Christina Applegate Kicks Cancer's Ass

Some good  news on the celebrity health front -- after confirming that she had breast cancer earlier this month, Christina Applegate told Good Morning America this morning that she is 100% cancer-free. Of course, this is AFTER undergoing a double mastectomy a few weeks ago. She is 36.

Christina's mom is a breast cancer survivor and no doubt her mother's experience with a single mastectomy and a cancer recurrence years later (requiring chemotherapy, multiple surgeries and a hysterectomy) was a big reason she opted to be so aggressive with her own treatment. Christina has been getting tested since she was 30, since she also carries the breast cancer gene.

NOW GET THIS...

Christina's cancer was detected by an MRI, NOT a mammogram. In fact, she credits getting the MRI instead of the mammogram with saving her life, since the cancer was found in the very early stages and had not spread at all. MRIs are rarely (if ever) covered by insurance, since mammograms are cheaper. But they are generally better at detecting early-stage cancer. So Christina is trying to change that:

"I'm putting together a program that's going to raise money to pay for MRIs for women who are at high risk," she explained. This program will also help to pay for expensive gene testing for women in the high-risk category.

On Sept. 5, the actress will appear on Stand Up to Cancer, a unique televised fundraiser that will air on ABC, CBS and NBC.

Good for her. Christina's had a tough summer, what with her boyfriend dying and oh, CANCER, and while I totally don't think celebrities owe it to the public to become Big Vocal Advocates for anything and everything that affects them, this is very cool. Particularly so soon after undergoing such major, emotionally rough surgery. My mom had a single mastectomy a few years ago and while she kicked cancer's ass throughly and completely, I can't imagine she would've been up for prime time one month later.

Christina will be getting reconstructive surgery over the next year and will return to her Emmy-nominated role on Samantha Who?, a sweet little cupcake of a show that I secretly adore but makes my husband want to turn his face inside-out, in September.

"I'm going to have cute boobs until I'm 90," she joked. "I'm going to have the best boobs in the nursing home."

Hooraaaay boobs!

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Comments

[emily]

Wonderful news! Yay! Christina Applegate is definitely one of the women in Hollywood that we can all look up to.

[Sils]

In spite of some shady behaviour around her getting together with her boyfriend, I still like Christina Applegate. (This is a serious deviation for me.)

She struggled so much with her self esteem when she was on married with Children and has always been so weirdly open in interviews, I find it hard not to like her. What a crappy year.

[Karen]

That is awesome. My great-aunt kicked breast cancer's ass for at least ten years after a double mastectomy. I hope Christina has many more wonderful years on this planet.

[cindy w]

What's weird about this is that my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer last December, and her oncologist told my sister and I that we both need to start getting MRI's every year because with the type of cancer that my mom had, a mammogram won't pick up on it until it's too late. So yeah. Weird coincidence that she's trying to raise awareness about this exact issue that I didn't know about until a few months ago.

[Meghan]

I felt the same way when I read the report earlier this morning. My mom had a double mastectomy last year for basically the same reason, there was an 85% chance she'd develop the same kind of cancer (invasive lobular breast cancer) in the other breast, and who wants to go in for scans every 6 months until something eventually shows up? Not I, not my mom, and apparently not Christina either. Good for her!

[missbanshee]

Oh YAY. What an incredibly strong woman. Hope this helps others, too.

YAY BOOBIES!

[Meghan]

Oh yeah, meant to mention in my last comment but my sisters and I were told to get a baseline MRI NOW (I'm 27, sisters are 25 & 21) because my mom's cancer was so aggressive. She found it in a self exam, and it measured about 1cm in the mammogram a few days after finding it. A month later when it was removed it had grown to 4cm. That is crazy fast. So feel yourself up, get your partner to help, and keep your boobies safe.

[Liana]

Good for Christina!
And from all the comments, it's obvious that she is BEYOND RIGHT ON in being vocal about MRI's in early cancer detection. I had no idea!

[Barbara]

Save the boobs!

[DianaCLT]

I only watched "Samantha Who?" sporadically last season. But this? This will make me be a more dedicated viewer. Because Christina Applegate is awesome and bordering on superhero for her openness, her aggressiveness in kicking cancer's ass, and reminding us all to take care of ourselves and our boobies!

[baltimoregal]

My great-aunt lived for 50 years after losing her breasts to cancer. I sometimes think it's the better solution to just go ahead and lop 'em off- I wonder if more people live that way. Also, good on her for raising money foe a simple and effective solution!

[Suzy Q]

Oh, my! I hadn't realized she underwent a double mastectomy. That's a huge and painful operation (not to mention the decision to do so). I have nothing but admiration for her bravery and openness about this. Plus, I love her as an actress!

[AmyC65]

Samantha Who? is one of my favorite shows, I have fallen in love with Christina even more now through her cancer battle. I think I'd lop my girls off in a second if my mom got a diagnosis. They're big, most days I'd just like to lop 'em off anyway. Good for her, heal well, Christina.

[Lori]

I love Christina Applegate (but, strangely haven't see Samantha Who? don' tknow why that is) and this makes me like her that much more. Good for her and I'm so glad for her that they caught it early enough.

I don't know my family history (adopted) so I wonder if I should be a bit more aggressive with my doctor and checking on boobie health? hmm.

[DianaCLT]

Lori - I'm adopted, too. Got my health info and biological family info about 2 1/2 weeks ago. An online "Search Angel" helped me - found my birthmom in only 2 weeks! Anyway - don't know if you're interested in getting biological info, but if so, this person might be able to help you (don't know if she's done any research in Canada - my only concern). She's swamped these days, after having a write-up in People and being on a morning talk show - but I know she'd help you as fast as possible. Best part - she doesn't charge a cent! We've become friends over the years and I trust her completely. Let me know if you're interested! :)

[DianaCLT]

Oops - 2 1/2 YEARS ago - I got my info years ago, not weeks ago. ;)