YouTuber Grace Helbig, 37, Opens Up About ‘Shocking’ Breast Cancer Diagnosis: Says It’s ‘Super Treatable, Highly Beatable’

Comedian, actress, and internet personality Grace Anne Helbig, 37, has opened up about her “whirlwind” triple-positive breast cancer diagnosis, saying that she’s feeling “hopeful” as her care team aims to cure her disease.

The former host of  E! television network’s “The Grace Helbig Show” took to social media this week to reveal the news to her fans, which she also described as “surreal.”

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In an Instagram post, Helbig shared footage of herself talking about her diagnosis, which was first shared on YouTube, explaining, “About a month ago I got diagnosed with breast cancer. I know, I'm shocked too but I'm doing okay!

“It's been a whirlwind but I wanted to let you in on the secret. Get your lumps checked! And look at me go, finally using my boobs for attention on the internet.”

Helbig, who found out about her triple-positive breast cancer approximately one month ago, began her announcement video by saying, “I have breast cancer. I know, it’s very shocking, it’s very surreal. It doesn’t sound real but it’s real.

“I’ve had a decent amount of time to process and start the process, so I’m finally able to share with you.”

Thankfully, she’s been told that the cancer she’s battling is “super treatable” and “highly beatable.”

“We’re going for a cure, not remission here. Which is exciting, encouraging, helpful, good. And at this point, they think it’s stage 2A, but we’re not entirely sure just yet.”

According to Helbig, her “very clear” treatment plan will be six rounds of chemotherapy, followed by surgery and hormonal therapy. She even pointed out how she has a “little nano-pet-looking device” in her arm as a port for when she’s “hooked up” to the machine during chemo.

A port is a small device placed under the skin to draw blood or give medicine, such as chemotherapy.

Helbig encouraged those listening to her informative video that anyone going through something like cancer really needs to allow others to help them, something she’s learning along her cancer journey.

Her diagnosis followed an annual gynecologist appointment where Helbig brought up a lump she had found in her left breast, something she found difficult to do.

“And thank god I listened to that little voice inside of me that finally got the courage to bring it up. Because she also thought it was abnormal and gave me a list of a few surgical doctors to seek out,” she said.

“So get those lumps checked and do not be afraid to ask a doctor what you might think is a stupid question.”

She was then quickly ordered to get a mammogram, to be followed by an ultrasound and biopsyultimately leading to her diagnosis.

“Comedy, jokes, laughing, that all really helps me process very difficult things, and not from a place of denial or deflection about the reality, but rather from a place of aiding me through the hard sh-t. Laughing helps me breathe in a situation where I’m feeling like I’m holding my breath,” Helbig added.

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“This is a very serious situation, I know that, but there’s also humor to be found here. I mean, the joke not lost on me that I’ve spent 15 years not using my boobs to get attention on the internet and yet, here we are.”

Helbig also admitted she’s not used to “vulnerability” and letting others in, but she’s going to battle the disease as best she can and while doing so, she’ll likely be open about the process on her social media pages.

Triple-positive breast cancer means it has all the main drivers of breast cancer the estrogen receptor, the progesterone receptor and the HER2 receptor.

SurvivorNet is proud to offer expert resources on the latest treatment options for breast cancer here.

A Major Step in the Cancer Journey: Learning to Deal With Vulnerability

Living With Cancer Like Grace Helbig

Grace Helbig described having to work to process her diagnosis and the emotions that come with it. And she’s certainly not alone.

Experts we’ve spoken with say it’s important to prioritize your mental health too when facing cancer.

Dr. Dana Chase, a gynecologic oncologist at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, says we know from “good studies” that “better quality of life is associated with better outcomes.” She says if your emotional well-being is connected to the activities you do or people you spend time with, then you should do it.

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"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,” Dr. Chase said.

"If that’s related to what activities you do that bring you joy, then you should try to do more of those activities."

If you’re looking for a way to implement more of the things you love in your day-to-day routine, Dr. Chase recommends starting by writing down some of the activities that make you happy.

MORE: Survivor Giuliana Rancic's Advice for Those Living With Cancer

"Sometimes I will talk to a patient about making [a] list of the top ten things that bring them joy," Dr. Chase said. "And trying to do those ten things…to make at least 50 percent of their experiences positive throughout the day."

Another way to prioritize your emotional well-being while living with cancer is to reflect on how you think about your cancer journey. Dr. William Breitbart, the chair of the Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, says acceptance is key.

MORE: Learning to Accept Yourself A Huge Part of Living With Cancer

“We all have to live lives of uncertainty,” Dr. Breitbart said. "What the task becomes is having the courage to live in the face of uncertainty, realizing that you cannot necessarily control the uncertainty in life, the suffering that occurs, limitations, challenges both good and bad.

"You may not be able to control those but you have control over how you choose to respond to them and the attitudes you take towards them."

Seeking Support: The First 3 Things to Do After a Diagnosis

It’s normal to feel a slew of different emotions from fear to anger to uncertainty after learning that you have cancer. In addition to making a treatment plan with your doctors, it’s also important to make sure you have the mental health support you need as well. This is a challenging time, and many people find they need a little extra support to get through it.

“Some people don’t need to go outside of their family and friends circle. They feel like they have enough support there,” psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik tells SurvivorNet. “But for people who feel like they need a little bit more, it is important to reach out to a mental health professional.”

Dr. Plutchik suggests trying to find a mental health professional who has experience helping people as they navigate cancer treatment and keeping your care team connected, so they can stay focused on a common goal.

“Make sure that the mental health professional that you work it is reaching out with your consent to the rest of your team, to the oncologist, to the surgeon … it can also be helpful to reach out to family, friends, and any other caretakers that may be involved in the person’s treatment.”

The kind of connected care ensures that everyone is on the same page when it comes to getting a patient the best possible care.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

• Where can I seek additional support if I am struggling mentally?
• Are there any support groups in the area for people like me?
• Can you recommend a mental health professional for my situation?
• Does my situation warrant medication for my mental health and how might that affect my cancer treatment plan?

Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

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