Sharon Osbourne: Colon Cancer

Sharon Osbourne rose to fame with her role as the outspoken musician’s wife and matriarch in The Osbournes, a reality TV show that followed heavy metal musician Ozzy Osbourne and his motley crew. She has since expanded her career to take on a wide range of titles, including TV competition judge, author and business manager. In 2002, during the first season of The Osbournes, she also earned the title “cancer survivor,” when she was diagnosed with and underwent treatment for colorectal cancer. Osborne joined the more than 132,000 men and women who were diagnosed that year, and every year, with the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. When she was diagnosed, she insisted that filming for her show should continue, following her journey and raising awareness for this largely silent killer. Despite a survival prognosis of only 33 percent, she made a full recovery and has gone on to found the Sharon Osbourne Colon Cancer Program at Cedars-Sinai Hospital.

Robert De Niro: Prostate Cancer

Hollywood legend Robert De Niro has made it a point to keep his personal life out of the limelight. However, when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2003, his publicist announced that the condition was detected early because of the actor’s regular check-ups, and that doctors expected the actor to make a full recovery. The 60-year-old actor declined to discuss his treatment plans, with his publicist telling the Daily Mail, “He’s a private person and doesn’t care to have his treatment out for public consumption.”

Kathy Bates: Ovarian Cancer/Breast Cancer

Kathy Bates rose to fame for her eerie performance as a mentally-ill, start-struck nurse in the film adaptation of Stephen King’s Misery, and has gone on to a glitzy career in films such as Titanic, Primary Colors, and in shows such as American Horror Story.

In 2003, Bates was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and won her battle with the illness only to announce in September 2012, that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Despite having tested negative for the breast cancer gene, Bates took serious measures, undergoing a double mastectomy to minimize her risk of developing the cancer again.