1. Carly Simon
Singer, songwriter, musician, and children’s author, Carly Simon, was treated for breast cancer between 1997 and 1998 with a mastectomy, reconstructive surgery, and chemotherapy. However, Carly stated at the time that she regretted not being treated earlier as she had been aware of a lump for years before seeking help.
2. Christina Applegate
Actress Christina Applegate is the daughter of a breast cancer survivor and when doctors told her she had cancer in one of her breasts, she decided to act immediately. Christina Applegate adopted an healthy diet, and underwent a double mastectomy to avoid further complications. The actress went on to became an advocate for breast cancer, participating in charity events to raise funding for breast cancer education and research.
3. Cynthia Nixon
Cynthia Nixon, who became a household name after starring as Mirando in Sex and the City for six years, has dealt with breast cancer privately. She feared the stigma related to the disease, but two years after being treated, Cynthia Nixon publicly acknowledged she went through breast cancer and became an activist.
4. Dame Maggie Smith
The 73-year-old actress Dame Maggie Smith suffered from breast cancer while filming the sixth Harry Potter movie. It was 2008, and the Professor McGonagall actress insisted on continuing filming Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince while she had the tumor removed and underwent chemotherapy and radiation therapy treatments.
5. Gloria Steinem
Gloria Steinem is among the most prominent voices of the women’s liberation movement and she was diagnosed in 1986 with breast cancer. While dealing with the disease, Gloria Steinem continued to inspire others through her speeches and writings, as well getting involved in politics.
6. Giuliana Rancic
The face of E! channel, Giuliana Rancid also suffered with the burden of breast cancer. She was trying to get pregnant and going through in vitro fertilization treatments when she was diagnosed in 2011. After the diagnosis, Giuliana Rancid was submitted to a double lumpectomy, radiation treatment and a double mastectomy. After a year, the entertainer returned to work and ended up having a baby via a gestational carrier.