Christina Applegate...venting
So I had to just vent a little. I know I shouldn't feel this way b/c every woman's diagnosis is scary, but I just read a story tonight about how Christina Applegate "battled cancer after she was diagnosed 15 days ago" and now she is 100% cancer free.
So that's great that they caught it early and I'm not trying to minimize her BC dx or anything, but is whatever she had done w/in FIFTEEN DAYS really considered a BATTLE? After what most of us here all been through... the hell of having breasts removed, expanders, chemo, rads...mets... it really pisses me off to read that.
I wanted to watch her interview with Robin Roberts in the morning but I'm afraid I'll just get more pissed. Am I wrong?
Erica
Comments
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Erica,
I had the same reaction! I asked myself how could anyone be 'cured' in a couple of weeks. I can't believe that Robin Roberts is going to let her get away with that. It is such a disservice to the public for anyone to think that this thing is over in a matter of days. So now the rest of us are thinking what's wrong with us that we couldn't get over this in 2 weeks, why didn't our doctors do this faster? IT'S CRAZY!
Deb
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Attention is one thing but misinformation is another ....... Robin's story was great because she showed how hard it was but it was doable .....She had support, but she still missed work. She wore a wig but she still shed tears.
I would say Christina Applegate had a close call with bc.
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Well, tomorrow if Robin lets this slide.. WE ALL NEED to got to the GMA site and complain BIG TIME ! I will ! Pass this thread along for others to watch tomorrow. I will be VERY disappointed if Robin lets this pass as a cure in 15days...
Laura
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I'm playing devil's advocate here and know full well what a bc battle is and 15 days is not a bc battle but.....I was reading a story somewhere else that she is up for some parts and if the producers or whoever makes these decisions think she will be ill, hairless and unable to do the roles, she may lose the part(s). Although we all know we can't be declined a job due to cancer but in her industry it will just be we went with someone else. I would almost bet it is just her media people trying to put a spin on this so it doesn't jeopardize her work. I wouldn't judge her or what she is going through based on what her people are throwing the media.
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LuAnn,
You may be right but if that's the case then don't say anything and let her agents work behind the scenes. The general public needs good info, not spin.
Deb
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Erica,
I usually disregard the comments of Hollywood celebs (i.e., Suzanne Somers, Melissa Etheridge, etc.) but when I read Chistina's comments a few minutes ago, I just had to come here and vent also! Unsurprisingly, you beat me to it. But yep, this time I am really annoyed.
I am outraged that she is furthering the MYTH that, because she had a the tumor removed, she will not die of BC. And to think, she is going to be a "voice" for this disease....grrrrrr.....
editing to add the text that I read:
Applegate says she is 100 percent cancer free Aug. 18, 2008, 6:05 PM EST
NEW YORK (AP) -- Christina Applegate says she has a clean bill of health after undergoing treatment for breast cancer. "I'm clear," Applegate tells ABC News' "Good Morning America" in an interview airing Tuesday. "Absolutely 100 percent clear and clean. It did not spread. They got everything out, so I'm definitely not going to die from breast cancer."
Applegate's interview with "GMA" was taped Monday.
The actress' publicist, Ame Van Iden, announced earlier this month that Applegate was being treated for the disease after it was detected through a doctor-ordered MRI.
"I was so mad," she says in the "GMA" interview when she first heard the news. "I was just shaking and - and then also immediately, I had to go into ... `take-care-of-business-mode,' which was ... I asked them, `What do I do now? What - what is it that I do? I get a doctor, I get a surgeon, I get an oncologist? What do I do?'"
Applegate, 36, says she "immediately made those appointments and immediately called around for ... someone to start teaching me how to live macrobiotically." She was referring to following a healthy diet of fish, grains, beans and vegetables, and avoiding processed foods.
The actress, whose mother battled breast cancer, says she began getting mammograms at the age of 30.
Applegate is scheduled to appear on a one-hour TV special, "Stand Up to Cancer," to be aired on ABC, CBS and NBC on Sept. 5 to raise funds for cancer research.
She has been nominated for an Emmy and a Golden Globe for the ABC show "Samantha Who?", in which she plays a woman who wakes from a coma with no memory of who she is.
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Well I just read in the national enquirer (I know not a great mag, but ive been picking up anything with BC on the cover lately) that she actually has an aggressive form of cancer, and it putting of chemotherapy to quickly have a child and then decide her options. she did have a double mascectomy because she is BRCA1 positive. Who knows though, that was the enquirerer, they were right about john edwards!!
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Donna, thanks for posting that interview. I had thought it was the media's spin, but it's CA's story as well. I hope she's right, that she won't die from BC. We ALL hope for that, but to say she's "cured," I don't think she should be any kind of spokesperson for BC... a disease with NO CURE!
Thanks for replying everyone... it's nice to know that if I'M crazy, we're ALL crazy! LOL
xoxo Erica
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my doctor told me I was "cured" too after I had a mastectomy. But I had DCIS with no lymph node involvement. It may be she had very early BC, DCIS with nothing invasive, negative lymph nodes, and she opted for double mastectomy. If there is no breast left, there's no more risk of BC. But, is she really ready to work and appear on TV just 1 month after that kind of surgery??? I was not able to wear a prosthesis after 1 month, still too much sensitivity.
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Isn't that funny --- I had the same reaction to her article when I read that she was 100% cured! If none of us can get our oncs to tell us that, how can she? All I ever heard or read is that you can be sure your'e cured when you die from something else... Brother!
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You girls are all so right. I was also floored that she's out there proclaiming "I'm free." after a few weeks time. HELLO? And supposedly her cancer is aggressive? I assume she's HER2/neu+. That is in no way, free.... you are tethered to the herceptin pole for a good year after that. It IS a disservice to BC patients...as if we can be treated, cured and move on, all in under a month.
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I will have to agree with LuAnn on this. My first reaction was, "What the sh!$!! How can she be negotiating this so quickly!! But I do think they are putting a "spin" on this thing! Even if she is an early stage like DCIS, it takes a while to get all the diagnosises, surgeries, etc done. I would be very surprised if she is actually through all of that. I am betting her agents, etc are trying to "spin" this. I also agree that this is a HUGE disservice to all of the women who are fighting this insidious disease. It makes it sound like, "Hey it's okay. If you Do get diagnosised with BC, it's no big deal. Just go to your doc and it'll be a-okay. Well, just tell that to all the women here who are fighting for their lives. I, for one, was dismayed when I read the Yahoo story. I am happy for Christina, but I was sad that so many people will think that BC is a walk in the park which we all know is NOT true!
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I haven't read any of this until now. Even women who have DCIS are scared. But, if she had DCIS she wouldn't need chemo. And if the Enquirer is correct that she had an aggressive form of bc and is waiting to have a baby?????? WTH! Her mom battled bc and she's gonna put off further treatment to have a child. Harvest your eggs, woman. There's got to be more to the story. Now I suppose I'll be getting phone calls that someone read about this story and there's a cure for bc.
Shirley
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I, too, was dumbfounded when I read the latest on Christine. I had been under the impression that she was doing much more drastic treatment than a simple lumpectomy? Few of the stars who "come forward" with their BC tales seem to have had to undergo what most of us have, and I notice they sure don't tell~~~except for Melissa Ethridge!
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I hope I have the tv recording the GMA show tomorrow because I am really interested in hearing what CA has to say and how RG deals with it. I'm confused also as to how quickly she got from diagnosis to cured--will be interesting...
I think I have a little problem whenever a celebrity announces their diagnosis of breast cancer. My first thought is extreme sympathy, and I think--Good! here's a voice that can get attention, but they all make it seem like a stroll down a sunny lane...NOT!
I'll check back tomorrow to see who all was able to see the interview.
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I thought I read somewhere that she had DCIS.
Karen
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While it makes me mad. This is the way I see it. She probably had DCIS only. (No Invasive) So even if it was Her2+ It wouldnt matter. If she had a Lump with wide margins & it appeared to remove all her DCIS. Her & her Dr could both think & agree she is cancer free.
I dont think it is helping other women with BC at all. Here others are feeling terrible for months & years & battling the disease. And shes done in 18 days! And cured. Nice.
It will be interesting to see the interview this morning.
Pam
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I would like to add that I feel some people get scratched by cancer, some people get bitten, and some people get swallowed whole. The press should be a little more responcible when describing someones encounter with this damn disease
I'm glad she was able to catch this early....that is the point!!! I know of a woman who had a small spot of cancer in her breast and was treated with a radioactive seed, and was done with tx in just 2 weeks. There are never any guarantees when it comes to cancer, only that it is uncertain. I would just like to add that I feel that some people get scratched by cancer, and some people get bitten, and some people get swallowed whole. The press should be more responcible when describing someone's encounter with this damn disease.
1
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After nearly two years, bi-lateral mastectomy, chemo x8, radiation, horrible expanders, reconstruction (still uncomfortable), lymphodema, sore legs, etc. etc. I am too pissed off at Christina's "cure". WTF!!!!!!! Why wasn't it that easy for me???!!!!???
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Oops!!! Didn't mean to repeat myself!!!
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Robin Roberts has become ABC's go to cancer interviewer and I think she's lost her perspective on what's a good interview/story. She throws around words like "devestating decision" as if Christina was the first person to ever decide to have a bilateral mastectomy following her diagnosis.
I too assumed she just had DCIS or else she wouldn't be talking "cured". Robin could have explained what DCIS is and how that compares the invasive cancer because to viewers who don't know anything about breast cancer, that's confusing.
I think the interview could be helpful because she did emphasize earlier detections with a strong family history, the brca genes and how that if she found the cancer later it could have made the difference in her mortality.
I'm glad she has such a positive prognosis.
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Why is everyone so angry? If her way of dealing with this is to tell herself that she is cured, so what? By the way, I believe that she had a double mast.
After two bouts with this disease I, too am telling myself that I am "done". It helps me to cope and go on.
We all "deal" in our own way. I don't think being judgemental is helpful.
JMHO
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I thought the interview was good (just saw it)
And being that I had a BL one prophylactic Its good that a Star had the same thing...Maybe it will bring more awareness to that...And how Immediate reconstruction is not Immediate!
I like her sense of humor -Especially her mention of when she is 90 & will have 'Cute boobs'
She is still on that awful Rollarcoaster of early days.
She is bringing awareness & trying to help others- Especially Young women- which is very important.
I sure wish we knew for sure if it was DCIS or IDC. But then thats none of our Business. LOL
Pam
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I just caught the tail end of the interview with Robin Roberts and she said "I am defintely not going to die from breast cancer". Apparently she had a double mastectomy after being dx with DCIS. Hmm...I did not know they could "cure" breast cancer.
Then she goes on about the great boobs she will have and "be the envy at the nursing home". She failed to mention that she lost her nipples and all feeling in the breasts. I am almost finished with my expansion for my implants and I still cry because I have no nipples or feeling in my breasts.
We all complain about the comments "BC is no big deal". She just furthers that myth. I am glad her BC was caught early and she does not have to undergo chemo or rads. I am glad she is positive and hope it is not just for the cameras. But I wish she would let the public know how really hard it is to loose your breasts and what the pain of reconstruction is like. I am sick of hearing people tell me how great my boobs will look. Yes, they may, I hope. But I would much rather have breasts that can be felt.
I am sorry but I am burned up about this.
Debbie
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I also saw the interview this morning and I also thought it was good. I am glad that she is bringing out the awareness for early detection especially for people with a family history.
I too had to make the '"devastating decision" for preventative bilat mast because of family history and 2 previous dx of ADH in each breast in a 24 month period. And no matter what anyone says it is devastating to decide to remove a part of your body that may or may not have cancer. and my reconstruction has taken over a year to complete.
I like her humor, I made the same comment about best looking boobs in the nursing home and I say, these are fake- my real ones tried to kill me.
Sheila
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blue, I think when people go public with their experience, we have a right to comment on how they've expressed their stories. There are people watching such interviews who take the words and experiences of celebrities as gospel and at least for me, that's why I think it's important to discuss our feelings about such interviews, and yes, if we want to, make judgments about them.
Sheila, I made the decision to have bilateral after my dx and it wasn't devestating to me. I was knowledgeable about BC and thought that if it ever happened to me, that's what I'd do. For me the decision was liberating, to hopefully cut down my chances of recurrence or a 2nd cancer. I evaluated the statistics and chose my path with relief. I never needed my breasts to define myself as a woman or as sexy and never felt less than a sexy woman afterwards. Maybe I'll meet Christina in the nursing home with her perky breasts and we'll have a few laughs.
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I didn't see the interview, but a double mastectomy for DCIS seems very radical. Did she reveal anything ele? Like BRACA status? I, too was very surprised and a bit annoyed when I heard she was done"battling" breast cancer after 15 days. I interpreted her "clean" proclamation as negative nodes. Are any of us ever truly over the battle? I just started treatment, but I feel this is something I will battle emotionally for the rest of my life. Rose
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Sounds like she was DX in April...She said she had 2 Lump. And did test Positive for BRAC - I dont recall which one. I dont think BL for DCIS is Radiacal...Many women choose that- even those that are not BRAC+ . Also if she had 2 Lump (on one side) It could have been multifocal(is that the term) . Or not clear margins... And she is small breasted also...
Here is a link to the interview.
You will probably have to click on CA link
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Give the poor girl a break. No matter how she is portraying her experiences, I'm sure she is suffering terribly. She has the added burden of the whole world knowing her personal business, then has to keep on trucking.
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I saw the interview....She is BRACA1, and that's why she had the double mast....
Robin did say, after the interview ran, that Christina wasn't really ready to go public, but wanted to quell certain rumors....such as that she was putting off chemo to have a family...not true.
I don't think Christina has had time to fully process her situation...Remember those early days? Full of anger, denial, tears...and so many unexpressed fears.....I heard bravado in her words of knowing that she would NOT die of breast cancer.....And I th ink we all do some ot that for friends and family.
I was hoping they would go into more detail about what kind of cancer C. had....Most people, myself included before dx, don't realize that there are so many different types of dxs....I wish someone would do an informative show on this subject.....interviewing various women who have had various experiences.....
Got to get back to work!
Sandy
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