February 4th is World Cancer Day and, in recognition of that, 24/7 Tempo decided to highlight several well-known women who overcame the disease. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
About one in eight women in the United States will develop breast cancer during their lifetime. After lung cancer, it is the second leading cause of cancer death among women. These are the most common types of cancer in men and women.
24/7 Tempo compiled a list of 29 famous women who survived the battle against breast cancer. We reviewed sources like the National Breast Cancer Foundation to create our list, which lists women who have been diagnosed at various ages and from various professions. We only included women who completed treatment and are now cancer free.
Some of the women on this list have died, though not from breast cancer. Shirley Temple Black, Happy Rockefeller and Betty Ford made history as women who raised awareness about the disease during the 1970s, a time when these diseases were not discussed publicly. All three women beat breast cancer and lived long lives.
Women who have an immediate family member, such as a mother, sister or even a daughter, with a history of breast cancer are at a much greater risk of developing cancer – about twice as likely – as women without such a history. It is important for women to check for hereditary breast cancer and other cancers. Here are some other health tips that every woman should know.