Shock, rebellion, denial, despair – these are the feelings which both regular women and celebrities encounter while fighting breast cancer. Here are the stories of several stars whose existence has been marked by the disease:
Anastacia was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 29 in January 2003. Because of the fact that the disease was discovered in the early stage the chances of recovery were higher.



After healing, Anastacia founded the Breast Cancer Research Fund.  Kylie Minogue began the fight against this life-threatening disease at 36 years.  In May 2005, she abruptly canceled a tour to Australia after discovering she has cancer. A after an emergency surgery in Australia, Kylie has followed a chemotherapy treatment in France at the Institut Gustave Roussy in Villejuif.



Sheryl Crow was diagnosed with cancer in an early stage in February 2006. Now the singer has fortunately managed a full recovery.  Jaclyn Smith, the star of Charlie's Angels has found that she has breast cancer in 2002 after a routine check.  Suzanne Somers, actress and writer, refused to be treated by classical method and opted for an alternative therapy that brought healing.

Famous singer Olivia Newton John was diagnosed with cancer in 1992 and suffered a mastectomy and a reconstruction of the breast. The well known interpret of Kelly Bundy from Married with Children, Christina Applegate, was also one of the most famous celebrities that had breast cancer.

"Christina Applegate was diagnosed with an early form of breast cancer," "Because of the tests, the cancer was detected in an early stage and so it is not a lethal threat." the journalists added. It was announced that the star was aligned with other celebrities to be part of the "Stand Up for Cancer” campaign to warn everybody about the dangers of this disease. The actress received medical attention at the age of 36 and eventually won the battle against cancer.

Shirley Temple received a mastectomy in 1972 after finding a cancerous lump.  Betty Ford, wife of former U.S. President Gerald R. Ford was diagnosed with breast cancer just weeks after becoming the first lady of the USA. (September 28, 1974). In an interview with Time magazine Betty Ford said: "When other ordinary women are diagnosed with cancer no one writes about them on the first page. My experience will make other women aware that this disease knows no position in society. I am sure that making my condition public will save at least one life! " Following this awareness campaigns for women on breast cancer risk by Happy Rockefeller, wife of Vice President Nelson Rockefeller has also had a mastectomy.



Linda McCartney was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1995 but her condition worsened because she was also affected by liver cancer. Linda McCartney died three years later (April 17, 1998) at 56 years in Tucson, Arizona. Ingrid Bergman unfortunately died in 1982 after an exhausting battle with breast cancer. These are only a few cases of celebrities who have, unfortunately, encountered this life-threatening disease. Just like them, thousands of women battle with this disease that, if untreated, may become lethal.