Giuliana Rancic's Breast Cancer: Celebrities Who Survived Breast Cancer (PHOTOS)
Giuliana Rancic, host of E!, announced yesterday she has breast cancer, but she is not the only celebrity to be diagnosed with the disease. Many high-profile celebrities have battled breast cancer and won.
Rancic, who has publicly been trying to get pregnant, discovered that she had early stages of breast cancer during a IVF treatment.
"Through my attempt to get pregnant through IVF, we sadly found out that I have early stages of breast cancer,” she told “The Today Show” Monday morning.
Rancic, who hosted the 2011 Miss USA pageant, plans to have surgery this week and also undergo six and a half weeks of radiation.
Breast cancer has proved that it does not discriminate, affecting a diverse group of celebrities including Sheryl Crow, Olivia Newton-John and even Shaft star Richard Roundtree. Fortunately many have survived, living long after their brush with cancer.
In April 2008, Christina Applegate was diagnosed with an early stage of breast cancer in her left breast. She had a lumpectomy at first and was given the option of chemotherapy. After testing positive for the “breast cancer gene,” Applegate decided to have a bilateral or double mastectomy.
Comedienne Wanda Sykes discovered she had breast cancer when she went in for breast reduction work. She also opted for a double mastectomy.
Actress and singer Olivia Newton John revealed she had breast cancer in 1992. She has since released an album called Stronger Than Before in 2005 and is currently fundraising to build the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Center.
Actor Richard Roundtree, star of the 1970 film Shaft and several other movies and television shows, discovered he had cancer in his right breast in 1993. Since his diagnosis, Roundtree has been an advocate for breast cancer in men and overall awareness of the disease.
Singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow was diagnosed in February 2006 and documented her struggle in a short film called “Crazy Sexy Cancer” released in 2007.
International super star Kylie Minogue discovered she had breast cancer in 2005. She soon went under chemotherapy and other treatments and has made a full recovery.