Actress Joins Others in Calling for Research Funding
- Actress Shannen Doherty, 49, is raising awareness and funds for cancer research as she continues to fight metastatic breast cancer.
- Metastatic breast cancer, which is breast cancer that has spread throughout the body, is not curable but is very treatable.
- Women 45 and older should get annual mammograms; those with certain risk factors should be tested sooner.
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Jeong and Moretz echoed Doherty’s message on their own profiles, as did The Flash actress Candice Patton and Arrested Development star Tony Hale.
The cause is personal for Doherty. She first battled breast cancer in 2015, going into remission before learning that the cancer had returned and metastasized (spread throughout her body) this February. Despite this difficult diagnosis, she’s continued to fight on with the support of her family, friends, and costars.
Breast cancer is deeply personal for Jeong, too: his wife Tran was diagnosed with the disease in 2008 and was going through chemotherapy as her husband made his big break in 2009’s The Hangover.
“She taught me that life is short, and don’t be afraid to take chances,” Jeong said at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards.
Since its founding in 2008, Stand Up to Cancer has pledged over $600 million to more than 180 clinical trials, supporting new research and therapies that have saved thousands of lives.
What is Metastatic Breast Cancer?
In February, Doherty learned that her breast cancer had returned and spread to other parts of her body. This is known as metastatic breast cancer, and according to Dr. Elizabeth Comen, a medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, explains, it requires a different treatment outlook than other forms of breast cancer.
"Technically, metastatic breast cancer is not curable, but it is highly treatable, especially depending upon the type of disease that a woman can have," Dr. Comen told SurvivorNet in a previous interview. "The first step with someone with stage four breast cancer is to try to figure out: Where is the metastatic breast cancer? Meaning, where did it spread? Because that's what defines stage four breast cancer."
While there is no cure for metastatic breast cancer, there are a number of highly effective treatments that can help you combat the disease and live a longer and more fulfilling life.
Screening for Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is typically detected via a mammogram, which takes an x-ray picture of the breast to reveal any cancerous growths.
Doctors are in consensus that women between the ages of 45 and 54 should get annual mammograms, but there is some contention over whether women aged 40-45 should also be screened.
You should talk to your doctor about being screened before age 45 if you fall into any high-risk category, such as a history of breast cancer in your immediate family, childhood exposure to radiation in the breast area, or certain genetic mutations.
When Should I Get a Mammogram?
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