15 Women Who Support Breast Cancer Awareness (PHOTOS)
1. Known as the first black supermodel, Naomi Sims opened up many doors for women of color in the modeling world. The businesswoman fought a long battle with breast cancer before dying at the age of 61.
2. Janice Elaine Voss (upper right) held the record for the most trips taken into space by a woman. She continued working with NASA before dying of the disease in 2012.
3. Legendary singer and activist Nina Simone led a career of triumph and strength before losing the battle to breast cancer in 2003.
4. America’s original child star, Shirley Temple is considered one of the greatest actresses in American film history. After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 1972, Temple spoke out about the disease back when celebrities didn’t share such private information. Temple got a radial mastectomy following her diagnosis and died from natural causes in February 2014.
5. After her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer twice, singer Cassie has been active in bringing awareness to the disease, and encourages women to get mammograms and self-examinations.
6. GMA host Robin Roberts was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008. Since then, Roberts has spoken about her breast cancer journey and the post-chemo depression, a topic rarely addressed in the community.
7. Wanda Sykes had a close scare with the disease after revealing she had Ductal carcinoma in situ or DCIS, a “stage zero breast cancer” in 2011. While DCIS can turn into breast cancer, the comedienne decided to get a bilateral mastectomy to reduce her chances of developing the disease. She recently teamed up with Stand Up To Cancer and The Safeway Foundation to raise money for breast cancer research.
8. Angelina Jolie shared her breast cancer story with fans in a special piece for The New York Times. The actress and humanitarian lost her mother to the disease. Jolie got a double mastectomy after finding out she carried BRCA1, better known as a faulty gene. Since her surgery, the actress’s chances of breast cancer have reduced from 87 to 5 percent.
9. Actress Christina Applegate also decided to get a double mastectomy after being diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 36 years old. After living quietly with the disease, the actress opened up about her decision and confided in Melissa Etheridge, a Grammy winner and fellow breast cancer survivor.
10. Gabrielle Union has been an avid voice in raising awareness for breast cancer after her close friend died of an advanced form of the disease. Union has worked with Planned Parenthood to help inform women on how to decrease their risks.
11. In 2011, popular E! host Giuliana Rancic found out about her breast cancer while she was preparing to have IVF treatments for her third attempt to have a child. The personality has openly talked about her double mastectomy.
12. Kerry Washington is a strong voice for breast cancer since her mother is a survivor of the disease. In September, the “Scandal” star co-hosted the annual Stand Up To Cancer Benefit Concert with “Modern Family”‘s Eric Stonestreet.
13. Pop legend Kylie Minogue was just 36 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Ten years later, the singer has worked with organizations in her native Australia and sings to children who have various stages of cancer.
14. Queen Latifah brings awareness to breast cancer on her popular talk show. She also partakes in breast cancer walks and benefits to help raise money for research.
15. Funny lady Maya Rudolph was just a child when she lost her mother and phenomenal singer, Minnie Ripperton, to breast cancer. The actress named her fourth child Minnie Ida Anderson after her late mother.
15 Women Who Support Breast Cancer Awareness (PHOTOS) was originally published on globalgrind.com
