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Drew Barrymore shares the story of her breast-cancer scare
During the Nov. 3 episode of The Drew Barrymore Show, the presenter disclosed that she had a scary moment of her health after her regular annual mammogram was the one that showed a problem. “I’m totally okay, but it was a bad mammogram that I got, and they took me to that room,” she mentioned, clarifying that she had to undergo an urgent biopsy and that she lived through a nerve-wracking waiting period of five days for the results.
Drew Barrymore shares breast cancer scare and promotes screenings
The host, after an abnormal mammogram and an emergency biopsy, reminded the viewers of the importance of early checks
Drew Barrymore told the audience of The Drew Barrymore Show on the 3rd of November that her routine mammogram had been flagged and an emergency biopsy was resulted. “I am totally okay, but I did have a bad mammogram and I was taken to that room,” she said, relating the nerve-wracking five-day period without knowing the results. Breast cancer survivor and fan Tig Notaro was also present and feeling the same kind of nervousness, she said, “It’s a long wait.”
Barrymore has been advocating cancer screenings for a long time; last October she recorded herself getting a mammogram to help the viewers ‘overcome their fears.’ Wearing a hospital gown, she informed the people during the filming how the technician took her through the X-ray, thereby hoping that by breaking down the exam others would be encouraged to get checked.
Drew Barrymore highlights survivors while calling for regular screenings
In addition to her efforts to break down the myths around mammograms, the 50-year-old highlights the survivors to bring out the human side of the healing process. Notaro, who is also a survivor, shared with Barrymore and the audience that waiting for the results is terrible: “It’s a long wait.”
Kotb, who was diagnosed in 2007, said to Drew that she went through the treatment with a very strong and clear vision: “I came up with four words: You can’t scare me. Like, what am I afraid of?” Barrymore has likewise employed the program to pay tribute to those who have died due to the disease, indubitably the 2023 episode which was dedicated to Gay Mathews, the mother of co-host Ross Mathews, who passed away after her fight with breast cancer.
Through sharing her own recent scare and elevating the voices of survivors, Barrymore is going to the extent of breaking down the barriers of fear that prevent people from getting their screenings.
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Ross Mathews recounts life lessons imparted by his late mom in a Drew Show tribute
During the Drew Mathews hand-holding moment, Ross Mathews said to the 2023 audience, “My mom was the best. She thought it was the funniest thing in the world.”
“She fought cancer with a lot of dignity, went into remission and unfortunately, in 2020, just before we were acquainted, she passed away. I learned an enormous amount being so close and personal with her. It was a terrible experience, but it also taught me a lot of things such as strength, family, and love. How strong she was and how much I loved her and still do. I can’t help but say that it was such a wonderful gift to have that time with her,” he added.
Additional stars who have opened up about their cancer struggles
Colin Egglesfield confirms cancer-free after his third cancer episode
In January, the All My Children alum made a prostate cancer diagnosis public and, in February, after the treatment, he shared a successful and cancer‑free update.
Colin Egglesfield announced that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer in January 2025. This is his third time cancer has come into his life, and yet, one month later, he made public that the surgery and treatment were successful and he’s now cancer‑free. In an Instagram update in February, he told his followers: “Remember, you’re not defined by any of your challenges. You’re grander than it all. I’m not my fear, my anxiousness or my scars but I embrace it all because the only way to transform it is to own it.”
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Gerry Turner shares the news of his Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia diagnosis
In December 2024, the ex-Golden Bachelor fame was the one to inform the world that he is suffering from Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia, which is cancer of the bone. Turner revealed to People that it was a shock to him and that he is being compelled by the disease to look at his life over again from a different perspective.
“Sadly, the doctor has not found a cure for it,” he said. “So, that is what I think most of the time. It was as if a weight of 10 tons of concrete had been dropped on me. I was somewhat in denial for a while, I didn’t want to acknowledge it.”
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Jim Beaver shares glad tidings after a prolonged battle with prostate cancer
On Feb. 3, 2023, Jim Beaver, the actor most recognized for his work on The Boys and Supernatural, revealed that he had been battling prostate cancer for a number of years and is now free from cancer.
Marcia Cross opens up about her anal cancer survival
In 2018, in a fan interaction, the Desperate Housewives diva communicated to the world that she fought off cancer of the anus. On Instagram, she wrote: “After posting here a picture of myself and barely pronouncing the words #cancer and #hairloss, I feel released, extremely free, and totally my own self.”
Dustin Hoffman declared “surgically cured” after cancer treatment
According to his representative, two-time Oscar winner Dustin Hoffman has been treated successfully for cancer and the doctors have called him “surgically cured.” The news was confirmed to E! News by his representative.
Hugh Jackman treated his basal cell carcinoma, implores fans to put on sunscreen
The X‑Men star has had a recurrent basal cell carcinoma situation: he was treated for his third lesion in 2014, after which his representative told E! News that he was “all good” after the operation. In April 2023 Jackman had two biopsies done to confirm his suspicion of basal cell carcinoma, and he used that occasion to speak directly to the audience — reminding those living in the northern hemisphere to protect their skin. “If I could only take this opportunity to remind you that summer is coming for those of us living in the northern hemisphere, please put on sunscreen,” he said.
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Camille Grammer is cancer-free for one year and celebrates
In the first month of the year, the former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star made a loud and clear shout-out her first year without cancer. A cancer of the lining of the uterus was attributed to the 2013 mother of the two kids, and she went through a radical hysterectomy. In 2017, Camille had an operation to remove her squamous cell carcinoma, which is a kind of skin cancer, removed.
Gordon Ramsay has surgery to remove basal cell carcinoma
Gordon Ramsay shared the pictures of a surgery where a single line of stitches from the bottom of his ear to his jaw was visible — covered with a bandage later — revealing that he had a skin cancer treatment.
“Thankful and very thankful to the amazing team at The Skin Associates for their quick and efficient work in removing this Basal Cell Carcinoma,” he said in his Instagram post in August 2025. Besides that, he reminded people: “Please don’t forget your sunscreen this weekend.”
He also joked, “I assure you it is not a face lift — I would have to ask for my money back…”.
Cobie Smulders battled ovarian cancer and then had kids
The Avengers: Age of Ultron actress was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at 25 but managed to get rid of the disease and later she and her husband Taran Killam became parents of two children.
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Brooke Burke healing after a surgery to remove thyroid cancer that went well
The singer and Dancing with the Stars cohost had a successful operation to remove a cancerous thyroid and expressed her gratitude to the fans on Twitter: “Thx for all the twitter love. I’m [home] recovering & resting.” The woman with four children informed that she is getting better at her place and that she is thankful for the support.
After her husband insisted that she get it checked, Michelle Monaghan had a cancerous mole removed
The Australian actress made the disclosure in October 2011 that she took off a cancerous mole from her leg after her husband prompted her to have the suspicious spot checked out by a doctor.
Anderson Cooper underwent the removal of a cancerous growth from under his eye
Longtime CNN anchor Anderson Cooper in 2008 had a cancerous growth surgically removed from under his left eye, which is definitely a warning to everyone to keep the sun protection up.
Maura Tierney departed Parenthood to deal with breast cancer, later came back after a triumphant treatment
The ER star, in 2009, had to leave her Parenthood role for a while in order to have a treatment for breast cancer; her treatment went well and she made her comeback to the work and the red carpet quite shortly.
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Sharon Osbourne declared cancer-free after battle with colon cancer
The diagnosis came to the colon cancer judge of the show America’s Got Talent, while she was filming The Osbournes in 2002. She took chemotherapy, and during the time she used the opportunity to promote regular checkups; in the next year, she was given a clean bill of health.
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Robin Roberts proudly revealed her chemotherapy journey
In an effort to show courage and make the experience of therapy seem less daunting to others, the GMA co-anchor, in her typical battle with cancer, didn’t hesitate to share with the world her hairless head that was the result of her chemo session.
Lance Armstrong battled stage‑four testicular cancer, then won seven straight Tour de France titles
He was the cycling champion who after having cancer of the testicle, the fourth stage, made a comeback and, as a result, he won the Tour de France seven times in a row.
Melissa Etheridge turned to activism following her victory over breast cancer
The singer who has won both a Grammy and an Oscar had a lumpectomy and chemotherapy in 2004–2005 to treat breast cancer. After the treatment was successful, she became a loud advocate for cancer awareness and LGBTQ+ rights, and she used her platform to encourage others and to make early detection known.
Julia Sweeney transformed the fight with her breast cancer into her one‑woman show “God Said Ha!”
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