These public figures fought cancer bravely at a young age—and still managed to rise to the highest of their game.
Vanessa Bayer
Vanessa Bayer
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MJ PHOTOS/VARIETY/SHUTTERSTOCK
Actress and comedienne Vanessa Bayer sent audiences into hysterics during her time on Saturday Night Live, but life wasn’t always laughs for the funny lady. At the age of 15, Bayer was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia, a cancer that starts within the bone marrow and may invade the blood quickly, per the American Cancer Association. She told HuffPost that she was treated for nearly two-and-a-half years and, fortunately, it never recurred.
Andrew McMahon
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Musician Andrew McMahon, a member of Jack’s Mannequin, was also diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia, but at the age of 23. He received a successful bone marrow transplant and is inactive, per an interview with the Chicago Tribune. to assist others who are currently battling the disease, he founded the Dear Jack Foundation, a non-profit organization to assist teenagers who have recently been diagnosed or are in recovery. These are the leukemia symptoms you absolutely mustn’t ignore.
DJ Qualls
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At just 14 years old, actor DJ Qualls was diagnosed with Stage 3 (near Stage 4) Hodgkin’s Disease, a cancer of the systema lymphaticum, which is an element of your system, in line with the Mayo Clinic. He cites his chemotherapy treatment because of the reason his development stalled out as a teenager. “Chemotherapy kills all fast-growing cells. So my bones never widened, just lengthened,” he said during a news conference for the 2012 FX series Legit.
Ken Watanabe
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A laurels nominee for his role within the Last Samurai, Ken Watanabe has another important credit to his name: cancer survivor. He was diagnosed with leukemia around the age of 30, overcoming two battles with the horrific disease. Twenty years later he would also fight (and win) a battle with stomach cancer. These are the cancer warning signs your doctor must always address.
Meghan Kinney
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Proof that cancer knows no bounds, even the strongest of athletes finds themselves battling the disease. Olympic swimmer Meghan Kinney was diagnosed with a rare bone cancer called Osteosarcoma at age 21. For treatment, she endured both chemotherapy and limb replacement surgery, still as rehabilitation to regain her strength following both. In 2016 Kinney was declared cancer-free.
Cobie Smulders
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How I Met Your Mother star Colbie Smulders was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at the age of 25. “The diagnosis was a borderline cancer, which implies that it wasn’t quite malignant but it wasn’t quite benign,” she told Parade. “It was kind of living within the gray. I had multiple surgeries to get rid of cancer from my body, and thankfully now I’m cancer-free.” this is often how one writer diagnosed her own ovarian cancer and saved her life.
Yuvraj Singh
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Professional cricket player Yuvraj Singh found himself battling carcinoma when he was 30 years old. consistent with the BBC, the athlete was initially diagnosed with a non-malignant tumor of the lungs, but later tests showed cancer. Singh traveled to u. s. to receive treatment, including chemotherapy, and beat the disease. You mustn’t be a smoker to develop carcinoma. Read the story of 1 woman who was diagnosed with carcinoma at 31, without having smoked one cigarette.
Barry Watson
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Best known for taking part in wonder boy Matt Camden on TV’s 7th Heaven, Barry Watson received a life-changing diagnosis of Hodgkin’s disease, a sort of lymphatic cancer, at the age of 28. He received chemotherapy every fortnight for 6 months to beat the cancer and credits a fellow patient’s positive attitude for helping him get through the difficult time. “Every time I went certain treatment after (meeting him), the maximum amount because it was a tangle and it sucked and it hurt, I just tried to own a very good attitude and, hopefully, express that attitude to people around me,” Watson told Coping magazine. If you wish for your motivation, these inspiring words from cancer survivors will help.
Lance Armstrong
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At 25 years old, cyclist Lance Armstrong received unthinkable news: He had Stage 3 carcinoma. it was 1996 and Armstrong swiftly took action. He had a testicle removed before learning that there have been 12 tumors in his lungs, cancer in his abdomen, and two lesions in his brain, in line with ESPN. He underwent a surgical process and received chemotherapy, although he admits he was preparing himself to die. Armstrong has long championed fellow cancer patients and survivors, using his public platform to boost money and awareness for the cause.
Sofia Vergara
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Modern Family star Sofia Vergara may be a strong woman both on and off screen. The actress was diagnosed with thyroid cancer at age 28, though didn’t speak out publicly about the disease until years later, telling Health she didn’t want publicity while receiving treatment for the condition. She underwent surgery to get rid of her endocrine and now takes Synthroid to manage her body’s metabolism and provide her the thyroid levels she needs. Brush au fait on the thyroid facts that are imperative to your health.
Tom Green
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Comedian Tom Green shared his carcinoma diagnosis with the planet when he was 29 to spread awareness about the disease. He even allowed MTV to document his treatment, which happened to incorporate graphic footage of the surgery during which his right testicle was removed in 2000. He has since made a full recovery and is proudly cancer-free. These are the signs of carcinoma to observe for.
Mario Lemieux
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Riding high joined of the foremost talented hockey players within the NHL, Mario Lemieux was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma at age 27 while playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins. The diagnosis came after an outsized node was far from his neck. As a cancer survivor, he established The Mario Lemieux Foundation to support cancer research and patients battling the disease. While cancer can affect anyone at any time, these are 30 everyday things that are known to trigger the disease.
Eric Shanteau
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Competitive swimmer Eric Shanteau was diagnosed with seminoma per week before the Olympic trials in 2008, at age 24. Despite receiving the shocking news, he persevered and made the team. Because his cancer was detected early, at Stage One, he was allowed to delay treatment until after the games while being monitored regularly by doctors. Swimming World magazine reports Shanteau became cancer-free after one surgery. be careful with the surprising symptoms which will prove to be cancer.