Remembering a Legacy
- Actress Kelly Preston passed away in July at the age of 57 after secretly battling breast cancer for two years; her husband John Travolta shared the news through social media.
- It’s unclear what stage Preston’s breast cancer was in at the time of her passing, but it’s well known that early detection is key when it comes to treating breast cancer successfully.
- Mammograms are the best tools in catching breast cancer early, and general guidelines say that women should start screening annually at the age of 45, and continue until 54. However, there can be exceptions depending on your risk.
In July, Preston’s husband, actor John Travolta, shared with us that Preston had lost her two-year battle with breast cancer. The actress, known for her roles in movies Jerry McGuire, For Love of the Game, and Mischief, was going through treatment at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston before her passing. In addition to her movie roles, she also was well known as a loving wife to Travolta and mother to their children Ella, 20, Benjamin, 9, and late son Jett, who died at age 16 in January 2009 after having a seizure while the family was on vacation in the Bahamas.
Read MoreView this post on InstagramBoth she and Travolta have been devoted practicing Scientologists for years, and it’s unclear what treatments Preston had during her breast cancer battle. There's been serious debate as to whether Scientology allows professional medical care or not when it comes to battling diseases. However, other Scientologists, such as actor Tom Cruise, have passionately claimed that the religion does encourage doctor visits, routine checkups, and standard medication when someone has an illness. Additionally, in a statement to ABC News, the Church of Scientology confirmed that they do not interfere with followers turning to conventional medicine.
Both friends and fans shared their deepest condolences once hearing about her passing, including Travolta’s former Grease co-star Olivia Newton-John who is currently battling metastatic breast cancer. “Obviously Kelly was a friend and a beautiful human inside and out," Newton-John told SurvivorNet in a previous interview. "It really strengthened my determination to find treatments for people. I've lost many friends in this last year, and I seem to have lost a lot of people to cancer that I know.”
Early Detection is Key
It’s unclear what stage Preston’s breast cancer was in at the time of her passing, but it’s well known that early detection is key when it comes to treating breast cancer successfully. Mammograms are the best tools in catching breast cancer early. General guidelines say that women should start screening annually at the age of 45, and continue until 54, but there are exceptions for specific groups of women.
Related: When You're Getting a Mammogram, Ask About Dense Breasts
For the women who fall under the "high risk" category, which includes women who have had a first-degree relative with breast cancer, the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation, or experienced radiation on their chest, experts suggest going to annual mammogram as early as 30. If you’re unclear about your family history, then you may consider genetic testing to determine if you have any gene mutations.
Dr. Connie Lehman explains why mammograms are important, and when women should start screening
"Every doctor that I know, every organization that I know really encourages women to have a mammogram," Dr. Connie Lehman, the Chief of the Breast Imaging Division at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, tells SurvivorNet. "I want to be completely clear. If you are between 50 and 74 and you have not had a mammogram in the last two years, you are overdue. Please get a mammogram."
Memories are Important After Cancer
Preston’s incredible life is important to remember after her passing, and that’s something that others impacted by cancer may want to take note of. This is something that Doug Wendt knows too well. He lost his wife of 25 years, Alice, to ovarian cancer, and took care of her during her cancer journey.
Doug says point blank that losing his wife of over two decades was an extremely difficult point in his life, but he’s learned an important lesson in the end. Even though many people may assume it’s expected to “move on,” it’s not always a necessary thing to do during the grieving process.
Related: Sadness Is Not Always A Bad Thing Coping After Losing A Parent To Cancer
"We're never gonna move on, I don't even think I want to move on, but I do want to move forward," Doug told SurvivorNet in a previous interview. "That's an important distinction and I encourage anybody who goes through this journey as a caregiver and then has to face loss, to think very carefully about how to move forward."
Doug Wendt, who lost his wife to ovarian cancer, says moving on isn’t always necessary
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