Paris Hilton's Family History of Breast Cancer
- Reality TV star Paris Hilton, 43, recently revealed some extremely adorable family photos—showing for the first time what her four-month-old daughter, her second child she and her husband Carter Reum, 43, welcomed via surrogate, looks like.
- The mom of two’s grandmother passed away from breast cancer back on March 2, 2022. She has since become an advocate for prevention and has urged her fans to get screened for cancer.
- 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 with a family history of breast cancer, doctors say earlier screening is advisable in conjunction with counseling from your physician
The reality TV star and breast cancer advocate, whose beloved grandmother, Kathleen Richards, passed away from breast cancer 22 years ago, posted the heartwarming photos to Instagram on Friday. The photos featured her sweet family of four, including Reum, their daughter London, and their first born, one-year-old Phoenix.
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Hilton captioned her most recent Instagram post, “Introducing London Marilyn Hilton-Reum. I’ve dreamed of having a daughter named London for as long as I can remember. I’m so grateful she is here. I truly cherish every moment I spend with her. Together with Phoenix, my angel babies have shown me a love that I never even knew could run so deep before I became their mother.
“My incredible journey through motherhood has inspired a new, deeply personal song with my dear friend Sia called ‘Fame Won’t Love You.’ The song serves as a reminder that the special bond I feel with my children, my husband & my family is more valuable than anything else in the world.”
She added, “It’s an anthem that will empower you to hold your most sacred relationships even closer to your heart – whether with family, friends, or yourself. I hope you love it as much as I do. It would mean the world for you to listen to #FameWontLoveYou on repeat today.”
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Hilton—who is ultimately famous due to her family owning the Hilton hotel chain across the globe, as well as for her reality TV shows, “Cooking with Paris,” and “The Simple Life”—is seen in her lovable family photos wearing a yellow floral dress, alongside her baby daughter, donning a large pink bow on her head, her son Phoenix wearing a beige button-up, and her husband in white.
We love how Hilton named her daughter London Marilyn Hilton-Reum— as her middle name Marilyn was chosen in memory of her late grandmother.
Hilton wrote in another Instagram post, featuring a throwback photo of her grandparents, the reality TV star explained, “My baby girl London’s middle name is Marilyn, in honor of my beautiful grandmother.
“I’ve carried a piece of her in my heart ever since she passed, and now it feels like I have a piece of her with me in my little girl.”
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Surrogacy and Gestational Carriers
According to People, Hilton previously revealed in the season 2 premiere of “Paris in Love” why she chose to use a surrogate.
She said, “Surrogacy was a difficult decision to make. I would have loved that experience of growing the baby in your tummy and feeling the kicks and all of those exciting moments, but my life has just been so public.
“So even though the baby is biologically mine and Carter’s, we decided to have a surrogate carry him.”
In some cases, women may have difficulty giving birth to a child or they may be unable to at all. If being pregnant poses health risks to a woman, having someone else carry their baby may be an option, either through surrogacy or a gestational carrier.
The American Cancer Society explains, “Surrogacy involves a woman who will carry the baby through pregnancy. The woman carrying the baby is called a surrogate. The sperm of the man who will be the child’s biological father is inserted into the cervix or uterus of the surrogate. This process is called artificial insemination. The child will carry the genes of the woman.”
As for a gestational carrier, the cancer society describes this person as “a woman who will carry an embryo from another woman’s egg and her partner’s sperm,” noting, “the child will not carry the genes of the gestational carrier.”
If you or someone you know is deciding on whether or not to go the route of surrogacy or gestational carrier, it’s important to know that each state has different laws and it may be necessary to speak with an attorney before moving forward.
The Loss of Her Grandmother
Hilton was previously candid about her grandmother’s death back on March 2, 2022, when she shared a video compilation in her memory, writing, “At this exact time 20 years ago at 3pm, I lost one of the most important people in my life to breast cancer. My grandmother Kathy Richards, she was only 63 years old.”
Describing Richards as “a second mother” to her, Hilton continued, “She was everything and more. She was beautiful, brilliant, strong and kind. She was such a force. She was truly larger than life. She would walk into a room and people would whisper ‘Who’s that?’ She had so many special qualities.
“She was an amazing listener, was always there to support me and give me the best advice. She was so much fun to be around, she was hysterically funny and always made me smile and laugh. Being in her presence was magical. She was an incredibly talented artist and taught me my love for art and how to draw and paint. Losing her was and still is the most painful and heartbreaking experience of my life. 😔 There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about her.”
She credited her grandmother for being “the best guardian angel ever.”
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As Hilton continues to grieve the loss of her loved one, she understands the importance of breast cancer risk and screening for the disease, and she has since become an advocate for breast cancer and mammogram screenings.
On October 10, 2022, Hilton urged her fans to get screened for cancer, revealing she underwent a full-body scan to check for disease. She wrote, “Not only is it Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but today is also World Mental Health Day. My grandmother passed away from breast cancer and I miss her every single day.
“I can’t stress how important it is for my mental health to make sure I’m being proactive and not reactive when it comes to my physical health. I went to @Prenuvo to get a full body scan and I was so impressed with their incredible technology and how fast I got my results! I encourage every single one of you to go get a scan and make sure you are taking care of yourselves.”
Although SurvivorNet commends Hilton’s message of taking control of your health, it important to note that Prenuvo’s full body MRIs [which Hilton underwent] are not part of regular screening guidelines for the public.
RELATED: When Should I Get a Mammogram?
What to Know About Screening For Breast Cancer
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.
WATCH: Screening for Breast Cancer
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 who have 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 who have a family history to really get [genetic testing],” Dr. Ginsburg previously told SurvivorNet.
“I would say that if you have anyone in your family who was diagnosed with a very 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.
When You’re Getting a Mammogram, Ask About Dense Breasts
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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