Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Singapore. According to statistics, an average of 1,850 women are told they have breast cancer every year and of this number, 400 women will succumb to the ravages of the disease.
To mark breast cancer awareness month, we’re looking at 10 celebrities who took their cancer diagnosis straight on and are came out victorious against this silent killer. See their inspiring stories here:
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When a routine 2006 mammogram revealed suspicious calcifications on both of her breasts, Sheryl Crow postponed a world tour and opted for seven weeks of radiation treatment, supplemented by acupuncture, instead. She was able to bypass chemotherapy because the cancer was caught early.
US entertainer Sharon Osbourne underwent a double mastectomy in 2012 because she had the gene that is known to increase the risk of breast cancer. Ozzy Osbourne’s wife has survived cancer before – she was diagnosed with colon cancer some 10 years before.
The former Beverly Hills 90210 star chronicled her cancer journey in a series of honest Instagram posts back in 2015. While she underwent a single mastectomy this year, she shared that her cancer cells have spread to her lymph nodes and she will have to do more chemotherapy sessions to beat the disease.
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Singapore actress Pan Ling Ling was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer in 2013, at the age of 42, and underwent a partial mastectomy followed by five months of chemotherapy. But the treatment was a success and Ling Ling has been in remission for the past several years.
Pop star Kylie Minogue was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer in 2005 when she was 36. Her condition reportedly led to a short-term 40 percent increase in breast screening in her native country of Australia. Now at 46, she is cancer-free.
Known for her role as Dolly in the beloved Singaporean sitcom ‘Under One Roof’, veteran actress Koh Chieng Mun was diagnosed with breast and kidney cancer in 2005. Her cancer has been in remission since 2011 and she has now returned to acting after an extended break away from the entertainment industry.
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While trying to get pregnant, E! News host Giuliana Rancic, was diagnosed with breast cancer during a routine mammogram appointment. In December 2011, she underwent a successful double mastectomy and is now a mother of one.
Singapore actress Foyce Le Xuan announced in October 2013 on Facebook that she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She underwent a surgery to remove a tumour in her breasts and posted about the ordeal, hoping for support.
Actress Christina Applegate underwent a double mastectomy after doctors found cancerous lumps in one of her breasts in July 2008. She is now very involved in breast cancer prevention and has started her own foundation.
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While Angelina Jolie was never diagnosed with breast cancer per say, she had an 87 percent chance of contracting the disease because of her genetic history. The actress’ revelations and subsequent double mastectomy lead more women to get tested for genes that can cause breast cancer.