Christina Applegate Talks Breast Cancer - Show Recap
Original Air Date:
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Christina Applegate on Breast Cancer:
Oprah welcomed Christina Applegate to the show to speak about an issue that has the potential to impact all women - breast cancer. The studio audience was half full of breast cancer survivors pleased that Christina has brought the issue of young women being diagnosed into the media. Christina first discussed that she has good and bad days, in that the recovery can be painful and uncomfortable, but that she is still working through a grieving process.
Christina was considered high risk and started mammograms at 30 and needed to move to an MRI because of having dense breasts. The MRI revealed a mass.
The mass was biopsied and after a week came back positive. Christina shared that even though her mother had breast cancer twice, when she found out she still never thought it would happen to her, but luckily she found it at a very early stage. Christina started visiting doctors right away and had 2 lumpectomies and planned on getting radiation. It was then discovered that she had the BRCA gene and she quickly decided that getting radiation didn't feel right because of the possibility of the cancer returning. Christina then made the decision to get a double mastectomy.
Christina Applegate on Life After Cancer:
Since having the double mastectomy, Christina is now cancer free without any radiation or chemotherapy treatments. Since the surgery Christina described going through a process both physically and emotionally. A conversation between Christina and Melissa Ethridge proved beneficial as Christina was able to start looking at her diagnosis as a blessing or gift and an opportunity to help others.
Physically she described how she currently has expanders to prepare her skin and muscle for breast implants, though they will still feel, look and be shaped differently. She still cries every day but sees the victory.
Christina's Oncologist - Dr. McAndrew:
Christina's oncologist, Dr. McAndrew, appeared on the show to discuss breast cancer from the medical perspective. She first described the BRCA gene (1 and 2) which most people don't have. Most people do not have the gene, but also, most forms of breast cancer are not inherited. For those who do have the gene, the chance of getting breast cancer is 87% with a 40% chance of getting ovarian cancer and a 50% chance of getting breast cancer in the second breast. Besides gene testing, another optional test is the MRI which insurance companies don't normally pay for.
Dr. McAndrew suggested women first start with a self exam with regular mammograms. If the mammograms don't show enough, ask for an ultrasound to be done. The MRI is only necessary in rare cases and shouldn't be done exclusively since it can miss things seen in the mammogram. Women with dense breasts may need an ultrasound or MRI, but only a radiologist can know if a breast is dense or not.
Nancy Brinker - The Susan G. Komen Foundation:
Oprah then welcomed Nancy Brinker, sister and founder of the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Nancy told the story of her sister Susan who died of breast cancer at the age of 33 in 1978 when there was not information readily available for women. Susan and Nancy promised to work to make sure no other family had to experience what they did, and 30 years later Nancy is still keeping that promise.
At the time of Susan's diagnosis, there were no 800#s for help, no support groups, no internet, no pink campaign, foundation or research being done.
Nancy started the foundation and worked to market it to get information and education to women while promoting a supportive community. Nancy was also diagnosed with the same cancer as her sister and feared that she wouldn't live to see her promise through. 30 years later the foundation has raised over $1 billion dollars for breast cancer research.
Guest Maimah - Breast Cancer Survivor:
Maimah joined the show, a guest who at 32 years old was diagnosed with breast cancer. Maimah was healthy and a single mother of a 3 year old daughter; her mother was a nurse and she had no family history of the disease. She first started feeling tired and began to get night sweats; when she went to get tested she knew she had cancer. She hopes women can get the wake up call to stop trying to be superwomen and supermoms and start taking care of themselves - cancer strips down the perfect image an allows the real person to emerge, even when naked, scarred and bald.
Maimah described friends and family of a woman diagnosed with breast cancer can help by providing hands on support; being a buddy to go along for treatment and doctors visits; helping with meals, groceries, child care and cleaning; by not listening to the superwoman wanting to do everything on their own; and rallying around them with love and support.
Viewer Questions:
The guests took questions from Skype viewers and the audience. Jeannie and Betsy from Skype asked about reducing the risk for cancer and Dr. McAndrew stressed the importance of lifestyle - it really does matter the type of diet and exercise a woman gets. Embrace prevention and do self exams and keep a healthy lifestyle. The same was true for Dina in Pennsylvania who has breast cancer while 37 weeks pregnant. She found her own mass by self exam and is now being treated with radiation and chemotherapy. A woman who Oprah went along to treatment with 6 years ago returned to show that there is life after cancer; she had a full head of hair and reported that she has since welcomed a baby boy to her family!
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Christina Applegate on Breast Cancer:
Oprah welcomed Christina Applegate to the show to speak about an issue that has the potential to impact all women - breast cancer. The studio audience was half full of breast cancer survivors pleased that Christina has brought the issue of young women being diagnosed into the media. Christina first discussed that she has good and bad days, in that the recovery can be painful and uncomfortable, but that she is still working through a grieving process.
Christina was considered high risk and started mammograms at 30 and needed to move to an MRI because of having dense breasts. The MRI revealed a mass.
The mass was biopsied and after a week came back positive. Christina shared that even though her mother had breast cancer twice, when she found out she still never thought it would happen to her, but luckily she found it at a very early stage. Christina started visiting doctors right away and had 2 lumpectomies and planned on getting radiation. It was then discovered that she had the BRCA gene and she quickly decided that getting radiation didn't feel right because of the possibility of the cancer returning. Christina then made the decision to get a double mastectomy.
Christina Applegate on Life After Cancer:
Since having the double mastectomy, Christina is now cancer free without any radiation or chemotherapy treatments. Since the surgery Christina described going through a process both physically and emotionally. A conversation between Christina and Melissa Ethridge proved beneficial as Christina was able to start looking at her diagnosis as a blessing or gift and an opportunity to help others.
Physically she described how she currently has expanders to prepare her skin and muscle for breast implants, though they will still feel, look and be shaped differently. She still cries every day but sees the victory.
Christina's Oncologist - Dr. McAndrew:
Christina's oncologist, Dr. McAndrew, appeared on the show to discuss breast cancer from the medical perspective. She first described the BRCA gene (1 and 2) which most people don't have. Most people do not have the gene, but also, most forms of breast cancer are not inherited. For those who do have the gene, the chance of getting breast cancer is 87% with a 40% chance of getting ovarian cancer and a 50% chance of getting breast cancer in the second breast. Besides gene testing, another optional test is the MRI which insurance companies don't normally pay for.
Dr. McAndrew suggested women first start with a self exam with regular mammograms. If the mammograms don't show enough, ask for an ultrasound to be done. The MRI is only necessary in rare cases and shouldn't be done exclusively since it can miss things seen in the mammogram. Women with dense breasts may need an ultrasound or MRI, but only a radiologist can know if a breast is dense or not.
Nancy Brinker - The Susan G. Komen Foundation:
Oprah then welcomed Nancy Brinker, sister and founder of the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Nancy told the story of her sister Susan who died of breast cancer at the age of 33 in 1978 when there was not information readily available for women. Susan and Nancy promised to work to make sure no other family had to experience what they did, and 30 years later Nancy is still keeping that promise.
At the time of Susan's diagnosis, there were no 800#s for help, no support groups, no internet, no pink campaign, foundation or research being done.
Nancy started the foundation and worked to market it to get information and education to women while promoting a supportive community. Nancy was also diagnosed with the same cancer as her sister and feared that she wouldn't live to see her promise through. 30 years later the foundation has raised over $1 billion dollars for breast cancer research.
Guest Maimah - Breast Cancer Survivor:
Maimah joined the show, a guest who at 32 years old was diagnosed with breast cancer. Maimah was healthy and a single mother of a 3 year old daughter; her mother was a nurse and she had no family history of the disease. She first started feeling tired and began to get night sweats; when she went to get tested she knew she had cancer. She hopes women can get the wake up call to stop trying to be superwomen and supermoms and start taking care of themselves - cancer strips down the perfect image an allows the real person to emerge, even when naked, scarred and bald.
Maimah described friends and family of a woman diagnosed with breast cancer can help by providing hands on support; being a buddy to go along for treatment and doctors visits; helping with meals, groceries, child care and cleaning; by not listening to the superwoman wanting to do everything on their own; and rallying around them with love and support.
Viewer Questions:
The guests took questions from Skype viewers and the audience. Jeannie and Betsy from Skype asked about reducing the risk for cancer and Dr. McAndrew stressed the importance of lifestyle - it really does matter the type of diet and exercise a woman gets. Embrace prevention and do self exams and keep a healthy lifestyle. The same was true for Dina in Pennsylvania who has breast cancer while 37 weeks pregnant. She found her own mass by self exam and is now being treated with radiation and chemotherapy. A woman who Oprah went along to treatment with 6 years ago returned to show that there is life after cancer; she had a full head of hair and reported that she has since welcomed a baby boy to her family!
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