Surviving Breast Cancer: How Hollywood's Biggest Star's Navigated Their Own Battles With the Disease

When it comes to breast cancer, rich and famous celebrities experience the same tears and fears as anyone else. Every year, breast cancer accounts for about 30 percent of all new cancer cases in U.S. women. Many of our favorite Hollywood stars like Olivia Newton-John, Kelly Preston and Suzanne Somers fought hard but ultimately lost the battle.

Here are a few of the brave survivors, and some of the things they’ve learned while going to war with the disease.

Hoda Kotb was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007 after her gynecologist felt a suspicious lump in her breast during a routine checkup. She had a mastectomy and now credits her diagnosis as a wake-up call that ultimately led to motherhood when she adopted her two daughters, Haley, 7, and Hope, 4. “I’m not wasting one more minute,” she vowed.

The journalist, 59, said, “My illness empowered me in a way I didn’t expect … It gave me courage."

During her teenage years, Christina Applegate lit up the small screen as Kelly Bundy on the hit sitcom Married with Children. After 11 hilarious seasons, Applegate’s career branched out to the big screen and Broadway. Then, in April 2008, at 36 years old, Applegate was diagnosed with breast cancer. Doctors explained the cancer was only in her left breast, and thankfully, they caught it at an early stage.

Then, she received more life-changing news. A test for the BRCA gene — also known as the “breast cancer gene” — came back positive. Applegate was given two options. Go forward with radiation treatments and continue testing for the rest of her life or have both breasts removed. She made the dramatic decision to have a double mastectomy: “I was just going to let them go." Since then, the beloved actress has been diagnosed with and is going through multiple sclerosis.

"At the end of the day, none of it matters but your own joy, your own spiritual journey that you go on, God, your loved ones, your friends, your animals,” said Applegate, 52. “These are the things you’ve got to cherish and love and embrace.”

Kathy Bates, 76, has survived both ovarian cancer and breast cancer. After her mastectomy, she opted out of breast reconstruction, stating: “I’ve joined the ranks of women who are going flat, as they say. I don’t have breasts — so why do I have to pretend like I do? That stuff isn’t important.”

Jaclyn Smith was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002. She underwent a lumpectomy and eight weeks of radiation. The Charlie's Angels star, 78, is in remission now and participates in programs that support women with breast cancer.

"Once I educated myself and took the long walk into fear, I started to come around and gain strength,” she said. “It changes you forever. But it can be a positive change … it makes you enjoy every moment."

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, 63, announced on September 28, 2017, she’d been diagnosed with breast cancer, just 11 days after receiving an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her role in the show Veep.

She said, “One in eight women get breast cancer. Today, I’m the one.”

The mom of two — married to actor Brad Hall — added, “I was to-my-bones terrified.”

She used the healing powers of laughter to help her through her treatments. “When I was getting my chemotherapy, I’d cram a bunch of friends and family into the tiny treatment room with me. We really did have some great laughs."