Think Pinker

Christina Applegate seems to the most recent at age 36 but there have been many others.

Jill Eikenberry an LA Law star; Linda Ellerbee a journalist; Rue McClanahan from the Golden Girls sitcom; Suzanne Somers from Threes Company and author; Jaclyn Smith from Charlie’s Angels; Olivia Newton John famous singer; Kate Jackson the most famous Charlie’s Angel and she battled breast cancer twice and won; Melissa Etheridge; and Shirley Temple Black the famous childhood actress; are just a few of the women celebrities that have battled breast cancer.

There’s more … the list could go on for you see breast cancer doesn’t discriminate. It doesn’t care if you are rich or poor, a celebrity or not, race matters not, and even men aren’t exempt from this deadly disease although they don’t fall victim to it quite as often.

According to the Heraldsun.com Olivia Newton John walked for 23 days along the Great Wall of China to raise funds for a Melbourne Breast Cancer Center. And it’s wonderful that other celebrities are coming on board for the cause even though they may not have suffered from the disease.

Take pop singer Anastacia who has created the Anastacia Fund which both provides information to young women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. She has an amazing amount of resources available to help.

Anastacia has a remarkable story of her own. If it wasn’t that she was planning to have a breast reduction and was required to have a mammogram her breast cancer may not have been caught so early. The mammogram showed a small calcium spot which was confirmed as cancerous. Worse the form of cancer Anastacia had was aggressive and moving fast. As a survivor Anastacia decided to help other young women.

There’s a misconception that breast cancer is an old ladies disease, and while the majority of cases are in post-menopausal women the most aggressive and most life threatening forms are more often seen in women.

Many celebrities work hard at increasing breast cancer awareness, while others are busy raising funds and providing resources.  Star or not the diagnosis of breast cancer hits the same way and each person will react and handle their diagnosis differently. Remember if you need help there are help groups available online and in your local area.