Actress Gina Bellman's Breast Cancer Reveal
- “Leverage” star Gina Bellman says Kate Middleton, who is currently undergoing preventative chemotherapy amid her journey with an undisclosed cancer, was inspiration to “go public” with her own breast cancer battle.
- Some people want to share their experiences as much as they can and others don’t want to tell anyone. Both of these approaches, and everything in between (maybe you only want to tell a few close friends about your diagnosis), are valid.
- “Patients who have just been diagnosed with cancer sometimes wonder how they are going to handle the diagnosis of the cancer in social situations,” psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik tells SurvivorNet. “How much information they should share and with whom they should share the information … everybody is different.”
- The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends women at average breast cancer risk begin screening for breast cancer at age 40. Women with the BRCA gene mutation, who have a family history of cancer or have dense breasts, are at higher risk and should talk with their doctor about when to screen may be younger than 40.
Middleton, 42, who is currently undergoing preventative chemotherapy amid her journey with an undisclosed cancer, revealed her diagnosis last week—something which has motivated Bellman, 57, to talk about her own experience battling disease.
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She continued, “I myself underwent treatment for Breast Cancer last summer. Until now- I didn’t have the courage to go public. 8 months on I’m back in stilettos and filming 14 hour days.
“For those undergoing treatment right now- there is light at the end of this tunnel.”
I myself underwent treatment for Breast Cancer last summer. Until now- I didn’t have the courage to go publiic. 8 months on I’m back in stilettos and filming 14 hour days. For those undergoing treatment right now- there is light at the end of this tunnel ❤️?
— Gina Bellman (@Ginabellman) March 22, 2024
Following an immense amount of support shown from fans across the social media platform, Bellman wrote in a followup post, “Thank you all for the I do think the Leverage world is a little cocoon of kindness xx.”
Fans praised Bellman as a “hero” and an”inspiration” in the wake of her announcement, with one person writing on “X,” So happy you are back & healthy. It is a very personal experience.
“Everyone handles it in their own way & being a public figure does not mean you aren’t entitled to privacy. I wish health & inner peace to all fighting that fight. May we all be survivors!”
Another commented,” hank you for sharing…on your terms. It is how it should always be. Think not about courage, you simply needed to keep your own confidence during that time to get thru it. And I say you do whatever it takes! I am OVERJOYED you are back & I bet better than ever!”
“I can understand why you didn’t have the courage to go public, after all it’s something so personal. I find it all the more courageous that you are now sharing it with us!” wrote a third fan.
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Bellman’s cancer reveal follows Middleton’s announcement on Friday. The young mom of three, the Princess of Wales, offered some insight into her cancer journey, without revealing the type of cancer she was diagnosed with in a video shared on her social media pages.
Middleton thanked everyone for their support following her recent abdominal surgery, saying, “It has been an incredibly tough couple of months for our entire family, but I’ve had a fantastic medical team who have taken great care of me, for which I am so grateful.
“In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London and at the time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous. The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present,” she explained further.
“My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment. This of course came as a huge shock, and William and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family.”
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Middleton concluded in her heartfelt post, “As is the love, support and kindness that has been shown by so many of you. It means so much to us both. We hope that you will understand that, as a family, we now need some time, space and privacy while I complete my treatment. My work has always brought me a deep sense of joy and I look forward to being back when I am able, but for now I must focus on making a full recovery.
“At this time, I am also thinking of all those whose lives have been affected by cancer. For everyone facing this disease, in whatever form, please do not lose faith or hope. You are not alone.”
Opening Up About Cancer
Numerous people have undergone cancer treatment will tell you that openly discussing their condition has eased some of the stress associated with it, but this doesn’t work for everyone.
Due to cancer treatment not being a one size fits all approach, it affects everyone different mentally, and not everyone feels comfortable sharing what they are going through with others in social situations.
Do I need to share my diagnosis with others? Psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik weighs in.
Some people want to share their experiences as much as they can and others don’t want to tell anyone. Both of these approaches, and everything in between (maybe you only want to tell a few close friends about your diagnosis), are valid.
“Patients who have just been diagnosed with cancer sometimes wonder how they are going to handle the diagnosis of the cancer in social situations,” psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik explained to SurvivorNet in an earlier interview.
“How much information they should share and with whom they should share the information … everybody is different.”
Expert Resources On Coping With Cancer
Dr. Plutchik explains that some share the information widely, with family, friends, and beyond and feel comfortable doing so. “Other people are much more private about it,” she says. “And there is no one right way to handle this diagnosis.
“People should do what feels right to them. Going through a cancer diagnosis, through treatment, is often a very long process. And then if you also include after treatment ends where a person is in a kind of state of limbo, waiting to see if they are clear and get their scans. It may be three months or six months into the future. People are still dealing with uncertainty at that point,” she explains.
Handling Fear When You Get the Diagnosis
Dr. Plutchik stresses that those close to a person going through cancer should be respectful of their wishes when it comes to disclosing their diagnosis and seeking support.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
- What can I do if I am uncomfortable talking about my diagnosis?
- If I feel that I need support beyond friends and loved ones, what are my options?
- What can I do if I feel anxiety around my diagnosis?
- How much do I need to disclose to my place of employment?
Finding Joy Outside of Cancer
When faced with a cancer battle it can be hard to focus on life outside of your disease. But it’s important to remember that your mental state can actually impact your success as a patient.
Determination & Hope Despite Setbacks Prevail in “Climbing Blind”
“I’m pretty good at telling what kind of patients are going to still have this attitude and probably going to live the longest, even with bad, bad disease,” Dr. Zuri Murrell, a colorectal surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, previously told SurvivorNet. “And those are patients who, they have gratitude in life.”
RELATED: Stay Positive, It Matters
Dr. Dana Chase, a gynecologic oncologist at Arizona Oncology, also advocates for cancer warriors to prioritize their mental health. She noted that emotional well-being has been studied as a factor in patient outcomes.
“We know from good studies that emotional health is associated with survival, meaning better quality of life is associated with better outcomes,” Dr. Chase told SurvivorNet in an earlier interview.
“So, working on your emotional health, your physical well-being, your social environment [and] your emotional well-being are important and can impact your survival,” she explained.
“If that’s related to what activities you do that bring you joy, then you should try to do more of those activities.”
There are no right or wrong answers, but Dr. Chase says doing things that bring you joy is important.
What Still Brings You Joy? Your Emotional Health is So Important
Dr. Chase recommends writing down ten things that make you happy and intentionally making the time to do those activities throughout the day.
Helpful Information About Breast Cancer Screening
The medical community has a consensus that women between 45 and 54 have annual mammograms. However, an independent panel of experts called the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is saying that women should start getting mammograms every other year at the age of 40, suggesting that this lowered the age for breast cancer screening could save 19% more lives. For women aged 55 and older, the American Cancer Society recommends getting a mammogram every other year. However, women in this age group who want added reassurance can still get annual mammograms.
Women with a strong family history of breast cancer, have dense breasts, have a genetic mutation known to increase the risk of breast cancer, such as a BRCA gene mutation, or a medical history, including chest radiation therapy before age 30, are considered at higher risk for breast cancer.
WATCH: Understanding the BRCA gene mutation
Experiencing menstruation at an early age (before 12) or having dense breasts can also put you into a high-risk category. If you are at a higher risk for developing breast cancer, you should begin screening earlier.
Breast density is determined through mammograms. However, women with dense breasts are at a higher risk for developing breast cancer because dense breast tissue can mask potential cancer during screening. 3D mammograms, breast ultrasound, breast MRI, and molecular breast imaging are options for women with dense breasts for a more precise screening. It is important to ask your doctor about your breast density and cancer risk.
Family History & Breast Cancer Risk
Although breast cancer can happen to anyone, certain factors can increase a person’s risk of getting the disease. The known risk factors for breast cancer include:
- Older age
- Having a gene mutation such as the BRCA1 or BRCA2
- Added exposure to estrogen
- Having children after the age of 30
- Exposure to radiation early in life
- Family history of the disease
RELATED: Is Genetic Testing Right for You?
Different types of genetic testing can help people with a family history of cancer better ascertain their cancer risks. Your doctor will discuss your family history of cancer with you in the context of your type of tumor and your age at diagnosis. Hereditary genetic testing is usually done with a blood or saliva test.
WATCH: Understanding genetic testing for breast cancer.
About ten percent of breast cancers are hereditary, says Dr. Ophira Ginsburg, Director of the High-Risk Cancer Program at NYU Langone’s Perlmutter Cancer Center.
“We encourage only those with a family history to get [genetic testing],” Dr. Ginsburg tells SurvivornNet. “I would say that if you have anyone in your family diagnosed with a rare cancer. Or if you have a strong family history of one or two kinds of cancer, particularly breast and ovarian, but also colon, rectal, uterine, and ovarian cancer, that goes together in another cancer syndrome called the Lynch Syndrome,” Dr. Ginsburg adds.
The second test involves the genetic sequencing of your tumor if you’ve been diagnosed with cancer by this point. These genetic changes can be inherited, but most arise during a person’s lifetime. This process usually involves examining a biopsy or surgical specimen of your tumor. This testing can lead to decisions on drugs that might work against your cancer.
“Digital mammography, it turns out, significantly improves the quality of the mammogram… It’s 3D or tomosynthesis mammography,” Dr. Lehman explains.
“This allows us to find more cancers and significantly reduce our false-positive rate. With digital mammography 3D tomosynthesis, we’re taking thin slices through that breast tissue, like slices of a loaf of bread. We can look at each slice independently rather than trying to see through the entire thickness of the entire loaf of bread. So those thin slices help us find things that were hidden in all the multiple layers,” Dr. Lehman adds.
Additional testing can be considered for dense breasts, depending on a woman’s personal history, preferences, and her physician’s guidance.
WATCH: Understanding dense breast mammography
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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