Famous Women Who Died from MBC

[Hazelgreen]

I don't know whether any of you may be interested in facts about famous people who found themselves in the same boat we all are in? I came across these details about Ingrid Bergman on Wikipedia, and thought I'd share the fact that she survived for eight years with MBC almost 40 years ago:

"On 15 June 1974, she entered a London clinic and had her first operation. While working on Autumn Sonata, Bergman discovered another lump, and flew back to London for another surgery. Afterwards, she began rehearsals for Waters of the Moon (1978)."

"Despite her illness, she agreed to play Golda Meir in 1981. As soon as the film finished, Bergman retired to her apartment in Cheyne Gardens, London. She suffered greatly from chemotherapy. Photographers had camped outside on the pavement of her London apartment. Due to their telephoto lenses, she refrained from approaching the front window. At this point, the cancer had spread to her spine, collapsing her twelfth vertebra. Her right lung no longer functioned, and only a small part of her left lung had not collapsed."

"On 29 August 1982 at 12:00 am, her 67th birthday, Ingrid Bergman died in London, from breast cancer."

I was struck by the fact that she continued to work throughout her treatment, despite the intrusions of the photographers. I haven't yet looked for a biography on her which might give further details of the types of treatment she experienced.

[Ski2sea]

Wow I did not know that. I am sure her treatment was very difficult. Treatment has surely gotten better since then. Shine bright Ms. Bergman. Txs for sharing.

[mariootsi]

Wow! She was such a strong woman!

[michelangelina]

I had not heard that about her. She was, indeed, a strong woman and an inspiration. Thanks for sharing this. I would be interested in hearing about other famous women in "our boat"--if you come across those stories.

[Hazelgreen in reply to michelangelina]

I'll be sure to post any I find. Thanks for the thanks 😜.

[Onie54]

Thanks for sharing

[Hidden]

Hazelgreen! I'm very late to the game, def catching up, but was intrigued by this post.

My sister and I, both MBC, are of Scandinavian descent (Norwegian, but the current national borders are historically porous).

When geneticists looked into us, they and/or we pegged our early (late 40's) onset of BC to our Norwegian grandmother...Died young (45?) of some cancer (seemed gynecological at the time...bleeding, etc.) as the related link.

After the Ashkenazi Jews, Norwegians have the highest prevalence of BC...

Anyway, I now feel an affinity for Ingrid.

I might have inherited her tendency toward BC, but I can assure you I did not inherit her cheekbones! If only....

Lynn

[Hazelgreen in reply to Hidden]

Hi Lynn,Nice to read another post from you! I hope you are doing well these days. I didn't know that Norwegians had the second-highest level of BC! Did you see the link I posted to other famous people experiencing breast cancer:

ranker.com/list/famous-peop...

I wonder how many on that list had Scandanavian heritage?

Cheers,

Cindy