Celebrities Who Battled Cancer and It Returned

Shannen Doherty was first diagnosed with breast cancer in March 2015 and has been open about her journey. She then shared on 'Good Morning America' that she initially hid her cancer recurrence to avoid people thinking her life was over or that she couldn't work. “Our life doesn’t end with a diagnosis. We still have living to do,” she said.

“I have days where I ask, why me? But then I think, why not me? None of us deserve this,” she reflected. Despite the challenges, Doherty is now focused on helping others facing similar battles. “I want to make an impact and be remembered for something bigger than just me,” she told 'Good Morning America'. She later passed away in July 2024.

When actress Kathy Bates was diagnosed with early-stage ovarian cancer in 2003, she kept it private, undergoing surgery and nine months of chemotherapy. Her agent didn't want her to be the "poster child" for ovarian cancer, she told 'People' in 2018. "I didn't want anyone to know, but it really took a lot out of me," she said.

In 2012, after being diagnosed with breast cancer, she decided to go public. She had a double mastectomy and told 'People' she was fortunate not to need further treatment. Afterward, she was diagnosed with lymphedema, causing painful swelling due to blocked lymph nodes. "It's progressive and incurable," Bates said on 'The Kelly Clarkson Show' in 2019. "You can get infections that put you in the hospital. About 50,000 kids have grown up with it."

Suzanne Somers became known for supporting alternative cancer treatments after her diagnosis. In 2001, she used a mistletoe extract supplement to boost her immune system after undergoing a lumpectomy and radiation therapy for breast cancer, according to the 'New York Post'. In her 2012 book 'Knockout', she explained her choice of nontraditional treatments, saying that during her two cancer battles, alternatives were her best hope for survival.

In July 2023, she shared on Instagram that her cancer had returned. "I had breast cancer two decades ago, and every now and then it pops up again, and I continue to bat it down," she wrote, mentioning her use of both alternative and conventional treatments. Suzanne Somers passed away on October 15, 2023. Her publicist told 'CNN', "Suzanne Somers passed away peacefully at home... She survived an aggressive form of breast cancer for over 23 years."

Hugh Jackman, known for his role in 'Logan,' underwent treatment for basal cell carcinoma in 2013 and again in 2015. After his second diagnosis, he took to Twitter and Instagram to caution his followers about the importance of preventive care to avoid skin cancer. He emphasized the necessity of regular check-ups and credited his doctors for his recovery, urging everyone to wear sunscreen as a protective measure against harmful UV rays.

Roundtree, known for 'Shaft and Roots' in the 70s, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1993 and became a voice for men facing the disease. “I’m not embarrassed,” he told People in 2000. He initially kept his diagnosis private but later shared it to help others.

In 1993, he found a lump under his left nipple. After a radical mastectomy and six months of chemotherapy, he openly discussed his experience to support others. Roundtree passed away in October 2023 from pancreatic cancer.

Singer Olivia Newton-John battled breast cancer for 30 years before passing away at age 73 on August 8, 2022. Her husband, John Easterling, called her a symbol of hope and triumph. Diagnosed in 1992 after a self-exam, she pushed for further tests despite negative initial results, and a surgical biopsy confirmed the cancer. She stressed the importance of self-exams and trusting your instincts, supporting the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness and Research Centre. When the cancer returned in 2013 and spread to her bones in 2017, Newton-John used both conventional treatments and CBD tinctures.