Rue McClanahan Breast Cancer Survivor, dies at age 76

the news of the day has certainly centered around the loss of yet another one of everyone’s favorite golden girls, the sexy and sassy southern belle, Rue McClanahan, aka Blanche Devereaux.

In 1997, Rue McClanahan was diagnosed with breast cancer, underwent treatment (lumpectomy) for breast cancer in June 1997, and subsequently became a breast cancer survivor. In recent years, she battled other health issues, and a massive stroke was the cause of her death on June

She often shared her battle with breast cancer by speaking to many women’s groups about her own experience:

Rue speaks to her audience about the emotional, physical and psychological obstacles a woman must overcome in order to survive this deadly battle. McClanahan looks at the whole range of difficult choices women are faced with when diagnosed with breast cancer – the moment they learn of it, telling their loved ones, the medical processes involved, acceptance and recovery. Most importantly, she demonstrates with colorful examples from her own life that to overcome obstacles you must have hope and faith in yourself and in those around you. ~ sterling speakers int’l.

Rue McClanahan did an interview in Mamm Magazine back in 2007, and said this about dealing with breast cancer:

But I’ll tell you, you really are very confused when you’re given that news that you have breast cancer. You don’t know what to do, and one thing you don’t know about is whether to take the conventional route or to go the alternative route. I remember I actually had my husband, Morrow—well, he wasn’t my husband yet—but I had the two of us booked into a place over in Switzerland. It was a cancer treatment center, but they don’t do the conventional chemo thing and radiation. In fact, the first thing they do is take all of the lead out of your teeth, all the mercury. That’s the first thing they do. Not that I’m saying that that, in and of itself, is a bad idea. Because I’ve actually had that done subsequently, but…

Anyway, we were exploring alternative treatments and running around seeing surgeons and oncologists and having all the conventional tests and procedures. And I was extremely fortunate indeed to encounter Dr. Larry Norton of Sloan-Kettering in New York, a genius in his field. He was also one of the very few who didn’t insist on doing a single or double mastectomy immediately. He thought I had a chance going with a lumpectomy. And he gave me the choice at the time of taking a strong dose of chemo, or the strongest dose. And I said, “Let’s go for the strongest.” And I think that’s why my treatment was both so successful and so debilitating.

Golden Girls was always a favorite show of mine growing up, and my college roommates and I also liked to watch the reruns with a classy glass of pink wine in a box -

Now let’s all raise a glass of pink blush / rose wine , perhaps one of the breast cancer wines –   in honor of your lifes work and putting a smile on our faces for so many years!

thank you for being a friend…

Actress Lynn Redgrave Passes Away from Breast Cancer

According to family statement posted on her official website, the 67 year old actress Lynn Redgrave passed away peacefully on May 2, 2010, following a 7 year battle with breast cancer:

“Our beloved mother Lynn Rachel passed away peacefully after a seven year journey with breast cancer,” her family said in a statement Monday. “She lived, loved and worked harder than ever before. The endless memories she created as a mother, grandmother, writer, actor and friend will sustain us for the rest of our lives. Our entire family asks for privacy through this difficult time.”

Lynn Redgrave was diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2002, had a mastectomy in January 2003 and underwent chemotherapy to treat the disease.

During her career, Lynn Redgrave received Oscar nods for “Georgy Girl” and “Gods and Monsters,” and Tony nominations for “Mrs. Warren’s Profession,” “Shakespeare for My Father” and “The Constant Wife.” Recently, she also made appearances on TV in “Ugly Betty,” “Law & Order” and “Desperate Housewives.”

In the past year, Phil Mickelson’s life has been less than par, as his wife, Amy Mickelson, just 37 years old has been battling breast cancer, and on top of that, his mother, Mary Mickelson, was diagnosed with breast cancer just six weeks after Amy’s diagnosis.

At the close of the 2010 masters, Phil and Amy Mickelson shared an emotional hug following his win. It was the first golf tournament she had attended since undergoing treatment for breast cancer.

Throughout the tournament, Mickelson sported a golf cap with the universal pink ribbon alongside his sponsors on it. Don’t forget: real men wear pink!

Whether you’re an amateur golfer aspiring to go pro, or just someone who likes to put around the greens, you can geared up to fight against breast cancer with these great golf products and women’s golf gear that donates to breast cancer research and awareness:

Lady Hagen Short Sleeve Tech Solid Polo Pink Ribbon – $29.99 Features Knit Collar 62% Pima Cotton 38% Polyester Moisture Management: Wicks Moisture away from the skin’s surface to keep you dry 30+ UPF UV Blocking Core Collection

Breast Cancer Awareness Golf Club Headcover – $24.95

GOLF APPAREL LADY HAGEN – $19.99 100% Pima Cotton Sponsor of the National Breast Cancer Foundation Pink Ribbon Collection DICK’S Sporting Goods Exclusive

Wilson Hope Players 18ball Pack – $16.99

Wilson Hope Golf Set – $209.99

Ladies Golf Apparel & Accessories at amazon:

Brooks For Her Breast Cancer Awareness Golf Skort $43

Brooks For Her Golf Skort

Breast Cancer Awareness Golf Balls – $9.95Breast Cancer Awareness Golf Balls Show your support for the fight against breast cancer with these pink ribbon golf balls. Sleeve of three.
Breast Cancer Awareness Golf Towel – $22.95 You’ll be amazed at how handy this towel is when out on the links, and knowing that a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Breast Cancer research all year round makes this purchase so much better. Give this towel as a gift to all your friends and family who are battling through and surviving breast cancer and help spread the word of early detection and prevention. A portion of the proceeds of this item will be donated to aid in the fight against Breast Cancer.

Between the ending of “ER”, and being diagnosed with Breast Cancer, Tierney was supposed to take a role on NBC’s show “Parenthood”, but bailed out to undergo treatment for breast cancer.

Fortunately for Shannon Tweed, the breast lump she found (and had removed) was benign.  Still, it was enough for them to want to spread the word about “1 in 8″ women being affected by breast cancer. Gene Simmons made a plea to all men as well.

Watch Gene Simmons and Shannon Tweed discuss their breast cancer scare on the daytime TV show, “The Doctors”:

Playboy Playmate Shannon Tweed and Gene Simmons discuss breast cancer

But for a couple of athletes competing at the 2010 Winter Olympic games, breast cancer hits pretty close to home. American speed skater Jennifer Rodriguez is in the middle of her 4th Olympic appearance, but this year it almost didn’t happen after her mother, Barbara, 59, died of breast cancer after a 16 year battle with the disease, during which  (and between treatments) she traveled to watch Jennifer compete at three Olympics in Nagano, Salt Lake and Turin.

Snowboarder and recent Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model Hannah Teter is a part of the Boarding for Breast Cancer organization, and actively raises money for a variety of charities.

US Olympic Bobsledder Emily Azevedo was 5 when she found out her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Since then, she says, her mother has dedicated her life to raising awareness for breast cancer. So now, Emily Azevedo has partnered with the NBCF to bobsled for breast cancer awareness.

During the torch running, Canadians even wore their support along the way:

Torch-followers are encouraged to wear pink as breast cancer survivor Judy Caldwell carries the torch on a 300-metre segment through downtown Vancouver this morning.

The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation (CBCF) is asking people to line Caldwell’s route along Denman Street at Davie, to the Inukshuk on Beach Avenue, with everything pink, from wigs to boas, scarves and T-shirts. Caldwell, founder of CBCF, will carry the torch at 7:50 a.m.

DOWNLOAD NOW >>

The unique app turns an iPhone’s dial pad pink and includes information tabs on how to do a breast self-exam, as well as, the importance of early detection, an active lifestyle and other tips on increasing your odds against breast cancer. Similar to wearing a pink ribbon or bracelet, sporting a pink phone will show the world that you support B4BC and breast cancer awareness.

Hawkins, a B4BC friend and supporter, has a long list of skateboarding accolades and achievements. Most significantly, she is the reigning gold medalist in Women’s Vert at the 2009 X Games. She also won X Games gold in 2007 and silver in 2008. She is one of the few females featured in Tony Hawk’s popular video game series, and appears in several skateboarding DVDs including Getting Nowhere Faster.

The app is available for $0.99 with a percentage of the proceeds benefiting B4BC efforts. To download, search “pink phone” at the iTunes app store >>

KISS drummer Peter Criss (right) img from flickr/user: hmk

In a CNN article published today, founding KISS band member and drummer Peter Criss, a man who was never afraid to wear makeup (as “catman”), has come out with his own story of beating male breast cancer, just over a year after treatment. Criss, now 63, is not embarrassed at all to share details of his own battle with breast cancer, as he says it’s important to raise awareness about the risks and chances of male breast cancer, and now is the perfect time, during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

from the CNN story:

According to the National Cancer Institute, in 2009 an estimated 192,370 women in the United States are expected to receive a diagnosis of breast cancer and about 40,170 are expected to die of the disease. Among men, there will be an estimated 1,910 new cases and 440 deaths.

“So many people must die from this,”  Peter Criss said. “Somebody has to step up to the plate and say something to get them aware of how dangerous this is. Lots of men die: They wait, they don’t go in, they put it off.”

Criss joins a small group of men who have spoken publicly about having breast cancer. Several years ago, Richard Roundtree, the actor who played the title role in the 1970s “Shaft” films, revealed he had breast cancer.

Peter Criss, KISS drummer sought treatment for breast cancer immediately:

When Criss spotted a painful lump in his left breast after a workout in 2007, he didn’t wait.

“I go to the gym; I’ve been drumming since I was a kid. So I’m very aware of my body,” he said. “So when this happened I said, ‘Jesus, what’s this thing?’ ”

After consulting with his wife, who was battling a different type of cancer at the time, he sought medical attention. Criss had surgery in February 2008 to remove what the doctors thought was a harmless nodule. Later, he learned the nodule was actually breast cancer.

“I flipped out. I just couldn’t believe it. It’s a nightmare,” he recalled. “I was angry at everything. I couldn’t believe I had this. I was a really angry guy for a long time.”

Doctors removed the cancer in a March 2008 surgery. Because the cancer had been caught early, Criss did not need breast reconstruction or chemotherapy.

Read the entire story here.

Christina Applegate Breast Cancer Survivor -photo by flickr user CC

Since her very public battle with breast cancer last year, and radical (and controversial) decision* to undergo a double mastectomy, Christina Applegate became the latest celebrity to become a spokesperson for the disease, and help raise awareness and research funds through a number of charitable organizations.In 2009, Christina Applegate became the official ambassador for Lee National Denim Day, which takes place on Friday October 2, 2009.

Christina Applegate talks about Lee Denim Day, her improvement in her overall health, revealed her twitter handle (she said Christina Applegate wasn’t available! we’re following all your Denim & #BCAM tweets now!) and shakes her booty in a recent visit to the Ellen DeGeneres show:

It’s not to late to get your company or school on board to participate in National Denim Day, go here to set up your team and donate your $5. Do it even if your company didn’t organize an official denim day or if you forgot to wear jeans on Friday, October 2, 2009. And mark your calendar to sign up for National Denim Day 2010.

You can also become a fan of Lee National Denim Day on Facebook.

13 Years of Denim Day

In the 13 years since the inaugural Lee National Denim Day, Lee National Denim Day has raised more than $75 million for the fight against breast cancer and unites nearly one million supporters nationwide each year. You can also shop online for for Women’s Lee Jeans.

*personally, I completely support and applaud Christina Applegate’s decision to go for the double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery, despite the fact that she was fortunate enough to be in the early detection club. I wouldn’t think twice about doing the same  if I am ever in her position, given a similar family history.

Read more about PinkTober at Melissa Etheridge's Official Site

Singer / songwriter Melissa Etheridge has been one of the most recognizable celebrity faces in the battle against breast cancer, particularly since enduring her own battle with the disease, being diagnosed in October 2004.

Ever since then, she’s lent her name and musical talents to a variety of breast cancer awareness fundraising efforts and charities.

For October 2009 breast cancer awareness month, she graces the cover of the Delta Sky in-flight magazine, and Melissa Etheridge has donated for auction an autographed, one of a kind pink ribbon guitar strap – the one she wears in the cover shot, was designed by Carlos Falchi. All proceeds go to the Breast Cancer Research Foundaton – click on the photo below to bid in the auction:

Melissa Etheridge Breast Cancer Awareness Autographed Guitar Strap for Auction

As a loyal Delta SkyMiles member, I’ve applauded all their past breast cancer awareness efforts – from pink ribbon planes to special pink scarves on flight attendants to the breast cancer bracelets they sold in the name of a coworker lost to breast cancer. I’ve written about Delta’s Breast Cancer Awareness efforts previously here.

Besides the October 2009 Delta Sky Mag feature (which I’ll get to read when I fly to NYC on Sunday -if you aren’t flying in October, sign up here for the online newsletter version), Delta Airlines also joined with Melissa Etheridge to kick off its fifth year of support for The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) Sept. 29 by lighting the New York-JFK air traffic control tower in pink and honoring breast cancer survivors with a live in-flight performance by Hard Rock International PINKTOBER™ Ambassador Melissa Etheridge.

Delta will be joined by Etheridge, BCRF, and representatives from The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey at 5 p.m. EDT, Sept. 29 to light the exterior of the New York-JFK air traffic control tower in pink. Immediately following the lighting ceremony, Delta will host a charter flight for employee breast cancer survivors aboard its signature “pink plane” from JFK to Washington D.C.-Reagan National Airport. While in flight, Etheridge will perform a special acoustic rendition of her hit single “I Run for Life.”

“It is inspiring to our employees and customers to become increasingly involved in raising awareness and funds for this important cause,” said Joanne Smith, senior vice president of In-Flight Service. “Launching this year’s breast cancer awareness campaign in New York continues our growing support and presence in the city. After ‘painting’ JFK’s control tower pink, having Melissa perform in-flight will be an emotional, heartwarming experience.”

Delta’s “pink” flight between New York and Washington is the first in a series of activities planned throughout October to commemorate Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Thousands of Delta flight attendants will don pink t-shirts and pink versions of the airline’s red dress to offer pink lemonade to customers for $2 on flights worldwide, with net proceeds benefiting BCRF. Co-branded Delta and BCRF pink products, including pink luggage tags, tumblers, aprons and pens, also will be available beginning Sept. 15 at www.deltashop.com for $2-$16 to benefit BCRF.

Delta’s distinctive pink-and-white Boeing 757 aircraft, the “pink plane,” featuring BCRF’s trademarked pink ribbon logo on the tail of the aircraft and adjacent to the boarding door, first took flight in 2005. Since then, it has flown throughout the U.S., Latin America and the Caribbean to generate awareness for the cause. In that time, Delta has raised nearly $1.5 million for BCRF through donations from customers, employees and The Delta Foundation, the airline’s charitable organization. The donations have funded the work of five researchers dedicated to the mission of achieving prevention and finding a cure for breast cancer.