Nicole Eggert, the actress famous for her role as Summer Quinn on the television seriesBaywatch, revealed how she initiallydismissedthe symptoms of her life-changingbreast cancer diagnosis.
Eggert attributed the effects of her stage 2 carcinoma to menopause, believing the changes to her breast tissue were the result of normal changes associated with aging and fluctuating hormonal levels.
HighlightsNicole Eggert mistook her cancer symptoms for menopause, delaying diagnosis.Self-examination was pivotal for Eggert in discovering her breast cancer.Eggert progresses well post-mastectomy but faces more surgeries and hormone therapy.Support from fans and her daughter has been crucial in Eggert’s recovery journey.Eggert’s GoFundMe has raised 66% of its $100k goal to aid her cancer battle.
“What I thought was, you know, our breast tissue is always growing and changing, and as women, our breasts move, and gravity hits and all that.So, Ikind ofchalked it up to that,” she said.
Unable to fit her braproperly, she thought the mass on her chest to be fat, but it wasactuallya tumor, growing and taking up more space.
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Actress Nicole Eggert shared her regrets after confusing her breast cancer symptoms with menopause, delaying its detection
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“I went for my yearly mammograms and my ultrasounds. I have dense breast tissue. So I was doing what I was supposed to be doing,”sherecounted.
During that time,Eggertalso began experiencing what she described as “really serious” and unexplained weight gain, further causing her to confuse the effects ofbreast cancerwith menopause.
“I was at my ideal weight, and I was holding strong, andI wasfeelingreally good,” she recalled.“And then, all of a sudden, no matter what I was doing, I was gaining weight.”
The actress eventually learned that the changes her body went through were the result of the type of cancer cells found on her breast. These cells were estrogen receptor-positive, which meant they grew and spread using the hormone.
“I went ahead and did the self-exam as soon as I felt the throbbing. And I found it. And it was this moment of like, ‘How did I not know that was there?'” she recalled.
“I was not doing self-exams. So, I want to stress that women and men should do the self-exams. Feel yourself up. Get to know your girls. If I had been doing that, I would have found it much sooner,” she said.
According to theNational Breast Cancer Foundation, “Adult women of all ages are encouraged to perform breast self-exams at least once a month.”
“Alert your healthcare professional if you notice any changes in your breasts, such as a new lump, sore spot, changes in the appearance of the skin, or nipple discharge,” the site read.
Eggert has progressed positively in her treatment, butshe’s expectedto undergo at least two more surgeries, as well as hormone therapy
After herdiagnosis, Eggert underwent a mastectomy and completed chemotherapy earlier this year. Her treatment is far from complete, however, as she still has anotherbreast surgeryto go, which willbe coupledwith a reconstruction procedure.
The actress maintained her sense of humor and positive attitudebut recognizedthe emotional toll the process has had on her, especially after learning that hercancerwas “more advanced” than her doctors anticipated.
Eggert, who has been regularly updating her fans on her progress, explained in early December how sharing her journey has been a major boost to her mental health and has allowed her to form a community around the challenging illness.
“They have a place to come and somebody to relate to that’s going through thesame things. It also gives everybody a platform to start chatting and talking about what they did and how their experience was,”sheexplained.
“Youreallylearn a lot that way too.I think every platform thatwe can have to talk about this disease is good.”
The support of her followers and the love of her youngest daughter have been crucial in her road to recovery
Image credits:Fotos International/Getty Images
The love of heronline communityhas been critical for the actress who, in an interview withFox News, described herself as “having nothing” to support her—not even family.
The actress is the mother of two daughters, 25-year-old Dilyn and 12-year-old Keegan.
“There’s just no succumbing to this,” she said while thinking of her daughters. “To think of them in pain or to think of them losing me orbeing hurtin any way. It hurts us tenfold.
“And so that’s what it is. It’s figuring this out and fighting as hard asI can so thatmy kids have a mom.”
Image credits:GoFundMe
Keegan, who still lives with the actress, has remained strong and positive throughout her mother’s ordeal, and Eggert has tried as much as possible to “shield her from the ugly side of the treatment.”
“When I wasreallysick and going through chemo, she would go away for the weekend with friends,” the actress explained. “I always made sure she had plans and was doing some things so that on thosereallydark days, she’s not around.”
Netizens congratulated the actress for being strong in the face of adversity, prioritizing her daughter’s mental health above her own
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“Love you Nicole, I’m always thinking of you. Keep fighting and enjoy the holidays!” one fan wrote.
“Thank you, Nicole, please keep sharing your story, it’s so important,” another wrote.
“You have been an inspiration to me through it all. It has been quite a journey. Thank you for being so open through yours,” another said.
“You are so strong, and I admire your courage every day. God bless you!”
Those interested in helping Nicole Eggert fight breast cancer can do so via herGoFundMepage, which has raised 66% of a $100,000 goal so far.
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