Dorothy Hamill has BC

Poppy

Dorothy Hamill has BC

Poppy

Former Olympic Gold Medalist Dorothy Hamill Being Treated for Breast Cancer Friday, January 04, 2008  AP/File
Figure skater Dorothy Hamill, with 1976 Olympic gold medal.BALTIMORE -  Former Olympic gold medalist Dorothy Hamill is undergoing treatment for breast cancer.Hamill said in a statement Friday that she is being treated at the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins. The prognosis is favorable, but the 51-year-old Hamill said she will miss some of the "Broadway on Ice" tour while she is having treatment. She hopes to rejoin the tour in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., where the tour stops on Jan. 16-17.With her bright smile and bubbly personality, Hamill became America's sweetheart when she won the gold medal in the 1976 Olympics. Girls across the country flocked to their hairdressers to copy her trademark wedge haircut, and a Dorothy Hamill doll came out the next year.Hamill also was a three-time U.S. champion and won the world title in 1976. She retired shortly after, and joined the Ice Capades in 1977.

Anonymous

Oh, how sad.  She's going to an excellent cancer center.  I wish her the very best!

My three little girls wore their hair like Dorothy Hamill.   She was such a cutie that has grown up to be such a beautiful woman.

Shirley

NancyM

#&$^&@ cancer!!

mkl48

Either she has been treated for a while or this is a very early BC not being treated with chemo. Beth

annm

My thoughts exactly NancyM..

I was big fan of hers growing up .....went to see her perform in the Ice Capades ...even had her famous hair style.

Sounds like she has a good attitude and I wish her the best.

AM

Harley44

Wow!  I guess the list of names of women who have been dx'd with bc will NEVER END!  How sad!

Harley

Anonymous

Maybe because figure skating was my world for so long (I quit when I was diagnosed), but it weirds me out that so many of our skaters as well as their mothers have bc. Everyone, of course, knows about Peggy Fleming, and now Dorothy Hamill. The Hughes girls' mother, Amy, had it and Jennifer Kirk's mother died of it. There are many others. I'm sure its just coincidental, but it still seems odd to me.....

~Marin

Jaybird627

Marin, the "coincidence" is being female.....  

(that, and more women than ever being vocal about their having BC)

ravdeb

I agree with you Jaybird. What bugs me is that they have been exercising (like you, Marin, and many others..I exercise, too!) and that didn't seem to keep the cancer away. I realize there are many elements, but still..it bugs.

NoH8

I agree with you Jaybird and was going to say the same thing before you wrote it. It sounded to me like she has DCIS. Does anyone know more about her dx.

Bliz

I keep wondering about the eating disorder link.  I am sure many figure skater, gymnists, ballet dancers, etc have at the least, unusual eating habits as they try to maintain a certain weight.  Any thoughts?  At the least it could lower your immune system.

Lynne

I know Peggy Fleming (1968 gold medal skater) had breast cancer awhile back (10 years?). Also Scott Hamilton (1976 or 1980? gold medal skater) had testicular cancer. It makes you wonder......

It sounds like her cancer was caught in the early stage if she can join the show the end of Jan. I couldn't see how she could have chemo or radiation while on tour, unless she waited to start it afterwards.

Lynne

Paulette531

In one article it says "she's been dealing with this longer than she would want anyone to know" it also said more tests were underway, etc.

Member_of_the_Club

I suspect DCIS as well. I don't mean to start an argument here, but I do get annoyed when celebrities announce they have bc and then they are out ice skating a few weeks later. I think they should make it clear that they have DCIS because the public will get the wrong impression about what it is like for many women who battle cancer.

NoH8

I agree member. I think it inadvertantly spreads misinformation to the public. There's a huge difference between being dx with dcis and stage 4 cancer.

Bliz, I would think that women with eating disorders or a histories of them would be less at risk, particularly if they lose their periods, since they aren't ovulating or producing the amount of estrogen as those who do have their periods.

Beesie

Oh, please, we're not getting into the "my cancer is worse than (or is it better than?) your cancer" debate, are we?

The fact is that most women diagnosed with DCIS go through the same emotional upheaval as any other woman diagnosed with BC.  Most women diagnosed with DCIS require either a lumpectomy with radiation, or a mastectomy, just like any other woman diagnosed with cancer.  It's true that women diagnosed with DCIS don't require chemo, but then neither do many Stage 1 BC patients, and some who are Stage 2 are able to forgo chemo.  As for future risks and concerns, DCIS has a notoriously high recurrence rate, with 50% of the recurrences being IDC, so while women who have DCIS may not fear mets in the same way that Stage 1+ women do, they certainly have recurrence fears.  And any woman diagnosed with BC faces a significantly higher risk of getting BC again in the future - it makes no difference whether the original diagnosis was DCIS or advanced BC.  Too many DCIS women come cautiously to this board, feeling that they don't have a legitimate right to voice their fears because DCIS is 'not as serious' as other BC.  Let's not turn BC.org into a place where DCIS women feel uncomfortable.  

To the discussion in the previous posts, certainly there is a huge difference between being diagnosed with early stage BC and later stage BC.  But the bigger problem I think is the attitude of celebs who tell the world that they've been diagnosed with BC but then sugar-coat the rest of the story, never talking about their fears, the difficulties of surgeries & treatments, and the emotional turmoil that a cancer diagnosis brings.  Fortunately these days a few celebs are speaking out more openly about the entire cancer experience.  Maybe in time, Dorothy Hamill will too.  But for now, she probably just wants to deal with this privately.

'Nuff said.

NoH8

I would bet if you asked any woman with breast cancer if she'd rather have DCIS or Advanced Stage, she would pick DCIS. We all have fears, some fears have a higher chance of coming to fruition and a lower survival rate. Any one of us can be on either side of the odds, no need to be defensive.

Anonymous

Gosh darn, Im sad to hear this.  Just mentioned it to my DH and he even commented that too many women are getting breast cancer and what in the world is wrong.

I like Dorothy Hamill - I do hope they were able to catch it early enough to treat.  She has a contagious smile and a heart of gold.

Nicki

Beesie

Amy, as I said, "certainly there is a huge difference between being diagnosed with early stage BC and later stage BC."   I think anyone would choose to be early stage vs. later stage.  The earlier the better, of course. 

My point was simply that I just don't think it's appropriate or fair to single out DCIS or to assume that Dorothy Hamill has DCIS just because we seem to think that she's having minimal treatment.  Some women with DCIS require a lot more treatment than some women with Stage 1.  And just because we haven't heard about all the treatments that Dorothy Hamill is having doesn't mean that she isn't having them.

Fitztwins

I am sure she was a survivor. But it could be peggy flemming I am confusing her with!

mkl48

I think you are on target.Too many in the public think that there has been far more progress in curing BC than is the reality. Beth

cmb35

I sincerely hope for her sake that it is the early stage, best prognosis, no chemo kind of cancer. I hope that for every single person who has to hear those heart stopping 3 words.

And yes, it always reminds me of the one other time in my life I read any kind of online support/discussion board. It was a grief support board, not specific to any type of grief; however, there was a definite issue between those who had lost a child, and those who had "only" lost a parent, spouse, sibling, etc.

Here are my thoughts on the subject, for what they're worth. The worst thing that ever happened to you is the worst thing that ever happened to you. The fact that it could have been even worse, doesn't change anything. It's still the worst thing that ever happened to YOU. And any comparison, whether it's trying to compare someone who's child died Vs someone who "only" lost a parent, or someone who "only" has DCIS Vs someone with, let's say, triple neg/node pos bc at age 41 with a sweet 9 year old boy to worry about for example :-), is hurtful, and really, what is the point?

Yes, I cringe when I hear the, "I just schedule my chemo for Friday afternoon, I feel tired for a day or two, but I'm back at work bright and early Monday morning!" people. Am I just jealous because I was a, "I have my chemo on Weds cause I have no choice in the matter, and then if I'm very lucky I'm able to remain at home on massive doses of painkillers instead of being hospitalized for whatever the hell that scary low white blood count cell thing is called" (can you even believe I don't remember what it's called anymore? LOL) kind of person? Probably! But I worry a whole lot less about celebrities giving people the wrong impression about how tough facing breast cancer is. As long as the doctors, researchers, etc. get it, I can handle explaining it (if I feel like it) to the people in my life. And those that don't get it, but are well-intentioned in their ignorance, simply get a sincere and heartfelt "thank you" from me, because, intent really is the most important thing in my book.

OK, as I read back, and worry, what will be taken the wrong way and/or offend people? Please know that while I am lucky enough to have my child healthy and whole, I do have people very close to me who have lost a child. And of course, it is the worst possible thing that could happen. It is in fact, "sadder" than losing your 88 year old mom. However, that does not change my basic premise on this matter, that the worst thing that ever happened to you is the worst thing that ever happened to you. If the death of your 88 year old Aunt Tilly is the first death you have experienced, and you were very close to her, it's going to hurt. And that hurt should be respected.

Offically off soap box! Not sure what has come over me today! I rarely even post anymore, never mind get involved in a potentially divisive or emotional post (not my thing in general, and not what I come here for.)

Peace to you all.....

NancyM

I agree it looks as if bc is not a big deal when celebs get right back to work....I used to say I hated the "Lance Armstrong effect" as far as my co-workers thinking I was "over" treatment mere weeks after I finished.  But hopefully some women will go get checkups because of Dorothy Hamill, or maybe they won't be afraid to get treatment.  In that case it's a positive use of the celebrity status.   

Anonymous

Bottom line is that cancer - ANY CANCER - sucks. I wish her the best.

Member_of_the_Club

I really didn't mean to start something but I do think we sometimes have to fight the idea that is out there that cancer is no big deal. Sheryl Crowe had the grace to say that in spite of everything she had to deal with, she knew it would have been much more difficult if she had to go through chemo. She said she was lucky.



Yes, all breast cancer sucks but we can also agree that the later the stage at which it is diagnosed, the more it sucks. I wish I had DCIS, I'm jealous of those of you who were. I'm sure that women who were diagnosed at stage III or IV wish they had been diagnosed at stage II, like I was. And I don't feel the need to point out why being stage II was so horrible, because I feel very lucky that it was diagnosed at an early stage.

sccruiser

Please don't be jealous that I had DCIS. I now have truncal Lymphedema. I have lymphedema in my right arm and hand, my right breast, my abdomen and right back side, and am at risk for Le in my left side and my lower limbs. Please don't be jealous because I can't just bounce back from DCIS, and go on as before after treatment. I must do the following every day, whether I want to or not: 1 and 1/2 hrs of water exercise class, 1 hr of compression pump of upper trunk, 1/2 hr of manual lymph drainage 3-5 times a day, put on my sleeve and glove to garden, walk, play with my granddaughter, walk my dogs, sleep with a Jovi upper garment, arm & glove garment, each with power sleeve, and wear daytime compression garments on my legs, arms & upper body. I also take a pile of pain pills. I also go into outpatient surgery periodically for stellate ganglion block injections and/or celiac plexus block injections. I do all this and I still am not well enough to return to work.



Please don't be jealous of my DCIS.



grace

Bliz

Yes, playing the game of "my cancer is worse than your cancer", really doesnt help anyone.  It is all bad and each person is traumatized.

It is great that famous women are coming forth acknowledging their BC, but it probably is glossed over for a number of reasons.  For example, the public likes a "happy face", survivor story from their famous.  And the famous love to give us that impression.

Anonymous

Yes, these women exercised and were in good shape.  I'm sure they adhered to a rigorous diet as well.  To me the bottom line is they still don't have a clue what causes breast cancer and are just wasting time with these ridiculous studies.  Breast cancer is a crap shoot.  Too many women who were doing everything right are getting breast cancer while others who never exercise, eat all the wrong things, and all the other things they say we should avoid, never get this disease.  I'm still leaning towards this being caused by a virus like cervical or a bacteria like stomach.   Its the only thing that could work with the randomness of this disease.

Lynne

Felicia

I agree with you! Cancer is cancer and it all stinks!

My biopsy showed DCIS, and all I heard was the word carcinoma when the nursed called with the results. She said it isn't really cancer. I said why do they call it carcinoma then. I had to tell her to slow down and explain everything. I was in shock and very upset. After my lumpectomy, my pathology report came bac IDC & DCIS. Did I feel worse? No, I was still so upset from the initial CANCER diagnosis. I ended up not having chemo (even though my oncologist suggested it, I was 43 and premenopausal, with a 1.5cm tumor). My surgeon suggested having the Oncotype DX test. My score came back 12 (low, 8% chance of recurrence in 10 yrs, chemo would bring it down to 5%). I decided not to go the chemo route. I'm sure I suffered a lot less than a lot of you, but I still had the biopsy, snb, 32 radiation treatments, a complete (ovaries, uterus, cervix,etc) hysterectomy (I decided to get rid of all the estrogen I can), and am now on Arimidex for 3 more years. I've had my mental and physical sufferings too!

We should be supporting ALL women who are diagnosed, no matter WHAT their diagnosis is!

Lynne

Sharon67

Yes Ladies, Cancer is cancer....no matter what stage. I was very healthy, no drinking, no smoking, working out and then turned 40 and life went to the left. All because of a simple nipple inversion. No lump, no bump...doctors saying it's probably nothing. Well stage 2-3 DCIS is something ladies....It's 4 weeks of testings then a double mast. with recon. and all the same as everyone else. So please don't make this seem like it's not cancer, or a better cancer to have. I just caught it before it broke thru. That's what early detection is for!