As Actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus Turns 60 She Seems Stronger Than Ever; Beating Breast Cancer & Churning Out New Projects

Closer Weekly reports that the actress is in great spirits after beating cancer. "I feel really strong. I'm good, I'm here!" she said. Louis-Dreyfus said she is "even more laser-focused" on what matters most in life since beating breast cancer. A cancer diagnosis can pull everything in sharper focus, and provide clarity on the important things in life, like family and friends. She’s continued to work after beating cancer, and delight audiences with her spirited performances on shows like Veep. Louis-Dreyfus also just signed a lucrative deal with Apple TV+. "I am thrilled about this new partnership with my friends at Apple," said Louis-Dreyfus, Variety reported.

Julia’s Breast Cancer Battle

Louis-Dreyfus was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer in 2017. She went through six rounds of chemotherapy, and a double mastectomy to treat her disease. Treatment options for breast cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Louis-Dreyfus was admirably candid throughout her breast cancer journey, publicly discussing her disease and raising awareness around breast cancer in the process. We have no doubt that her candor helped others learn more about breast cancer and feel less alone if they were battling it, too.

Related: Julia Louis-Dreyfus Recalls Tremendous Support She Got After Breast Cancer Diagnosis: "I got to say, it made me cry"

When deciding on whether to have a mastectomy,  Dr. Ann Partridge, an Oncologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, explained in a previous interview how she determines whether or not a woman should undergo this surgical procedure. “So when I talk to a woman who comes to me and she has breast cancer, I evaluate what the standard options for treatment for her are, which typically include cutting out the cancer   which is either a lumpectomy if you can get it all with just a little scooping around of the area that’s abnormal or a mastectomy for some women meaning taking the full breast because sometimes these lesions can be very extensive in the breast. And I’ll talk to a woman about that and I’ll say these are two main options or the big fork in the road.”

When Should You Consider a Mastectomy?

Breast Cancer Screening

Breast cancer is typically detected via mammography, so it’s critical to get regular screenings. A mammogram looks for lumps in the breast tissue and early signs of cancer. Dr. Connie Lehman, the Chief of Breast Imaging Division at Massachusetts General Hospital, said in a previous interview, “If you haven’t gone through menopause yet, I think it’s very important that you have a mammogram every year. We know that cancers grow more rapidly in our younger patients, and having that annual mammogram can be lifesaving.”

Related: It's Important To Continue Cancer Screenings Through COVID-19

Dr. Lehman explained that if you’re post-menopause, you can decrease your frequency of getting mammograms. “After menopause,” she said, “it may be perfectly acceptable to reduce that frequency to every two years. But what I’m most concerned about is the women who haven’t been in for a mammogram for two, three, or four years, those women that have never had a mammogram. We all agree regular screening mammography saves lives. Every doctor that I know, every organization that I know really encourages women to have a mammogram. 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.”

When Should I Get a Mammogram?

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