List of people with breast cancer

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Actress Greta Garbo was a breast cancer patient

This list of notable people with breast cancer includes people who made significant contributions to their chosen field and who were diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lives, as confirmed by public information. Diagnosis dates are listed where the information is known.

According to the United States National Cancer Institute, an estimated 192,370 new cases and 40,170 deaths (women only) would occur in the United States in 2009.[1]

Acting[]

Name Life Comments Diagnosis Reference
Dame Eileen Atkins (1934 – present) British actress diagnosed in 1995 at age 61 [5]
Allyce Beasley (1954 – present) American actress diagnosed in 1998 at 44 [6]
Aisha Bicknell (1971–present) Daughter of British actress Rita Tushingham diagnosed in April 2005 at age 33 [7]
Shirley Temple Black (1926–2014) American child star and U.S. Ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia; died at 85 of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease diagnosed in 1972 at age 46 [8]
Carina Bleeth (1942–1989) Mother of American actress Yasmine Bleeth; died of inflammatory breast cancer at age 47 diagnosed in 1988 at age 46 [9]
Diahann Carroll (1935–2019) American Oscar-nominated actress and singer diagnosed in 1998 at age 63 [10]
Bette Davis (1908–1989) American Oscar-winning actress; died at age 81 diagnosed in 1983 at age 75 [11]
Ruby Dee (1922–2014) American Oscar-nominated actress; died in 2014 from natural causes diagnosed in the 1970s [12]
Shannen Doherty (1971–present) American Saturn-nominated actress diagnosed in 2015 at age 44
Diana Douglas (1923–2015) British-American actress; first wife of American actor Kirk Douglas and mother of American actor Michael Douglas diagnosed in mid-1990s; died of an undisclosed form of cancer in 2015, aged 92 [13]
Jill Eikenberry (1947–present) American actress diagnosed in 1986 at age 39 [14]
Belinda Emmett (1974–2006) Australian actress; had a recurrence in 2001; died November 11, 2006, at age 32 diagnosed in 1998 at age 24 [2]
Edie Falco (1963–present) American actress diagnosed in 2003 at age 40 [15]
Kay Francis (1905–1968) American actress; died at age 63 diagnosed in 1966 at age 61 [16]
Maria Friedman (1960–present) British actress diagnosed in 2005 at age 45 [17]
Helen Gahagan (1900–1980) American actress and politician; wife of actor Melvyn Douglas; died at age 80 diagnosed in 1972 at age 72; recurred in 1976 [18]
Greta Garbo (1905–1990) Swedish-American Oscar-nominated actress; survived breast cancer following a double mastectomy; cause of death was kidney and stomach failure and pneumonia; died in 1990 at age 84 diagnosed in 1984 at age 79 [19]
Paulette Goddard (1910–1990) American Oscar-nominated actress; survived breast cancer, but died at age 79 following a brief battle with emphysema diagnosed in 1975 at age 65 [20]
Florence Halop (1923–1986) American actress; died at age 63 [21]
Sheila Hancock (1933–present) British actress diagnosed in 1987 at age 54 [22]
Julie Harris (1925-2013) American Oscar-nominated actress diagnosed in 1981 at age 56 [23][dead link]
Marica Hase (1981–present) Japanese adult actress diagnosed in 2018 at age 37 [citation needed]
Jill Ireland (1936–1990) British actress, wife of American actor Charles Bronson; died at age 54 diagnosed in 1984 at age 48 [24]
Kate Jackson (1948–present) American actress; survived a recurrence in 1989 at age 41 diagnosed in 1987 at age 39 [25]
Ann Jillian (1950–present) American actress and entertainer diagnosed in 1985 at age 35 [26]
Jennifer Jones (1919–2009) American Oscar-winning actress survivor; died at age 90 from natural causes [27]
Susan Ryan Jordan (1939–present) Mother of American actress Meg Ryan; as of March 2006, Jordan is a 27-year survivor diagnosed in 1979 At the age of 40 [28]
Myrna Loy (1905–1993) American actress; had mastectomies in 1975 and 1979, but died during surgery for undisclosed causes; died at age 88 diagnosed in 1975 at age 70
Rue McClanahan (1934–2010) American actress diagnosed in 1997 at age 63; died in 2010 after suffering a stroke and a subsequent brain hemorrhage [29]
Amanda Mealing (1967–present) British actress diagnosed in August 2002 at age 35 [30]
Shelley Morrison (1936–2019) American actress; had a recurrence in 1998 and is currently battling breast cancer; also battled lung cancer diagnosed in 1988 at age 52 [31]
Kitten Natividad (1948–present) Mexican actress diagnosed in 1999 at age 51
Alla Nazimova (1879–1945) Russian-born American actress; survived breast cancer, but died due to a coronary thrombosis at age 66 diagnosed in 1936 at age 57 [32]
Phyllis Newman (1933–2019) American actress and singer, widow of American playwright Adolph Green diagnosed in 1983 at age 50 [33]
Cynthia Nixon (1966–present) American actress diagnosed in 2006 at age 40 [34]
Tig Notaro (1971 – present) American comedian and actress diagnosed in 2012 at 41 [35]
Roseann Murtha O'Donnell (1934 - 1973) Mother of American actress and comedian Rosie O'Donnell; died at age 38 [36]
Patrícia Pillar (1964–present) Brazilian actress
Nancy Priddy (1941–present) Actress, singer and songwriter; mother of American actress Christina Applegate diagnosed in 1978; recurrence in 1986 [37]
Lynn Redgrave (1943–2010) British-American Oscar-nominated actress diagnosed in 2002 at age 59, died in 2010 at age 67 [38]
Wendy Richard (1943–2009) British actress; had a recurrence in 2002 at age 59, third recurrence in 2008 which had mestasized; died in 2009 diagnosed in 1995 at age 52 [39][3]
Richard Roundtree (1942–present) American actor diagnosed in 1993 at age 51 [40]
Jaclyn Smith (1947–present) American actress and businesswoman diagnosed in 2002 at age 55 [41]
Dame Maggie Smith (1934–present) British Oscar-winning actress diagnosed in 2008 at age 74[citation needed]
Suzanne Somers (1946–present) American actress and businesswoman diagnosed in 2001 at age 55 [42]
Koo Stark (1956–present) American soft-porn actress who had a controversial relationship with United Kingdom's Prince Andrew; founded Keep A Breast cancer organization diagnosed in 2002 at age 46 [43] Archived 2008-05-12 at the Wayback Machine
Gloria Stuart (1910–2010) American Oscar-nominated actress diagnosed circa 1982 died in 2010 at 100 [44]
Stephanie Swift (1972–present) American pornographic film actress and 2006 AVN Hall of Fame inductee diagnosed in 2009 at age 37 [45]
Marcia Wallace (1942–2013) American actress diagnosed in 1985 at age 43 [46]
Yoshiko Tanaka (1956–2011) Japanese actress, member of Candies diagnosed in 1992 at age 37; died at age 55 in 2011 [47]

Business[]

Name Life Comments Diagnosis Reference
Generosa Ammon (1956–2003) Widow of murdered American businessman and multimillionaire Ted Ammon; died at age 47 diagnosed in 2002 at age 46 [48]
Mary-Ellis Bunim (1946–2004) American film/TV producer; died at age 57 diagnosed in 1995 at age 48 [49]
Ruth Mosko Handler (1916–2002) American creator of Barbie and Nearly Me prosthetics; she survived breast cancer in the 1970s but died following colon cancer surgery; died at age 85 diagnosed in 1970 at age 54 [50]
Kathy Keeton (1939–1997) American Penthouse publisher and wife of Penthouse publisher Bob Guccione; died during surgery from complications after refusing chemotherapy and treating herself with hydrazine sulfate; died at age 58 diagnosed in 1995 at age 56 [51]
Helen Gorman Kushnick (1945–1996) American talent agent and television producer; died at age 51 diagnosed in 1987 at age 42 [4]
Hala Moddelmog (1956–present) American president and CEO of Susan G. Komen for the Cure diagnosed in 2001 at age 45 [52][5]
Gloria Steinem (1934–present) American founder of Ms. magazine, journalist, feminist and activist; stepmother of British actor Christian Bale diagnosed in 1986 at age 52 [53]

Miscellaneous[]

Name Life Comments Diagnosis Reference
Judi Bari (1949–1997) American environmentalist and labor leader; died at age 47 [54]
Jami Bernard (1956–present) American author and film critic for the New York Daily News diagnosed in 1996 at age 40 [55]
Nancy Brinker (1946–present) American breast cancer activist and founder of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, in honor of her sister diagnosed in 1984 at age 37 [56][6]
Rose Chan (1925–1987) Chinese-born "Queen of Striptease" exotic dancer; died at age 62 diagnosed in 1980 at age 55 [57]
Judith Campbell Exner (1934–1999) John F. Kennedy relationship-related American celebrity; died at age 65 diagnosed in 1978 at age 44 [58]
Sandra Feldman (1940–2005) former president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT); died at age 65 diagnosed in 2002 at age 62 [59]
Syvilla Fort (1917–1975) African-American dancer and choreographer; died at age 58 [60]
Fannie Lou Hamer (1917–1977) African-American anti-segregation activist; died at age 59 diagnosed in 1976 at age 58 [61]
Jean Keene (1923–2009) the "Eagle Lady" of Homer, Alaska, famous for feeding 200-300 bald eagle daily during winter and early spring months for over 30 years diagnosed in winter 1994 at age 71; underwent mastectomy; died of a respiratory illness in 2009, aged 85.
Susan G. Komen (1944–1980) American breast cancer activist; sister of Nancy Brinker; died at age 36; namesake of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization diagnosed in 1977 at age 33 [62][6][7]
Juliette Gordon Low (1860–1927) American founder of Girl Scouts of the USA; died at age 67 diagnosed in 1923 at age 63 [63]
Karin Spaink (1957–present) Dutch journalist, social critic, and feminist diagnosed at age 48 in 2006 [64]
Athena Starwoman (1945 - 2004) world-famous astrologer, columnist for Vogue and Woman's Day; TV commentator; died in her mid-50s [65]
Lynne Stewart (1939–2017) American lawyer and activist diagnosed in 2005 at age 66 [66]
Jane Tomlinson (1964–2007) British cancer fundraiser diagnosed in 1991 with a recurrence in 2000 at age 36; died in 2007 [67]
Henny van Andel-Schipper (1890–2005) Netherlands'-born world's oldest person; died at age 115 diagnosed in 1990 at age 100 [68]

Music[]

Name Life Comments Diagnosis Reference
Anastacia (1968–present) American popular singer diagnosed in 2003 at age 34 [69]
Anita Doth (1971–Present) Popular Eurodance singer who was part of the Dutch duo 2 Unlimited diagnosed in 2009 at age 37 [70]
Doris Coley (1941–2000) African-American singer (one of The Shirelles); died at age 58 [71]
Linda Creed (1949–1986) American songwriter; died at age 37 diagnosed at age 26 in 1975 [72]
Peter Criss (1945–present) American former-drummer of Kiss diagnosed at age 62 in 2008 [73]
Sheryl Crow (1962–present) American singer/musician, who, as of February 24, 2006, is being treated for breast cancer diagnosed in 2006 at age 44 [74]
Melissa Etheridge (1961–present) American singer/songwriter and prominent lesbian; her grandmother and aunt died due to breast cancer diagnosed in 2004 at age 43 [75]
Marianne Faithfull (1946–present) British singer/actress, Mick Jagger's ex-girlfriend diagnosed in 2006 at age 59 [76]
Kathleen Ferrier (1912–1953) English contralto diagnosed in 1951 at age 38
Yamila Cuevas Gharib (1941–1992) mother of Colombian-Lebanese U.S. singer/songwriter, Soraya; died in 1992 when Soraya was 22 years old diagnosed in 1982 [77]
Nanci Griffith (1953–2021) American singer/songwriter diagnosed in 1996 at age 43 [78]
Sarah Harding (1981–2021) English singer, model and actress diagnosed in 2020 at age 38 [8]
Marsha Hunt (1946–present) African-American singer, novelist, breast cancer activist and mother of Mick Jagger's first child, Karis Jagger diagnosed in 2004 at age 58
Irene Kral (1932–1978) African-American jazz singer; died at age 46 diagnosed in 1972 at age 40 [79]
Lorraine Hunt Lieberson (1954–2006) American opera singer; died at age 52; in 2000 her younger sister Alexis also died due to breast cancer diagnosed in 2000 at age 46 [80][9]
Lady Linda McCartney (1941–1998) American singer, activist, wife of British former Beatles member, Sir Paul McCartney; died at age 56 diagnosed in 1995 at age 56 [81]
Kylie Minogue (1968–present) Australian singer sister of pop superstar Dannii Minogue, actress diagnosed in 2005 at age 36 [82]
Anna Moffo (1932–2006) Italian-American singer and operatic soprano who died from a stroke after grappling with complications of breast cancer for a decade; died at age 73 or 75 diagnosed in 1996 at age 64 [83]
Charlotte Moorman (1933–1991) American cellist and performance artist; died at age 57 diagnosed in the late 1970s in her 40s [84]
Olivia Newton-John (1948–present) UK/Australian singer/actress diagnosed in 1992 at age 44 [85]
Linda Nolan (1959–present) Irish-born singer, actress and former member of the 1970s pop band, The Nolans diagnosed in 2006 at age 46 [86]
Minnie Pearl (1912–1996) born Sarah Ophelia Colley, American Grand Ole Opry star, country comic, singer and philanthropist who survived breast cancer but died in 1996 of complications from a stroke; died at age 83 diagnosed in 1985 at age 73 [87]
Minnie Riperton (1947–1979) American singer-songwriter diagnosed in 1976 at age 29 [88]
Carly Simon (1945–present) American singer diagnosed in 1998 at age 53 [89]
Soraya (1969–2006) (full-name Soraya Raquel Lamilla Cuevas), Colombian-American singer/songwriter and breast cancer advocate; her mother, aunt, and grandmother also died due to breast cancer; died at age 37 diagnosed in 2000 at age 31 [90][10]
Dusty Springfield (1939–1999) British songwriter/singer; died at age 59 diagnosed in 1994 at age 54 [91]
Ruth Ann Swenson (1963–present) American soprano opera star diagnosed in 2006 at age 43 [92]
Jools Topp (1958–present) New Zealand folk singer; one of the Topp Twins diagnosed in 2006 at age 48 [93]
Dawn Upshaw (1960–present) American operatic soprano diva diagnosed in 2006 at age 46 [94]

Politics and government[]

Name Life Comments Diagnosis Reference
Bella Abzug (1920–1998) American politician, lawyer and women's movement leader; battled breast cancer for years before developing heart disease, which claimed her life; it was never publicly disclosed if the cancer had metastasized; died at age 77 diagnosed in 1994 at age 73 [95]
Barbara Allen (19?? - present) American politician, Kansas State Senator diagnosed in 2005 [96][11]
Rose Bird (1936–1999) first female Chief Justice of California; died at age 63 diagnosed in 1976 at age 40 [97]
Edward Brooke (1919–2015) male African-American former U.S. Senator of Massachusetts diagnosed in 2002 at age 83 [98]
Robin Carnahan (1961–present) American politician, Missouri Secretary of State diagnosed in 2006 [99]
Mary Jo Codey (1955–present) former First Lady of New Jersey, school teacher and wife of former Governor of New Jersey Richard Codey; Mary Jo's mother died due to breast cancer diagnosed in 2002 at age 47 [100]
Nellie Connally (1919–2006) American wife of former Texas Governor John Connally; survived breast cancer and died of natural causes at age 87; established the Nellie B. Connally Breast Cancer Fund in 1989 diagnosed in 1988 at age 69 [101][12]
Margaret Daley (1943 - 2011) wife and First Lady of American politician, Chicago, Illinois Mayor Richard M. Daley diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in 2002 [102]
Jo Ann Davis (1950–2007) American politician, United States Representative (R-VA) diagnosed in September 2005 at age 55 [103]
Peggy Duff (1910–1981) British political activist and organiser of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament; died at age 71 [104]
Eileen Dugan (1945–1996) American politician; Brooklyn, New York State Assemblywoman; died at age 51 diagnosed in 1992 at age 37 [105]
Elizabeth Anania Edwards (1949–2010) American lawyer; wife of former U.S. Senator from North Carolina John Edwards diagnosed in 2004 at age 55 [106]
Margaret Ewing (1945–2006) Scottish National Party politician and Member of the Scottish Parliament and wife of fellow MSP Fergus Ewing; died at age 60 diagnosed in 2002 at age 57 [107]
Betty Ford (1918–2011) former First Lady of the United States, founder of the Betty Ford Center and wife of former President Gerald Ford diagnosed in 1974 at age 56 [108]
Bea Gaddy (1933–2001) African-American Baltimore City Council member and advocate for the poor; recurrence in 2001 at age 68; died at age 68 diagnosed in 1998 at age 65 [109][13]
Megan Lloyd George (1902–1966) British politician, daughter of Prime Minister David Lloyd George; died at age 64 [110]
Patricia Roberts Harris (1924-1985) served as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and Secretary of Health and Human Services during the Carter administration diagnosed in 1983 at age 59 [111]
Heidi Heitkamp (1955–present) North Dakota politician and lawyer diagnosed in 2000 at age 45 [112]
Janette Howard (1944–present) wife of Australian Prime Minister John Howard diagnosed in 1996 at age 52 [113]
Susan Kadis (1953–present) Canadian Member of Parliament diagnosed in 1995 at age 42 [114]
Joan Kennedy (1936–present) former wife of Senator Edward M. Kennedy (Massachusetts) diagnosed in 2005 at age 68 [115]
Datin Seri Endon Mahmood (1940–2005) wife of the Prime Minister of Malaysia Abdullah Ahmad Badawi; her twin sister, Noraini, died due to breast cancer in 2003; died at age 64 diagnosed in 2002 at age 61 [116]
Judy Eason McIntyre (1945–present) African-American politician, Oklahoma State Senator diagnosed in August, 2006 [117][14]
Tucker L. Melancon (1947–present) male United States District Judge, Western District of Louisiana, 5th Circuit since 1994 diagnosed in 2002 at age 56 [118]
Janet Napolitano (1957–present) American politician, former Governor of Arizona, Secretary of Homeland Security diagnosed in 2000 at age 43 [119]
Jocelyn Newman (1937–2018) former Senator from the Australian Parliament for Tasmania; treated successfully diagnosed in 1993 at age 56; died of Alzheimer's disease in 2018, aged 80. [120]
Eileen O'Connell (1947–2000) late Member of the Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia, Canada, for Halifax-Fairview; died on September 27, 2000, at age 53 diagnosed in 1998 at age 51 [15]
Sandra Day O'Connor (1930–present) first female U.S. Supreme Court Justice diagnosed in 1988 at age 58 [121]
Siobhán O'Hanlon (1963–2006) Northern Irish Sinn Féin official and former Provisional Irish Republican Army member; died at age 43 on 11 April 2006 diagnosed in October 2002 at age 39 [122]
Irma Rangel (1932–2003) American politician, Texas State Representative; died of inflammatory breast cancer; died at age 71 [123]
Nancy Reagan (1921–2016) former First Lady of the United States and wife of former President Ronald Reagan diagnosed in 1987 at age 66 [124]
M. Jodi Rell (1946–present) American politician, Governor of Connecticut diagnosed in 2004 at age 58 [125]
Happy Rockefeller (1926–2015) American socialite and wife of the late former N.Y. Governor and U.S. Vice President Nelson Rockefeller diagnosed in 1974 at age 48; died in 2015, aged 88 [126]
Debra Shipley (1957–present) British politician - Labour Party member of Parliament diagnosed in 2005 at age 47 [127]
Claire Shulman (1926–2020) Politician; former Borough President of Queens, New York City [128]
Ricky Silberman (1937–2007) American activist who co-founded the Independent Women's Forum; died at age 69 [129][16]
Jan Tinetti (19??–present) New Zealand politician diagnosed in 2019 [130]
Linda Tripp (1949–2020) American Government former employee and Monica Lewinsky's former confidant diagnosed in 2001 at age 51 [131]
Ann Veneman (1949–present) former head of the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture diagnosed in 2002 at age 52 [132]
Jenna Welch (1919–2019) mother of American First Lady Laura Bush diagnosed in 1997 at age 78 [133]

Royalty[]

Name Life Comments Diagnosis Reference
Anne of Austria (1601–1666) mother of King Louis XIV of France and Philippe I, Duke of Orléans, wife of King Louis XIII of France, daughter of Habsburg parents, King Philip III of Spain and Margarita of Austria, sister of King Philip IV of Spain, aunt and mother-in-law of Spanish Habsburg princess Maria Theresa of Spain; died at age 66 [134]
Lady Anne Hyde (1637–1671) Duchess of York, first wife of James, Duke of York (the future King James VII and II), mother of Queen Mary II and Anne, Queen of Great Britain, and daughter of Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon; died at age 34 [135]
Queen Atossa of Persia (550 BC - 475 BC) daughter of Persian King Cyrus the Great, half-sister and wife of Persian and Egyptian King Cambyses II, later wife of Cambyses II's brother, Persian and Egyptian King Smerdis, later wife of Persian and Egyptian King Darius I, and mother of Persian and Egyptian King Xerxes I; died at about age 75, circa 475 BC [136]
Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother (1900-2002) mother of Queen Elizabeth II and Margaret, Countess of Snowdon; died at age 101 breast and colon cancer survivor
Princess of Ukok (c. 500 BC) a Scytho-Siberian woman who was found in Republic of Altai, Russia [137]
Empress Theodora (c. 500 - 548) empress of the Byzantine Empire and wife of Emperor Justinian I; both are commemorated on November 14 as saints in the Eastern Orthodox Church; died before the age of 50 [138]

Science[]

Name Life Comments Diagnosis Reference
Mary Anning (1799–1847) English fossil collector and paleontologist from Lyme Regis, Dorset, England; subject of the book Mary Anning of Lyme Regis by Crispin Tickell; died at age 48 diagnosed in 1845 at age 46 [139]
Mary Astell (1666–1731) English philosopher and feminist writer; died at age 65 diagnosed in 1731 at age 65 [140]
Rachel Carson (1907–1964) American environmentalist and author (Silent Spring); died at age 56 diagnosed in 1960 at age 53 [141]
Sophie Germain (1776–1831) French mathematician; died at age 55 [142]
Jerri Nielsen (1952–2009) American physician who famously treated herself for breast cancer while stuck in the South Pole after discovering a lump on her breast, as depicted in the movie Ice Bound diagnosed in 1999 at age 47 [143][dead link]
Edith Pechey (1845–1908) aka Mary Edith Pechey-Phipson; one of the first British female physicians, worked in India for 20 years, and was a women's rights activist; died at age 63 diagnosed in 1907 at age 62 [144][permanent dead link]
Marjorie Shostak (1945–1996) American anthropologist; died at age 51 diagnosed in 1989 at age 44 [145][17]

Sports[]

Name Life Comments Diagnosis Reference
Raelene Boyle (1951–present) Australian Olympic champion athlete; in 2000; also surviving ovarian cancer diagnosed in 1996 at age 45 [146]
Edna Campbell (1968–present) African-American professional basketball star diagnosed in 2002 at age 34 [147]
Marina Dalglish (1954–present) founder of the Marina Dalglish Appeal; wife of Scottish former international football player Kenny Dalglish diagnosed in March, 2003 at age 49 [148]
Faye Dancer (1925–2002) former star of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League and the inspiration for Madonna's character in the film A League of Their Own; died at age 77 diagnosed in 2000 at age 75 [149]
Cecilia De La Hoya (1951–1990) mother of Mexican-American boxing champion Oscar De La Hoya who founded the Cecilia Gonzalez De La Hoya Cancer Center in her memory; died at age 39 [150][18]
Kelly Jo Dowd (1965–2007) American mother of 13-year-old American golf protege, Dakoda Dowd, nicknamed "Koda" diagnosed in 2002 at age 37 [151][19][20][21]
Ludmila Engquist (1964–present) Russian-Swedish hurdler diagnosed in 1999 at age 34
Heather Farr (1965–1993) American LPGA Tour golfer; died at age 28 diagnosed in 1989 at age 24 [152]
Deanna Favre (1970–present) creator of breast cancer foundation and wife of American football quarterback Brett Favre diagnosed in October, 2004 at age 34 [153], [154][22]
Peggy Fleming (1948–present) American Olympic champion figure skater diagnosed in 1998 at age 50 [155]
Ernie Green (1938–present) African-American former professional Cleveland Browns football player; his two sisters were also diagnosed with breast cancer and one died due to the disease diagnosed in July, 2005 at age 67 [156]
Akira Hokuto (1967–present) Japanese professional wrestler diagnosed in 2015 at 48 [157]
Linda Kerr (1977 - present) mother of American golfer Cristie Kerr who plays on the LPGA Tour diagnosed in 2003 [158]
RuthAnn Lobo (1944 - 2011) American author and mother of American professional basketball star Rebecca Lobo diagnosed in 1993 [159]
Jane McGrath (1966–2008) wife of Australian cricket champion Glenn McGrath diagnosed in 1997 at age 31 [160]
Judy Rankin (1945–present) American Hall of Fame professional golfer diagnosed in May, 2006 at age 61 [161]
Betsy Rawls (1928–present) American Hall of Fame professional golfer diagnosed in 1999 at age 71 [162]
Linda Saarloos (1954–present) mother of Oakland Athletics baseball pitcher Kirk Saarloos diagnosed in 2005 at age 51 [163]
Dorothy Shula (1934–1991) wife of American former Miami Dolphins football coach Don Shula who is founder of the Don Shula Foundation for breast cancer research diagnosed in 1985 at age 51 [164]
Janet Stark (19?? - present) mother of American former tennis champion Jonathan Stark diagnosed in 2000 [165]
Rell Sunn (1950–1998) American world surfing champion; died on January 2, 1998, at age 47 diagnosed in 1983 at age 32 [166] Archived 2007-02-14 at the Wayback Machine
Mickey Wright (1935–2020) American Hall of Fame professional golfer diagnosed in October, 2006 at age 71 [167][permanent dead link]
Kay Yow (1942–2009) American head coach of the women's basketball team at North Carolina State University; died on January 24, 2009, at age 66 diagnosed in 1987 at age 45; recurrence in 2004 at age 62 [168][permanent dead link]

Television and radio[]

Name Life Comments Diagnosis Reference
Pattie Daly Caruso (1944 - 2017) mother of American television personality Carson Daly [169], [170]
Julia Child (1912–2004) American television chef, known as "The French Chef"; survived breast cancer and died of natural causes at age 91 diagnosed in 1967 at age 55 [171]
Linda Ellerbee (1944–present) American television journalist diagnosed in 1991 at age 47 [172]
Laura Ingraham (1964–present) American radio host/pundit diagnosed in 2005 at age 41 [citation needed]
Caron Keating (1962–2004) Northern Irish television celebrity; the Caron Keating Foundation was founded in her honor; died at age 41 diagnosed in 1997 at age 34 [173]
Jennifer Lyon (1972–2010) American contestant on the CBS reality television series Survivor: Palau diagnosed in 2005 at age 33 [174]
Wendy Mesley (1957–present) Canadian host and reporter for CBC Television diagnosed in January, 2005 at age 48 [175]
Diana Moran (1941–present) British model, fitness expert and journalist; known as "The Green Goddess" on BBC1's Breakfast Time television programme in the 1980s diagnosed in 1988 at age 47 [176][23]
Jenni Murray (1950–present) British BBC presenter diagnosed in 2006 at age 56 [177],

[178][permanent dead link]

Dede Robertson (1927–present) wife of American Christian televangelist Pat Robertson diagnosed in 1986 [179]
Susan Stamberg (1938–present) American radio journalist for National Public Radio Diagnosed in 1986 at age 48 [180]
Betty Thompson (1934–1994) Canadian television host of a children's programme produced at CKCO's studios; founded the annual Betty Thompson Golf Classic for breast cancer fundraising; died at age 60 diagnosed in 1991 at age 57 [181]
Miki Yakata (1992–present) Japanese tarento, radio personality and voice actress; former member of the idol group SKE48 diagnosed in 2018 at age 25 [24]

Visual arts[]

Name Life Comments Diagnosis Reference
Lucy, Lady Duff-Gordon (1863–1935) London-born Canadian early 20th century fashion designer known as "Lucile"; sister to screenwriter Elinor Glyn; survivor of the sinking of The Titanic; died at age 71 [182] Archived 2003-09-20 at the Wayback Machine
Miriam Engelberg (1958–2006) American graphic artist/writer/blogger; died on October 18, 2006, at age 48 diagnosed in 2001 at age 43 [183]
Kate Greenaway (1846–1901) British illustrator; died at age 55 [184][permanent dead link]
Trina Schart Hyman (1939–2004) American children's book illustrator; died at age 65 [185]
Betsey Johnson (1942–present) American fashion designer [186]
Shirley Ardell Mason (1923–1998) American artist, inspiration for the book and film Sybil; died at age 75 [187]
Matuschka (1954–present) aka Joanne Matuschka; American fine art photographer and breast cancer activist diagnosed in 1991 [188]
Jean Muir (1928–1995) English fashion designer; died at age 66 [189][25]
Alma Reville (1899–1982) English-born American assistant film director, actress, and wife of film director Alfred Hitchcock; survived breast cancer; died of natural causes at age 82
Hollis Sigler (1948–2001) American painter; died at age 53 diagnosed in 1985
Jo Spence (1934–1992) British photographer; died at age 58 [190]
Hendrickje Stoffels (1626 - 1663) artist model and mistress of Dutch artist Rembrandt [191]
Mildred Thompson (1936–2003) African American painter, sculptor and printmaker active in Germany, the United States and France; died at age 67
Barbra Walz (1950/51- 1990) American fashion photographer
Thelma Wood (1901–1970) American sculptor; died at age 69 [192]
Hannah Wilke (1940–1993) American painter, sculptor, photographer; died at age 52 of lymphoma; notable for photographing her mother, Selma Butter, during mother's illness and death from breast cancer [193]

Writing[]

Name Life Comments Diagnosis Reference
Margery Allingham (1904–1966) British mystery writer; died at age 62 [194]
V. C. Andrews (1923–1986) American author; died at age 62 [195]
Sally Belfrage (1936–1994) American author and journalist; died at age 57 [196]
Erma Bombeck (1927–1996) American columnist and author; survived breast cancer, but died during a kidney transplant; died at age 69 [197]
Fanny Burney (1752–1840) English novelist; survived breast cancer; died at age 88 [198]
Joan Riddell Cook (1922–1995) American journalist and labor activist; founded JAWS (Journalism and Women Symposium); died in 1995 at age 73 [199][26]
Julia Darling (1956–2005) award-winning British writer; died at age 48 [200]
Helen Dewar (1936–2006) American political reporter for The Washington Post newspaper; died at age 70 on November 4, 2006 [201][permanent dead link]
Shirley Graham Du Bois (1896–1977) African-American author, playwright, composer, activist; wife of noted African-American thinker, writer, and activist W. E. B. Du Bois; died at age 80 [202]
Susan Duncan (1952–present) Australian author and magazine editor [203]
Barbara Ehrenreich (1941–present) American author/ethicist [204]
Annalee Fadiman (1917–2002) author and World War II foreign correspondent for Life and Time magazines and wife of author Clifton Fadiman; died due to suicide after suffering from breast cancer and Parkinson's; died at age 85 [205]
Caitlin Flanagan (1961–present) American magazine writer, editor and book author [206]
Lacey Fosburgh (1942–1993) American author and wife of American author David Harris; died at age 50 [207]
Jane Hamsher (1959–present) American film producer, author and liberal blogger diagnosed 3rd time in December, 2006 at age 47 [208][27]
Molly Ivins (1944–2007) American journalist and author diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer; died at age 62 diagnosed in 1999 at age 55 [209][permanent dead link][28]
Alice James (1848–1892) American diarist, sister of American psychologist William James and American author Henry James and daughter of American theologian Henry James Sr.; died at age 43 [210]
June Jordan (1936–2002) African-American professor of African-American studies, poet and author of 28 books; died at age 62 diagnosed in 1992 at age 56 [211]
Jennifer Lash (1938–1993) aka Jini Fiennes; British writer/artist; mother of six (including actors Ralph and Joseph, producers Martha, Magnus, and Sophie and Jacob Fiennes); died at age 55 diagnosed in the late 1980s [212]
Betsy Lehman (1955–1994) Boston Globe newspaper columnist, and Maureen Bateman, a teacher, both of whom had advanced breast cancer, but died of medication overdoses at Boston's Dana Farber Institute; The Betsy Lehman Center for Patient Safety and Medical Error Reduction was created in aftermath of scandal (Lehman died at age 39 and Bateman died at age 55) [213][29]
Elisabeth Leseur (1866–1914) French diarist; died at age 47 [214]
Nikolai Leskov (1831–1895) male Russian writer; died at age 64 [30]
Audre Lorde (1934–1992) African-American author; died at age 58 [215]
Geralyn Lucas (1968–present) American journalist, television producer, and writer diagnosed in 1995 at age 27 [216]
Melissa Nathan (1968–2006) British novelist; died on April 7, 2006, at age 37; breast cancer recurred in 2003 diagnosed in 2001 at age 32 [217],
Gayle Olinekova (1953–2003) Canadian writer, marathon runner, bodybuilder and chiropractor; died at age 50 [218]
Ruth Picardie (1964–1997) British writer and columnist for The Observer; died in September, 1997 at age 33 diagnosed in October, 1996 at age 32 [219][31]
Barbara Pym (1913–1980) British author/writer; died at age 66 [220]
Dina Rabinovitch (1963–2007) British journalist for The Guardian and book author diagnosed in June, 2004; died on October 30, 2007 [221][32]
Claire Rayner (1932–2010) British journalist, died in 2010 aged 79. diagnosed in 2002 at age 70 [222]
Cokie Roberts (1943–2019) American journalist [223]
Betty Rollin (1936–present) American author, retired TV correspondent [224]
May Sarton (1912–1995) Belgium-born American poet, novelist, and memoirist; died at age 83 [225]
Carol Shields (1935–2003) Canada-based U.S. author; died at age 68 [226]
Susan Sontag (1933–2004) American author, diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer, but died due to leukemia traceable to the massive doses of radiotherapy and chemotherapy received decades earlier for her breast cancer; also diagnosed with a rare form of uterine cancer; died at age 71 [227]
Karin Stanford (1961–present) African-American writer and professor [228]
Marie Stopes (1880–1958) Scottish author and birth control advocate; died at age 78 [229]
Jacqueline Susann (1918–1974) American writer; died at age 56 diagnosed in 1962 at age 44; recurred in January, 1973 at age 55 [33]
Dolly Wilde (1895–1941) English socialite, niece of Irish writer Oscar Wilde and friend of American writer Natalie Clifford Barney; died at age 45 of unknown causes diagnosed in 1939 at age 43 [230]
Kim Yale (1953 - 1997) writer and editor for multiple comic book companies, including Marvel, DC, First and Warp Graphics; wife of fellow comics creator John Ostrander [231]

See also[]

  • List of breast cancer patients by survival status

Notes[]

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  7. ^ http://www.komen.org/intradoc-cgi/idc_cgi_isapi.dll?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=299
  8. ^ Kelly, Emma (26 August 2020). "Sarah Harding reveals breast cancer has advanced throughout her body". Metro. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  9. ^ "Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, 52; Mezzo-Soprano of Great Range". Latimes.com. 2006-07-05. Archived from the original on July 11, 2006. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
  10. ^ "Murió la cantante colombiana Soraya". Emol.com. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
  11. ^ "Kansas Senate". Kslegislature.org. 2001-10-03. Archived from the original on 2008-12-24. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
  12. ^ [2] Archived September 28, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ Barovick, Harriet (2001-10-15). "Milestones Oct. 15, 2001". TIME. Archived from the original on December 25, 2004. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
  14. ^ "Judy Eason McIntyre biodata". Archived from the original on March 13, 2007. Retrieved October 23, 2006.
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  23. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-07-09. Retrieved 2006-06-27.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  24. ^ "元ＳＫＥ矢方美紀が乳がんを公表 左乳房全摘出手術「１日でも早く治したい」". Daily Sports (in Japanese). 2018-04-13. Retrieved 2021-07-08.
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  28. ^ "ibcsurvivors.org". ibcsurvivors.org. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
  29. ^ "Department of Public Health: Programs and Services". mass.gov. Retrieved October 14, 2017.
  30. ^ Liukkonen, Petri. "Nikolai Leskov". Books and Writers (kirjasto.sci.fi). Finland: Kuusankoski Public Library. Archived from the original on 18 July 2014.
  31. ^ "Personal Stories Biography" (PDF). www.carersvic.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 August 2006. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  32. ^ Dina Rabinovitch (2006-09-29). "Dina Rabinovitch talks about life with breast cancer | Society". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
  33. ^ "Jacqueline Susann Summary and Analysis Summary". BookRags.com. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
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