Hollywood's A-listers you’d never guess battled breast cancer

When we think of Hollywood, glittering image of A-listers with a pitch-perfect portrayals, blockbuster hits, and glamorous wealthy lifestyles often come to mind.

But beyond a certain image, few of these Hollywood stars have faced heath battles including a fight against breast cancer.

So, here are a few celebrities including actors, singers, and media personalities you'd never guess battled breast cancer:

1. Christina Applegate

The Dead to Me actress received her diagnosis in 2008 at 36 years old.

Her detection came from an MRI after her doctor determined that a mammogram wasn’t sufficient due to her breast density.

Interestingly, the early detection influenced her to undergo a double mastectomy before the cancer could spread to other areas of her body.

Since her surgery, Applegate has become an advocate for access to MRIs and genetic testing as preventive measures.

2. Olivia Munn

The Newsroom actress was diagnosed in 2023 with a fast-growing type of breast cancer.

Munn had a normal mammogram and negative test for cancer genes.

She was sent for an MRI, ultrasound, and biopsy. Luminal B breast cancer was diagnosed, and Munn had a double mastectomy.

3. Sheryl Crow

The rock musician's family has no family history of cancer, but she wasn't lucky enough when it came to the deadly disease as her dense breast tissue made it hard to do self-exams. 

In 2006, she was diagnosed with lumpectomy, which takes out only the cancerous tissue, plus 7 weeks (about 1 and a half months) of radiation therapy after results showed DCIS.

4. Wanda Sykes

The actress and comedian received her diagnosis of early-stage breast cancer in her left breast in 2011 and opted for a double mastectomy.

While she’s been open about her experience, she initially hesitated as she told Ellen Degeneres the same year, "I was like, I don’t know, should I talk about it or what? How many things could I have? I’m Black, then lesbian. I can’t be the poster child for everything.”

5. Julia Louis-Dreyfus

The Seinfeld actress first announced her breast cancer diagnosis in 2017 on her Twitter (now called X) account, writing, "One in 8 women get breast cancer,” the Emmy Award–winning actress wrote. “Today, I’m the one."

The actress, who is still spreading awareness and reflecting on her experiences, back in 2019 told Vanity Fair that she had undergone six rounds of chemotherapy and a double mastectomy, after which she returned to film the final season of Veep.