

(Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

67th Locarno Film Festival - Day 2

Melanine Griffith

Award winning actress Melanie Griffith rose to fame in 184 for her role in the film, Body Double. In 2009, the actress, who also suffers from substance abuse issues, was diagnosed with skin cancer shortly after leaving rehab.   Griffith kept her illness under wrap until she appeared in public with a black eye after undergoing surgery.

(Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images)

2010 AFTRA AMEE Awards - Show

Don Imus

Shock jock, Don Imus, shared that he had prostate cancer in 2009.  Imus said that he was very surprised by the diagnoses but was prepared to fight it. Unfortunately, his bad reputation still didn’t leave him with a lot of friends.  During his announcement, Imus also stated: “I’m changing the name of the Imus Cattle Ranch for Kids with Cancer to the Imus Cattle Ranch for Kids with Cancer — and me.”  Unfortunately; however, Imus put his ranch on the market in 2014.

(Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for AFTRA)

The BRIT Awards 2014 - Red Carpet Arrivals

Kylie Minogue

In 2005, actress/singer, Kylie Minogue, was forced to cancel her tour when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.  During an interview, Minogue stated, “I know I have strength but when you’re fighting something where there is a lot of unknown it’s a mixture, a mixture of emotions and memories…”

 (Photo by Anthony Harvey/Getty Images)

Save

Similar Posts