Christmas Without Kelly Preston
- Kelly Preston’s husband, John Travolta, 66, shared a video of the Travolta family celebrating their first Christmas without Kelly.
- Kelly passed away from breast cancer last July.
- Breast cancer is screened for by mammograms, which look for signs of cancer in the breast tissue.
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Kelly’s Breast Cancer Battle
Kelly Preston privately fought breast cancer for two years. Due to keeping her diagnosis private, not much is known about Preston’s specific treatment plan and diagnosis (i.e. stage two, stage three, stage four breast cancer). Breast cancer treatment may include chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery; the treatment path is typically determined based on the stage of the cancer upon diagnosis, as well as the prognosis.
After her passing, her husband Travolta thanked doctors from Houston’s MD Anderson Cancer Center. Travolta wrote: "My family and I will forever be grateful to her doctors and nurses at MD Anderson Cancer Center, all the medical centers that have helped, as well as her many friends and loved ones who have been by her side."
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Having a strong support system, like a partner and a good medical team, can make the world of a difference when battling cancer. Some also find that cancer patient support groups are helpful sources of strength, as you’re able to hear about others who are going through the same things you’re battling.
The Benefit of Support Networks for Cancer Patients
Breast Cancer Screenings
Breast cancer screenings are done via mammograms, which look for tumors in the breast or indicators of cancer. Dr. Connie Lehman, a 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.”
“After menopause, it may be perfectly acceptable to reduce that frequency to every two years,” said Dr. Lehman. “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. 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.”
When Should I Get a Mammogram?
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