List of breast cancer patients by occupation

This list of notable breast cancer patients 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]

Contents 1 Acting 2 Business 3 Miscellaneous 4 Music 5 Politics and government 6 Royalty 7 Science 8 Sports 9 Television and Radio 10 Visual arts 11 Writing 12 See also 13 Notes

Acting

Name	Life	Comments	Diagnosis	Reference
Christina Applegate	(1971–present)	An Emmy Award-winning American actress, known for playing Kelly Bundy on the long-running FOX Broadcasting Company sitcom Married… with Children.	diagnosed in 2008 at age 36	Christina Applegate#Breast cancer
Dame Eileen Atkins	(1934–present)	esteemed British actress	diagnosed in 1995 at age 61	[10]
Carol Martineau Baldwin	(19?? - present)	mother of American actors Daniel, Stephen, William, and Alec Baldwin, and foundress of the Carol M. Baldwin Breast Care Center of the University Hospital and Medical Center at Stony Brook	diagnosed in 1990	[11]
Kaye Ballard	(1926–present)	American actress	diagnosed in 1994 at age 68	[12]
Allyce Beasley	(1954–present)	American TV/comedic actress	diagnosed in 1998 at 44	[13]
Aisha Bicknell	(1971–present)	daughter of British actress Rita Tushingham	diagnosed in April, 2005 at age 33	[14]
Shirley Temple Black	(1926–present)	famous Oscar-winning American child star and former U.S. Ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia	diagnosed in 1972 at age 46	[15]
Carina Bleeth	(1942–1989)	French-Algerian-born American model, businesswoman and mother of American actress Yasmine Bleeth; died of inflammatory breast cancer; died at age 47 when Yasmine was 20 years old	diagnosed in 1988 at age 46	[16]
Diahann Carroll	(1935–present)	American actress, singer	diagnosed in 1998 at age 63	[17]
Elizabeth Ries Chavira	(1943–1986)	mother of American actor Ricardo Antonio Chavira; she was also diagnosed with ovarian cancer; died at age 43 when Ricardo was 15 years old		[18]
Madonna Louise Fortin Ciccone	(1933–1963)	French Canadian mother of American singer/songwriter Madonna; died on December 1, 1963 at age 30		[19]
Bette Davis	(1908–1989)	American Oscar-winning star actress; died at age 81	diagnosed in 1983 at age 75	[20]
Ruby Dee	(1924–present)	African-American actress	diagnosed in the 1970s	[21]
Betty DeGeneres	(19?? - present)	American author and mother of American actress and TV host Ellen DeGeneres		[22]
Diana Dill	(1935–present)	British-American actress; ex-wife of American actor Kirk Douglas; mother of American actor Michael Douglas	diagnosed in mid-1990s	[23]
Jill Eikenberry	(1947–present)	American actress and wife of American actor Michael Tucker	diagnosed in 1986 at age 39	[24]
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]
Dame Maggie Smith	(1934–present)	British stage, and screen actress, most noted recently for playing Professor McGonagall in the Harry Potter series of films.	diagnosed in 2008 at age 74	Maggie Smith
Edie Falco	(1963–present)	American stage and TV actress	diagnosed in 2003 at age 40	[25]
Kay Francis	(1905–1968)	American film star of the 1930s; died at age 63	diagnosed in 1966 at age 61	[26]
Maria Friedman	(1960–present)	British actress	diagnosed in 2005 at age 45	[27]
Helen Gahagan	(1900–1980)	American actress and (under the name Helen Gahagan Douglas) a politician; wife of actor Melvyn Douglas; grandmother of actress Illeana Douglas; died at age 80	diagnosed in 1972 at age 72; recurred in 1976	[28]
Greta Garbo	(1905–1990)	Swedish-American actress; survived breast cancer following a double mastectomy; causes of death per one of her biographies were kidney and stomach failure and pneumonia; died in 1990 at age 84	diagnosed in 1984 at age 79	[29]
Paulette Goddard	(1910–1990)	American actress; survived breast cancer, but died following a short battle with emphysema in Switzerland; died at age 79		[30]
Florence Halop	(1923–1986)	American comedienne/comedic actress; died at age 63		[31]
Sheila Hancock	(1933–present)	British actress; widow of British actor John Thaw	diagnosed in 1987 at age 54	[32]
Julie Harris	(1925–present)	legendary American stage actress	diagnosed in 1981 at age 56	[33]
Jill Ireland	(1936–1990)	British actress, wife of American actor Charles Bronson; died at age 54	diagnosed in 1984 at age 48	[34]
Kate Jackson	(1948–present)	American actress; survived a recurrence in 1989 at age 41	diagnosed in 1987 at age 39	[35]
Ann Jillian	(1950–present)	American actress, entertainer	diagnosed in 1985 at age 35	[36]
Jennifer Jones	(1919–2009)	American Oscar-winning film actress	survivor; died at age 90 from natural causes	[37]
Susan Ryan Jordan	(19?? - present)	mother of American actress Meg Ryan; as of March, 2006, Jordan is a 27-year survivor	diagnosed in 1979	[38]
Janelle Kidman	(19?? - present)	mother of Australian actress Nicole Kidman	diagnosed in 1984	[39]
Myrna Loy	(1905–1993)	American actress, had two mastectomies in 1975 and 1979, but survived breast cancer; died during surgery for undisclosed causes; died at age 88	diagnosed in 1975 at age 70
Rue McClanahan	(1934–2010)	American TV/stage actress	diagnosed in 1997 at age 63, Died 06/03/2010 after she suffered another stroke and subsequently a brain hemorrhage	[40]
Mary McCollough	(19?? - 1972)	mother of African-American actor, Bernie Mac; died during Bernie's sophomore year of high school		[41]
Doris McCormack	(1933–present)	mother of Canadian actor Eric McCormack		[42],[3]
Amanda Mealing	(1967–present)	British actress	diagnosed in August 2002 at age 35	[43]
Shelley Morrison	(1936–present)	American actress; had a recurrence in 1998 and is currently battling breast cancer; also battled lung cancer	diagnosed in 1988 at age 52	[44]
Sharon Murphy	(1953–present)	mother of American actress Brittany Murphy; had a recurrence in 2003	diagnosed in 1995 at age 42	[45]
Kitten Natividad	(1948–present)	Mexican actress	diagnosed in 1999 at age 51	Kitten Natividad
Alla Nazimova	(1879–1945)	Russian-born American stage and film actress who survived breast cancer but died due to a coronary thrombosis at age 66; aunt of director Val Lewton and Godmother of former First Lady Nancy Reagan	diagnosed in 1936 at age 57	[46]
Phyllis Newman	(1933–present)	American TV and Broadway actress/singer; widow of American playwright Adolph Green and mother of actress Amanda Green and writer/actor Adam Green	diagnosed in 1983 at age 50	[47]
Cynthia Nixon	(1966–present)	American stage and TV actress; Cynthia's mother, Anne, is also a breast cancer survivor	diagnosed in 2006 at age 40	[48]
Roseann Murtha O'Donnell	(19?? - 19??)	American mother of American actress and comedian Rosie O'Donnell; died at age 38		[49]
Nancy Priddy	(19?? - present)	Actress, singer, songwriter and mother of American actress Christina Applegate who was 7-years-old when her mother was first diagnosed	diagnosed in 1978; recurrence in 1986	[50]
Lynn Redgrave	(1943–2010)	Oscar nominated British-American actress	diagnosed in 2002 at age 59, died in 2010 at age 67	[51]
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	[52],[4]
Richard Roundtree	(1942–present)	male African-American actor	diagnosed in 1993 at age 51	[53]
Charlotte Smith	(19?? - 1929)	née Hennessy, mother of screen legend and co-founder of United Artists, Mary Pickford; died in 1928		[54]
Jaclyn Smith	(1947–present)	American actress and businesswoman	diagnosed in 2002 at age 55	[55]
Suzanne Somers	(1946–present)	American actress and businesswoman	diagnosed in 2001 at age 55	[56]
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	[57]
Gloria Stuart	(1910–2010)	legendary American actress	diagnosed circa 1982 died in 2010 at 100	[58]
Stephanie Swift	(1972–present)	American pornographic film actress and 2006 AVN Hall of Fame inductee	diagnosed in 2009 at age 37	[59]
Patti Tate	(1958–2000)	crime victims activist and sister of murdered actress Sharon Tate; died at age 42		[60]
Marcia Wallace	(1942–present)	American comedic actress	diagnosed in 1985 at age 43	[61]
Suzie Shapiro Wilson	(1950–1996)	mother of American child actress Mara Wilson; died at age 46 when Mara was 9 years old		[62]
Yoshiko Tanaka	(1956–2011)	Japanese actress, the member of Candies	diagnosed in 1992 at age 37; died at age 55 in 2011	[63]

Business

Name	Life	Comments	Diagnosis	Reference
Generosa Ammon	(1956–2003)	American widow of murdered New York businessman and multimillionaire Ted Ammon; died at age 47	diagnosed in 2002 at age 46	[64]
Mary-Ellis Bunim	(1946–2004)	American film/TV producer; died at age 57	diagnosed in 1995 at age 48	[65]
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	[66]
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	[67]
Helen Gorman Kushnick	(1945–1996)	American Hollywood producer; died at age 51	diagnosed in 1987 at age 42	[5]
Hala Moddelmog	(1956–present)	American president and CEO of Susan G. Komen for the Cure	diagnosed in 2001 at age 45	[68],[6]
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	[69]
Julie Giera	(1959–present)	Vice President Forrester Research, analyst, senior executive and CIO; expert in IT services/outsourcing with particular emphasis on vendor IT services strategy refinement, pricing, portfolio optimizations, and competitive differentiation.	diagnosed in 2007 at age 48	[70]

Miscellaneous

Name	Life	Comments	Diagnosis	Reference
Judi Bari	(1949–1997)	American environmentalist and labor leader; died at age 47		[71]
Jami Bernard	(1956–present)	American author and film critic for the New York Daily News	diagnosed in 1996 at age 40	[72]
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.	[73],[7]
Rose Chan	(1925–1987)	Chinese-born "Queen of Striptease" exotic dancer; died at age 62	diagnosed in 1980 at age 55	[74]
Judith Campbell Exner	(1934–1999)	John F. Kennedy relationship-related American celebrity; died at age 65	diagnosed in 1978 at age 44	[75]
Sandra Feldman	(1940–2005)	former president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT); died at age 65	diagnosed in 2002 at age 62	[76]
Syvilla Fort	(1917–1975)	African-American dancer and choreographer; died at age 58		[77]
Fannie Lou Hamer	(1917–1977)	African-American anti-segregation activist; died at age 59	diagnosed in 1976 at age 58	[78]
Jean Keene	(1923–present)	The "Eagle Lady" of Homer, Alaska, famous for feeding 200-300 bald eagles daily during winter and early spring months for over 30 years.	Diagnosed winter 1994 at age 71; underwent mastectomy.	See article.
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	diagnosed in 1977 at age 33	[79],[7][8]
Juliette Gordon Low	(1860–1927)	American Founder of Girl Scouts of the USA; died at age 67	diagnosed in 1923 at age 63	[80]
Karin Spaink	(1957–present)	Dutch journalist, social critic, and feminist	diagnosed at age 48 in 2006	[81]
Athena Starwoman	(19?? - 2004)	world-famous astrologer, columnist for Vogue and Woman's Day, and TV commentator; died in her mid-50s		[82]
Lynne Stewart	(1939–present)	American lawyer/activist	diagnosed in 2005 at age 66	[83]
Jane Tomlinson	(1964–2007)	British cancer fundraiser	diagnosed in 1991 with a recurrence in 2000 at age 36. Died in 2007.	[84]
Henny van Andel-Schipper	(1890–2005)	Netherland's-born world's oldest person; died at age 115	diagnosed in 1990 at age 100	[85]

Music

Name	Life	Comments	Diagnosis	Reference
Anastacia	(1968–present)	American popular singer	diagnosed in 2003 at age 34	[86]
Anita Doth	(1971–Present)	Popular Eurodance singer who was part of the Dutch duo 2 Unlimited	diagnosed in 2009 at age 37	[87]
Cheryl Aranda	(1963–2009)	American singer/songwriter	diagnosed in 2002 at age 38	[88]
Doris Coley	(1941–2000)	African-American singer (one of The Shirelles); died at age 58		[89]
Linda Creed	(1949–1986)	American songwriter; died at age 37	diagnosed at age 26 in 1975	[90]
Peter Criss	(1945–present)	American former-drummer of Kiss	diagnosed at age 62 in 2008	[91]
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	[92]
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	[93]
Marianne Faithfull	(1946–present)	British singer/actress, Mick Jagger's ex-girlfriend	diagnosed in 2006 at age 59	[94]
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	[95]
Nanci Griffith	(1953–present)	American singer/songwriter	diagnosed in 1996 at age 43	[96]
Bertha Holte	(19?? - 19??)	mother of African-American singer/author/actress Patti LaBelle; LaBelle watched her mother as well as her three sisters all die of cancer before any of them reached 45 years of age		[97]
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	[98]
Fannie Ann Little Jones	(19?? - 2002)	mother of African-American rapper Nas; died in 2002		[99]
Marie Keating	(19?? - 1998)	mother of Irish singer Ronan Keating who founded The Marie Keating Foundation for breast cancer education; died in 1998		[100]
Irene Kral	(1932–1978)	African-American jazz singer; died at age 46	diagnosed in 1972 at age 40	[101]
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	[102],.[9]
Lady Linda McCartney	(1941–1998)	American singer, activist, wife of former British Beatles member, Sir Paul McCartney; died at age 56	diagnosed in 1995 at age 53	[103]
Mary Mohin McCartney	(1909–1956)	British mother of "Beatle" Sir Paul McCartney; died when Paul was 14 years old		[104]
Kylie Minogue	(1968–present)	Australian singer sister of pop superstar Dannii Minogue, actress	diagnosed in 2005 at age 36	[105]
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	[106]
Charlotte Moorman	(1933–1991)	American cellist and performance artist; died at age 57	diagnosed in the late 1970s in her 40s	[107]
Olivia Newton-John	(1948–present)	UK/Australian singer/actress	diagnosed in 1992 at age 44	[108]
Linda Nolan	(1959–present)	Irish-born singer, actress and former member of the 1970s pop band, The Nolans	diagnosed in 2006 at age 46	[109]
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	[110]
Claudia Price	(1951–present)	mother of African-American singer Kelly Price; diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer	diagnosed in 1999 at age 48	[111],[10]
Minnie Riperton	(1947–1979)	American singer-songwriter	diagnosed in 1976 at age 29	[112]
Carly Simon	(1945–present)	American singer	diagnosed in 1998 at age 53	[113]
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	[114],[11]
Dusty Springfield	(1939–1999)	British songwriter/singer; died at age 59	diagnosed in 1994 at age 54	[115]
Audrey Cowell Sumner	(19?? - 1987)	mother of British singer/actor/activist Sting; died in 1987		[116],[12]
Ruth Ann Swenson	(1963–present)	American soprano opera star	diagnosed in 2006 at age 43	[117]
Jools Topp	(1958–present)	New Zealand folk singer; one of the Topp Twins	diagnosed in 2006 at age 48	[118]
Dawn Upshaw	(1960–present)	American operatic soprano diva	diagnosed in 2006 at age 46	[119]

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	[120]
Barbara Allen	(19?? - present)	American politician, Kansas State Senator	diagnosed in 2005	[121],[13]
Rose Bird	(1936–1999)	first female Chief Justice of California; died at age 63	diagnosed in 1976 at age 40	[122]
Edward Brooke	(1919–present)	male African-American former U.S. Senator of Massachusetts	diagnosed in 2002 at age 83	[123]
Barbara Burton	(1937–2002)	wife of American politician Dan Burton, United States Representative from Indiana; died at age 65	diagnosed in 1993 at age 56	[124],[14]
Robin Carnahan	(19?? - present)	American politician, Missouri Secretary of State	diagnosed in 2006	[125]
Mary Jo Codey	(19?? - 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	[126]
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	[127],[15]
Margaret Daley	(19?? - present)	wife and First Lady of American politician, Chicago, Illinois Mayor Richard M. Daley	diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in 2002	[128]
Jo Ann Davis	(1950–2007)	American politician, Virginia Congresswoman	diagnosed in September, 2005 at age 55	[129]
Peggy Duff	(1910–1981)	British political activist and organiser of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament; died at age 71		[130]
Eileen Dugan	(1945–1996)	American politician; Brooklyn, New York State Assemblywoman; died at age 51	diagnosed in 1992 at age 37	[131]
Elizabeth Anania Edwards	(1949–2010)	American lawyer; wife of former U.S. Senator from North Carolina John Edwards	diagnosed in 2004 at age 55	[132]
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	[133]
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	[134]
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	[135],[16]
Megan Lloyd George	(1902–1966)	British politician, daughter of Prime Minister David Lloyd George; died at age 64		[136]
Heidi Heitkamp	(1955–present)	North Dakota politician and lawyer	diagnosed in 2000 at age 45	[137]
Janette Howard	(1944–present)	wife of Australian Prime Minister John Howard	diagnosed in 1996 at age 52	[138]
Jeanne Hyde	(19?? - 1992)	wife of U.S. Congressman Henry Hyde; died in 1992		[139]
Susan Kadis	(1953–present)	Canadian Member of Parliament	diagnosed in 1995 at age 42	[140]
Virginia Clinton Kelley	(1923–1994)	American mother of former President Bill Clinton; died at age 71		[141]
Joan Kennedy	(1936–present)	former wife of Senator Edward M. Kennedy (Massachusetts); had surgery and is continuing treatment	diagnosed in 2005 at age 68	[142]
Thomasina Lawson	(1961–1993)	daughter of former British Chancellor of the Exchequer Lord Nigel Lawson and sister of British journalists Nigella Lawson and Dominic Lawson; died at age 32		[143]
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	[144]
Judy Eason McIntyre	(19?? - present)	African-American politician, Oklahoma State Senator	diagnosed in August, 2006	[145],[17]
Tucker L. Melancon	(1947–present)	male United States District Judge, Western District of Louisiana, 5th Circuit since 1994	diagnosed in 2002 at age 56	[146]
Janet Napolitano	(1957–present)	American politician, former Governor of Arizona, Secretary of Homeland Security	diagnosed in 2000 at age 43	[147]
Jocelyn Newman	(1937–present)	former Senator from the Australian Parliament for Tasmania; treated successfully	diagnosed in 1993 at age 56	[148]
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	[149],[18][19]
Sandra Day O'Connor	(1930–present)	first female U.S. Supreme Court Justice	diagnosed in 1988 at age 58	[150]
Siobhan O'Hanlon	(1963–2006)	Northern Irish Sinn Féin official and former Provisional Irish Republican Army member; niece of PIRA member, Joe Cahill; died at age 43 on 11 April 2006	diagnosed in October 2002 at age 39	[151], [20][21][22]
Irma Rangel	(1932–2003)	American politician, Texas State Representative; died of inflammatory breast cancer; died at age 71		[152]
Nancy Reagan	(1921–present)	former First Lady of the United States and wife of former President Ronald Reagan	diagnosed in 1987 at age 66	[153]
M. Jodi Rell	(1946–present)	American politician, Governor of Connecticut	diagnosed in 2004 at age 58	[154]
Kathleen Reynolds	(19?? - present)	wife of former Irish taoiseach, Albert Reynolds	diagnosed in 1991	[155]
Angelena Rice	(1924–1985)	mother of United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice; died at age 61	diagnosed in 1969 at age 45	[156]
Margaretta Fitler Murphy Rockefeller	(1926–present)	aka Happy Rockefeller, American socialite and wife of the late former N.Y. Governor and U.S. Vice President Nelson Rockefeller	diagnosed in 1974 at age 48	[157]
Darby Hickson Rove	(1948–present)	graphics designer; 2nd wife of Deputy White House Chief of Staff Karl Rove		[158]
Debra Shipley	(1957–present)	British politician - Labour Party member of Parliament	diagnosed in 2005 at age 47	[159]
Claire Shulman	(19?? - present)	former Borough President of Queens, New York City		[160]
Rosalie (Ricky) Gaull Silberman	(1937–2007)	American activist who co-founded the Independent Women's Forum; died at age 69		[161],[23]
Linda Tripp	(1949–present)	former American Government employee and Monica Lewinsky's former confidant	diagnosed in 2001 at age 51	[162]
Ann Veneman	(1949–present)	former head of the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture	diagnosed in 2002 at age 52	[163]
Jenna Welch	(1919–present)	mother of American First Lady Laura Bush	diagnosed in 1997 at age 78	[164]

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		[165]
Lady Anne Hyde	(1637–1671)	Duchess of York, first wife of James, Duke of York (the future King James II of England), mother of Queen Mary II of England and Queen Anne of Great Britain and daughter of Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon; died at age 34		[166]
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 circa age 75 circa 475 BC		[167]
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		[24]

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	[168]
Mary Astell	(1666–1731)	English philosopher and feminist writer; died at age 65	diagnosed in 1731 at age 65	[169]
Rachel Carson	(1907–1964)	American environmentalist and author (Silent Spring); died at age 56	diagnosed in 1960 at age 53	[170]
Mary Culpeper	(16?? - 1635)	mother of English botanist, herbalist, physician, and astrologer Nicholas Culpeper		[171]
Sophie Germain	(1776–1831)	French mathematician; died at age 55		[172]
Shirley Glass	(19?? - 19??)	psychotherapist and author of Not Just Friends and mother of public radio personality Ira Glass; died at age 67		[173]
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 at the Internet Movie Database	diagnosed in 1999 at age 47	[174]
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	[175]
Marjorie Shostak	(1945–1996)	American anthropologist; died at age 51	diagnosed in 1989 at age 44	[176],[25]

Sports

Name	Life	Comments	Diagnosis	Reference
Elizabeth Agassi	(19?? - present)	mother of American tennis champion Andre Agassi	diagnosed in 2000	[177]
Tami Agassi	(1970–present)	author and sister of American tennis champion Andre Agassi	diagnosed in 2000 at age 30	[178],[26]
Raelene Boyle	(1951–present)	Australian Olympic champion athlete; in 2000 was also diagnosed with ovarian cancer	diagnosed in 1996 at age 45	[179]
Edna Campbell	(1968–present)	African-American professional basketball star	diagnosed in 2002 at age 34	[180]
Marina Dalglish	(1954–present)	founder of the Marina Dalglish Appeal and wife of former British international football player Kenny Dalglish	diagnosed in March, 2003 at age 49	[181]
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	[182]
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		[183],[27]
Kelly Jo Dowd	(1965–2007)	American mother of 13-year-old American golf protege, Dakoda Dowd, nickname "Koda"	diagnosed in 2002 at age 37	[184], [28][29][30]
Heather Farr	(1965–1993)	American LPGA Tour golfer; died at age 28	diagnosed in 1989 at age 24	[185]
Deanna Favre	(1970–present)	creator of breast cancer foundation and wife of American football quarterback Brett Favre	diagnosed in October, 2004 at age 34	[186], [187],[31]
Peggy Fleming	(1948–present)	American Olympic champion figure skater	diagnosed in 1998 at age 50	[188]
Ernie Green	(1938–present)	African-American former professional Cleveland Browns football player; his 2 sisters were also diagnosed with breast cancer and one died due to the disease	diagnosed in July, 2005 at age 67	[189]
Shelly Hamlin	(1950–present)	American professional golfer	diagnosed in 1991 at 41	[190]
Kim Jagd	(1964–present)	American assistant coach of the UCLA Bruins women's volleyball team and former UCLA volleyball player	diagnosed in March, 2006 at age 41	[191]
Linda Kerr	(19?? - present)	mother of American golfer Cristie Kerr who plays on the LPGA Tour	diagnosed in 2003	[192]
Mary Lakes	(19?? - 2006)	mother of American Florida Gators football player Reggie Nelson; died on December 21, 2006	diagnosed in 2003	[193]
RuthAnn Lobo	(19?? - present)	American author and mother of American professional basketball star Rebecca Lobo	diagnosed in 1993	[194]
Denise McAllister	(1967–2006)	wife of former Scottish football captain Gary McAllister; died at age 39	diagnosed in 2001 at age 34	[195]
Jane McGrath	(1966–2008)	wife of Australian cricket champion Glenn McGrath	diagnosed in 1997 at age 31	[196]
Bernadette Doyle Mowbray	(1968–1995)	late wife of Scottish footballer/manager, Tony Mowbray	diagnosed in 1994 at age 26	[197]
Judy Rankin	(1945–present)	American Hall of Fame professional golfer	diagnosed in May, 2006 at age 61	[198]
Betsy Rawls	(1928–present)	American Hall of Fame professional golfer	diagnosed in 1999 at age 71	[199]
Linda Saarloos	(1954–present)	mother of Oakland Athletics baseball pitcher, Kirk Saarloos	diagnosed in 2005 at age 51	[200]
Dorothy Shula	(1934–1991)	wife of former American Miami Dolphins football coach Don Shula who is founder of the Don Shula Foundation for breast cancer research	diagnosed in 1985 at age 51	[201]
Stephanie Spielman	(1968–2009)	wife of American NFL linebacker Chris Spielman and founder of the Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research; died on November 19, 2009 at age 42	diagnosed in 1998 at age 30	[202]
Janet Stark	(19?? - present)	mother of American former tennis champion Jonathan Stark	diagnosed in 2000	[203]
Rell Sunn	(1950–1998)	American world surfing champion; died on January 2, 1998 at age 47	diagnosed in 1983 at age 32	[204]
Mickey Wright	(1935–present)	American Hall of Fame professional golfer	diagnosed in October, 2006 at age 71	[205]
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	[206]

Television and Radio

Name	Life	Comments	Diagnosis	Reference
Pattie Daly Caruso	(19?? - present)	mother of American television personality Carson Daly		[207], [208]
Julia Child	(1912–2004)	famous 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	[209]
Elisabeth DelPadre	(19?? - present)	mother of The View American television talk show host Elisabeth Hasselbeck; Hasselbeck's two grandmothers and one aunt are also breast cancer survivors		[210], [211]
Linda Ellerbee	(1944–present)	American television journalist	diagnosed in 1991 at age 47	[212]
Faith Fancher	(1950–2003)	African-American television journalist for KTVU and breast cancer activist; died at age 53	diagnosed in 1997 at age 47	[213], [214]
Laura Ingraham	(1964–present)	American radio host/pundit	diagnosed in 2005 at age 41	[215]
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	[216]
Becky Krimstein	(1963–present)	American video and film producer and breast cancer activist	diagnosed in 1998 at age 35	[217],[32]
Jennifer Lyon	(1972–2010)	American contestant on the CBS reality television series Survivor: Palau	diagnosed in 2005 at age 33	[218]
Wendy Mesley	(1957–present)	Canadian host and reporter for CBC Television	diagnosed in January, 2005 at age 48	[219]
Diana Moran	(1941–present)	British model, fitness expert and journalist; famous as "The Green Goddess" on BBC1's Breakfast Time television programme in the 1980s	diagnosed in 1988 at age 47	[220],[33]
Jenni Murray	(1950–present)	British BBC presenter	diagnosed in 2006 at age 56	[221], [222]
Dede Robertson	(19?? - present)	wife of American Christian televangelist Pat Robertson	diagnosed in 1986	[223]
Susan Stamberg	(1938–present)	American radio journalist for National Public Radio	Diagnosed in 1986 at age 48	[224]
Mary Gay Taylor	(1935–2006)	American WCBS-AM radio reporter/radio personality; died at age 71; breast cancer recurred after a 17-year remission	diagnosed in 1984 at age 49	[225]
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	[226]

Visual arts

Name	Life	Comments	Diagnosis	Reference
Lila Abboud	(19?? - 19??)	mother of Lebanese-American fashion designer, Joseph Abboud; Joseph's sister also died due to breast cancer		[227]
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		[228]
Miriam Engelberg	(1958–2006)	American graphic artist/writer/blogger; died on October 18, 2006 at age 48	diagnosed in 2001 at age 43	[229]
Kate Greenaway	(1846–1901)	British illustrator; died at age 55		[230]
Trina Schart Hyman	(1939–2004)	American children's book illustrator; died at age 65		[231]
Betsey Johnson	(1942–present)	American fashion designer		[232]
Paula Schlesinger Lang	(19?? - 19??)	mother of Austrian-American film director Fritz Lang; she died of complications from breast cancer
Shirley Ardell Mason	(1923–1998)	American artist, inspiration for the book and film Sybil; died at age 75		[233]
Matuschka	(19?? - present)	aka Joanne Matuschka; American fine art photographer and breast cancer activist	diagnosed in 1991	[234]
Jean Muir	(1928–1995)	English fashion designer; died at age 66		[235],[34]
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 active in Chicago, Illinois whose life with breast cancer became the subject of her work; died at age 53	Diagnosed in 1985
Jo Spence	(1934–1992)	British photographer; died at age 58		[236]
Glenda Stewart	(19?? - 1995)	wife of American artist Mark Stewart; died in 1995		[237]
Hendrickje Stoffels	(19?? - 19??)	artist model and mistress of Dutch artist Rembrandt		[238]
Mildred Thompson	(1936–2003)	African American painter, sculptor and printmaker active in Germany, the United States and France; died at age 67
Thelma Wood	(1901–1970)	American sculptor; died at age 69		[239]
Hannah Wilke	(1940–1993)	American painter, sculptor, photographer; died at age 52 of lymphoma. Was notable for photographing her mother, Selma Butter, during mother's illness and death from breast cancer.		[240]

Writing

Name	Life	Comments	Diagnosis	Reference
Margery Allingham	(1904–1966)	British mystery writer; died at age 62		[241]
V. C. Andrews	(1923–1986)	(aka V. C. Andrews), American author; died at age 62		[242]
Sally Belfrage	(1936–1994)	American author and journalist; died at age 57		[243]
Erma Bombeck	(1927–1996)	American columnist and author; survived breast cancer, but died during a kidney transplant; died at age 69		[244]
Fanny Burney	(1752–1840)	English novelist; survived breast cancer; died at age 88		[245]
Joan Riddell Cook	(1922–1995)	American journalist and labor activist; founded JAWS (Journalism and Women Symposium) died in 1995 at age 73		[246],[12]
Julia Darling	(1956–2005)	award-winning British writer; died at age 48		[247]
Helen Dewar	(1936–2006)	American political reporter for The Washington Post newspaper; died at age 70 on November 4, 2006		[248]
Shirley Graham Du Bois	(1896–1977)	African-American author, playwright, composer, activist and wife of noted African-American thinker, writer, and activist W. E. B. Du Bois; died at age 80		[249]
Susan Duncan	(1952–present)	Australian author and magazine editor		[250]
Barbara Ehrenreich	(1941–present)	American author/ethicist		[251]
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		[252]
Caitlin Flanagan	(19?? - present)	American magazine writer, editor and book author		[253]
Lacey Fosburgh	(1942–1993)	American author and wife of American author David Harris; died circa age 50		[254]
Lucy Grijalva	(19?? - present)	writer of romance novels		[255]
Jane Hamsher	(1959–present)	American film producer, author and liberal blogger	diagnosed 3rd time in December, 2006 at age 47	[256],[35]
Molly Ivins	(1944–2007)	American journalist and author diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer; died at age 62	diagnosed in 1999 at age 55	[257],[36]
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		[258]
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	[259]
Barbara Joss	(19?? - present)	Australian writer		[260]
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	[261]
Betsy Lehman	(1955–1994)	a 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 created in aftermath of scandal. (Lehman died at age 39 and Bateman died at age 55)		[262],[37]
Elisabeth Leseur	(1866–1914)	French diarist; died at age 47		[263]
Nikolai Leskov	(1831–1895)	male Russian writer; died at age 64		[264]
Audre Lorde	(1934–1992)	African-American author; died at age 58		[265]
Geralyn Lucas	(1968–present)	American journalist, television producer, and writer	diagnosed in 1995 at age 27	[266]
Susan McManus McGahern	(19?? - 1943)	mother of late Irish writer, John McGahern (see NY Irish Echo, April 5–11, 2006, page 25); she died when John McGahern was 9 years old		[267]
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	[268],
Gayle Olinekova	(1953–2003)	Canadian writer, marathon runner, bodybuilder and chiropractor; died at age 50		[269]
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	[270],[38]
Margaret Morgan Potter	(19?? - 1994)	wife of British writer Dennis Potter; died in 1994 shortly before her own husband's death		[271]
Barbara Pym	(1913–1980)	British author/writer; died at age 66		[272]
Dina Rabinovitch	(1963–2007)	British journalist for The Guardian and book author	diagnosed in June, 2004. Died on October 30, 2007.	[273],[39]
Claire Rayner	(1932–present)	British journalist	diagnosed in 2002 at age 70	[274]
Cokie Roberts	(1943–present)	American journalist		[275]
Betty Rollin	(1936–present)	American author, retired TV correspondent		[276]
May Sarton	(1912–1995)	Belgium-born American poet, novelist, and memoirist; died at age 83		[277]
Carol Shields	(1935–2003)	Canada-based U.S. author; died at age 68		[278]
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		[279]
Karin Stanford	(19?? - present)	African-American writer and professor		[280]
Marie Stopes	(1880–1958)	Scottish author and birth control advocate; died at age 78		[281]
Jacqueline Susann	(1918–1974)	American writer; died at age 56	diagnosed in 1962 at age 44; recurred in January, 1973 at age 55	[40]
Dorothy Perry Thompson	(1944–2002)	African-American poet and professor; died at age 68		[282]
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	[283]
Stephanie Williams	(1971–2004)	American journalist and author; died in July, 2004 at age 33	diagnosed in June, 2001 at age 30	[284], [41][42][43]
Kim Yale	(19?? - 1997)	Writer and editor for multiple comic book companies, including Marvel, DC, First and Warp Graphics; wife of fellow comics creator John Ostrander.		[285]

See also

• List of breast cancer patients according to survival status

Notes