Cynthia Nixon: Breast Cancer

Sex and the City star Cynthia Nixon had her own battle with breast cancer, which she kept private during her treatment. She told Nightline’s Cynthia McFadden that she didn’t want to have paparazzi following her to the hospital or publicizing her personal struggle. Nixon was familiar with the illness, with her own mother surviving a battle with breast cancer with the actress was 12 years old.

Nixon received her diagnosis after filming for the hit show had ended. At the time, she was performing in the off-Broadway play The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. The steadfast actress scheduled her procedure for a Sunday so that she would not have to miss a single performance of her show. She has since become an activist and spokeswoman for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation.

Fran Drescher: Uterine Cancer

Small screen funny girl Fran Drescher, best known for her big-haired, nasally-voiced role as a conniving nanny received her own sobering diagnosis in June 2000. The actress spent two years prior attempting to get an accurate diagnosis for a series of nondescript symptoms, which included spotting between periods, cramping and others issues. She finally learned that she had Stage I uterine cancer. Having been misdiagnosed, the actress had been prescribed hormone therapy,  which worsened her symptoms and fueled her cancer. Drescher was eventually outed by the tabloids and vowed to use her story to raise awareness for this deadly cancer.

In 2002, she published her book, Cancer Schmancer, and subsequently launched a foundation by the same name to raise awareness for early detection, cancer prevention, and policy change.