What Celebrities Have Had Ovarian Cancer?
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What Celebrities Have Had Ovarian Cancer?

Some famous women who have battled ovarian cancer have used their influence to draw attention to the disease.
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Updated on August 27, 2024
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Marlyne Barrett; Kathy Bates; Cobie Smulders
Actresses Marlyne Barrett, Kathy Bates, and Cobie Smulders have all used their celebrity to raise awareness about ovarian cancer.
Celebrities often captivate us with their talent and charm and may even seem insusceptible to disease. However, they are affected by the same illnesses as everyone else, including ovarian cancer. A woman's risk of developing the disease in her lifetime is 1 in 87 women in the United States.

Luckily, the rate of ovarian cancer diagnoses has been decreasing over the past few decades, according to the American Cancer Society.

 Nevertheless, it's crucial to learn how to recognize the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer, which can be vague at first. But over time, there may be bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, and frequent urination.

As the disease progresses, symptoms may include fatigue, changes in bowel habits, pain during intercourse, back pain, and abnormal vaginal bleeding. Consult a healthcare provider if you suspect there could be a problem.

Here are celebrities who have had to face the challenges of an ovarian cancer diagnosis.

1

Gilda Radner

Gilda-Radner
Emmy-award-winning comedian Gilda Radner was one of the original cast members of Saturday Night Live.

 She was well known for the characters she created, such as Roseanne Roseannadanna and Baba Wawa, an impression of the legendary broadcast journalist Barbara Walters.

Radner was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1986 after 10 months of seeking help and fought it ultimately until she died in 1989.

 After her passing, Joanna Bull, Radner's cancer psychotherapist, her widower, Gene Wilder, and Joel Siegel started Gilda's Club, an in-person or virtual community for people living with cancer and their loved ones to learn and support those with the disease.
2

Marlyne Barrett

Marlyne-Barrett
Marlyne Barrett, who is known for her roles on shows such as The Wire, The Good Wife, and Bored to Death, revealed in 2022 that she had uterine and ovarian cancer.

 The actress, who has undergone chemotherapy therapy and a hysterectomy, continues to play nurse Maggie Lockwood on Chicago Med and has been very open about the support she's received during treatment from her husband, Gavin and actors on the show.
3

Cobie Smulders

Cobie-Smulders

Marvel actress Cobie Smulders has been in numerous Avengers movies and popular television shows, like Stumptown and How I Met Your Mother. She's also done voice-overs for cartoon characters in The Simpsons, Moon Girl, and Devil Dinosaur.

Smulders was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at age 25 and had multiple surgeries over two years to remove cancerous tissue from her lymph nodes and the surrounding area.

 The actress was told that she might not be able to conceive, but she gave birth to her first daughter in 2009 and another daughter in 2015.
4

Coretta Scott King

Coretta-Scott-King

Prominent civil rights, women's rights, and LGBTQ rights activist Coretta Scott King founded the King Center after the assassination of her husband, Martin Luther King Jr. King championed nonviolent protests alongside her husband and fought for his birthday to become a national holiday in remembrance of all that he had worked for.

According to The New York Times, her primary cause of death was “insufficient cardio-respiratory,” with underlying causes of cerebral vascular disease and ovarian cancer.

 She had checked into an alternative treatment clinic a week prior to her passing, according to NPR.

5

Kathy Bates

Kathy-Bates

 

Emmy, Academy, and Golden Globe-winner Kathy Bates has had a storied film career, with roles in Titanic and Midnight in Paris, Misery, and on shows like American Horror Story. She's also actively advocating for research funding for lymphedema. The actress was diagnosed with the chronic condition following her double mastectomy for breast cancer.

Bates, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012, had already fought ovarian cancer in 2003. The two-time cancer survivor is a spokesperson for the Lymphatic Education and Research Network, a nonprofit researching and educating people about lymphatic diseases.


6

Bridgette Wilson-Sampras

Bridgette-Wilson-Sampras
Former beauty pageant winner of Miss Teen USA in 1990, Bridgette Wilson-Sampras, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in December of 2022. The actress who starred in Mortal Kombat and I Know What You Did Last Summer had surgery, chemotherapy, and targeted maintenance therapy. She continues to heal with support from her family and her husband, 14-time Grand Slam tennis champion Pete Sampras.

The Takeaway

Ovarian cancer typically first presents with vague symptoms but can also cause symptoms such as bloating and pelvic or abdominal pain. The risk of developing ovarian cancer during a woman's lifetime is around 1 in 87. If you notice any signs or symptoms of the disease, it is crucial to contact your healthcare provider.
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Ryland Gore, MD, MPH, is a board-certified, fellowship-trained surgeon specializing in breast surgical oncology in Atlanta. She completed her general surgery residency at Rush University Medical Center and John H. Stroger Cook County Hospital in Chicago. She went on to complete her breast surgical oncology fellowship at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York.

In addition to her professional responsibilities, Gore previously served on the board of directors for Every Woman Works, an Atlanta-based nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower women and help them transition into independence and stability from common setbacks. Gore served as the chairwoman of the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer campaign in Atlanta for three years (2019 to 2021). She is currently the co-director of Nth Dimensions’ Strategic Mentoring Program and the alumni board chair of the Summer Health Professions Educational Program (SHPEP), which is a collaborative effort by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Association of American Medical Colleges, and the American Dental Education Association.

Gore is a highly sought after speaker, consultant, and lecturer on breast cancer and breast health, as well as women’s empowerment topics.
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Resources
  1. Key Statistics for Ovarian Cancer. American Cancer Society. January 19, 2024.
  2. From Education to Entertainment. University of Michigan Marsal Family School of Education.
  3. Gilda Radner - Biography. IMDB.
  4. Sullivan M. Baba Wawa! How Barbara Walters 'Came to Terms' with Gilda Radner's Infamous SNL Impression of Her. People. December 31, 2022.
  5. Norman A. Gene Wilder was right: Gilda Radner didn't have to die, and we need to talk about why she did. Independent. August 31, 2016.
  6. Kendall J. 'Saturday Night Live' Star Gilda Radner Dies at 42. Los Angeles Times. May 21, 1989.
  7. Nahas A. 'Chicago Med' Star Marlyne Barrett Reveals She Has Uterine and Ovarian Cancer: 'I'm Holding Onto Faith'. People. September 27, 2022.
  8. Mazziotta J. Cobie Smulders Reflects on Battling Ovarian Cancer at 25: 'It Was a Mess'. People. October 30, 2018.
  9. Applebome P. Coretta Scott King, a Civil Rights Icon, Dies at 78. The New York Times. February 1, 2006.
  10. King's Death Puts Focus on 'Alternative' Treatments. NPR. February 9, 2006.
  11. Gariano F. Kathy Bates opens up about double mastectomy and the painful condition that followed. Today. December 14, 2019.
Additional Sources

Key Statistics for Ovarian Cancer. American Cancer Society. January 19, 2024.

University of Michigan Marsal Family School of Education. From Education to Entertainment.

Gilda Radner Biography. IMDB.

Marisa Sullivan. Baba Wawa! How Barbara Walters 'Came to Terms' with Gilda Radner's Infamous SNL Impression of Her. PEOPLE. December 31, 2022.

Abby Norman. Gene Wilder was right: Gilda Radner didn't have to die, and we need to talk about why she did. Independent. August 31, 2016.

John Kendall. Saturday Night Live' Star Gilda Radner Dies at 42. Los Angeles Times. May 21, 1989.

Gilda's Club Kansas City.

Julie Mazziotta. Cobie Smulders Reflects on Battling Ovarian Cancer at 25: 'It Was a Mess. PEOPLE. October 30, 2018.

Aili Nahas. 'Chicago Med' Star Marlyne Barrett Reveals She Has Uterine and Ovarian Cancer: 'I'm Holding Onto Faith,' PEOPLE. September 27, 2022.

Peter Applebome. Coretta Scott King, a Civil Rights Icon, Dies at 78. The New York Times. February 1, 2006.

Kathy Bates opens up about double mastectomy and the painful condition that followed. TODAY. December 14, 2019.

Kathy Bates and Lymphedema- A video created for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Lymphatic Education & Research Network.

Naledi Ushe. 'The Wedding Planner' star Bridgette Wilson-Sampras diagnosed with ovarian cancer, husband says. USA TODAY. October 30, 2023.