Julia Louis Dreyfus, 56, announced yesterday in a note posted to Twitter and Instagram that she has breast cancer. She didn’t provide details about the stage of cancer she has, how it was discovered or her course of treatment. I suspect she’ll go through treatment and will be somewhat open with the press when she feels the time is right, similar to how Cynthia Nixon, Christina Applegate and Giuliana Rancic discussed their breast cancer treatments. (There’s no obligation or expectation for her to disclose anything at all, I just imagine that’s how she’ll do it.) Julia’s statement brought it home how common breast cancer is, and how cost prohibitive medical treatment can be for those who can’t afford it. She called for universal health care and really packed a punch in this brief note:
Just when you thought… pic.twitter.com/SbtYChwiEj
— Julia Louis-Dreyfus (@OfficialJLD) September 28, 2017
I love and admire her willingness to be “political,” although I think that it’s just common decency to have affordable and accessible healthcare for all, we’re the only first world nation that doesn’t. I’m so grateful that the Graham-Cassidy bill didn’t make it to a vote and that we still have the Affordable Care Act for now. So many other basic protections are being stripped, people should not be dying in the US because they can’t afford treatment. We need to go further than the ACA and the for-profit medical system needs to be dismantled.
People has a follow up story revealing that Julia learned she had cancer just one day after she won her historic sixth consecutive Emmy for Veep, her seventh for Lead Actress in a Comedy and her eighth acting Emmy overall. (She also has Emmys for producing.) HBO told People this news, along with the fact that “the production schedule on Veep will be adjusted as needed.” HBO issued a statement to People about Julia’s diagnosis. She is set to film the final and seventh season of Veep. The last season finished airing in June.
“Our love and support go out to Julia and her family at this time. We have every confidence she will get through this with her usual tenacity and undaunted spirit, and look forward to her return to health and to HBO for the final season of Veep.”
Julia’s rep simply stated that “Julia is incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support and well wishes.”
Our thoughts go out to Julia as she battles breast cancer. Hillary Clinton, Christina Applegate and so many other people are thinking of her too. She really is a beloved actress and person.
Julia, you're in our thoughts and our hearts. Inspired but not surprised to see you using your platform for good in this difficult moment.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 28, 2017
Mama, find me. Let's talk if you want
— christina applegate (@1capplegate) September 28, 2017
Photos credit: WENN and Pacific Coast News
Wish her all the best!
Talk about highs and lows. She has a major, record-breaking career achievement, and then bam, next day is diagnosed with cancer.
I truly wish the best for her and everyone affected by this awful disease.
delete
What?
I think she probably knew ahead of the Emmys and just waited for an appropiate time to reveal.
I admire her and wish her all the best. I’m also reminded to make that mammogram appointment that I keep putting off.
What age are women meant to start regular mammograms? (I’m 45). Also, as an Australian I wanted to say Connie Johnson recently died of breast cancer after having it for ten years. She raised millions of dollars for cancer research while she was sick and on her deathbed was given an Order of Australia (a special rush-job when the Governor General realised they were running out of time and just drove down to the hospice to give it to her).
Vale Connie! And best wishes to Julia…both these women used a terrible diagnosis and thought about their wider community when they could have just thought about themselves.
Age 40. And to monthly self exam and an annual physician exam. I found my tumor by self exam, I was too young for a mammogram
Agree with Lightpurple – I found mine through self-examination and got that bastard removed almost immediately. I’m walking a 10K Run For The Cure this Sunday and have raised $1000. I know it’s not millions but every dollar counts.
If you have a first degree relative (mom, sister, grandmother), around 21. Otherwise, 40. My mom developed breast cancer at 48. No history, no relatives had it. I had my first mammogram right then. Before that, self-exams, and checks by my gyno yearly. It can’t be stressed enough ladies, if you have daughters, teach them as soon as they develop to learn how to do a self-check, so it becomes second nature to do so. It can save lives!
Yep, 40 you can start mammograms in Australia via BreastScreen. However I found a lump at 38 and was told by several medical practitioners that I was “too young” for a mammogram. 6 months + biopsies + 2 lumpectomies later I ended up with a mastectomy but am now in the clear. And am having mammograms, ultrasounds and MRIs every 12 months.
I went through the private system but was scarcely $1500 out of pocket for the whole exercise.
Now due to BRCA1 gene my sister and cousins are entitled to mammograms from 30 onwards.
Well said about Connie. Her and Sam and their ‘Love Your Sister’ team have been phenomenal. We are very lucky here in Aus to have access to wonderful healthcare, but to also have people like Connie who spend their last years championing for others. Neale Daniher has done the same with MND. What wonderful people.
I wish Julia all the best. An amazing woman who will put up a strong fight, not just for her but those that don’t have access to the best medical support.
My doctor starts them at 35 but suggests 30 because she has patients who have had cancer before 35. We have an organization here that pays for underprivileged women to get them but what angers me is that it should be covered for every woman any time she may need one. Age shouldn’t matter since it does happen to young women too.
Love her! What a beautiful message. It’s so funny how in the midst of Republicans trying over and over again to strip away Obamacare, more people than ever before are starting to talk about universal healthcare – which is what we really need. That’s hopeful.
Exactly. And good for CB for supporting the call for universal health care and going so far as to say the for profit system should be dismantled. Having worked in health insurance for years, I couldn’t agree more.
Joe Biden’s tweet was my favourite: https://twitter.com/JoeBiden/status/913531470001602565
oh yeah–i cried when I read Joe’s tweet (and not just because he did an exceptional job with it, grammatically-speaking)
Joe and Julia, 4ever.
Perfection. Just perfection.
My heart goes out to Julia and her family; sending all positive thoughts and best wishes for a good outcome.
Fantastic!
Omg. That is the best!
Beautifully done.
Oh man. I love Joe.
Best wishes to Julia. I think she has one of the best senses of comic timing out there.
Best wishes also for the path to universal healthcare in the US.
Agree both with the well wishes and comment about her comedic timing. She is one of the most talent actresses out there. I just love her.
Whenever I hear that stupid saying that women can’t be funny, I always think of Julia. And how someone could possibly ever say that having seen her?!?? She is unbelievably talented and just hilarious.
I wish her luck and good health with all my heart
An elegant choice to make when confronted with bad news. Wishing her a full recovery.
Universal Healthcare in the USA? This is for communist countries!
Like Spain?
I was being sarcastic….one of the best things in my country is our healthcare system, despite the efforts of our government and the EU to ruin it by cutting off the funds.
Like England? Like Germany? Like Taiwan? Like Switzerland? Like Australia? Like France? Like Canada? Like Sweden?
Only the civilized countries. This Yank says we want in!!
Unfortunately, I feel like universal healthcare isn’t widely understood in this country. Bernie is its primary voice, and don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love him, but he doesn’t do a great job of explaining the benefits and debunking misconceptions about it. I watched the CNN debate this week with Bernie and Graham, Cassidy, etc. Bernie’s team needs to do a way better job of prepping him, or maybe he’s just not good in this format, but he gets completely steamrolled every time. Of course, Lindsay and Cassidy called him a socialist multiple times, which isn’t true, but it’s the kind of thing that sticks with and frankly, scares, some people. But Bernie had no comeback. They also came at him saying universal healthcare will stifle medical innovation. Again, Bernie had no comeback. What about pointing out all of the incredible medical and drug advancements out of France?! But no. Bernie just keeps reverting back to that same “top 1%” message like he’s on auto-pilot.. I think we need a broad and aggressive universal healthcare 101 campaign in this country to educate people on the benefits and start to debunk some of the common myths.
Many great points, Jo Jo.
Jojo, I agree we need to educate people also about Bernie, hes just not a very good in these types of debates. I dont know why CNN didnt invite some of the younger democrats who supports universal healthcare. Like Kamala Harris. She can hold her own in debates and seems like she’s good at breaking down issues to something that is understandable for most people. And she does this thing were she explains why it would be cheaper for our society with universal healthcare. I was more impressed with her speech at the Medicare for all press conference than Bernies or warrens tbh. We need people like her to take the lead on this issue.
Guys, I don’t know the answer. Please don’t attack me. In truly asking and showing you what formed my thoughts. You’re an intelligent group. You probably know the answe!
I truly truly want everyone covered and I also want proper research and affordable rates. The big argument I always hear is that the for-profit system is needed for incentive to develop medicines, that the US invents most of them and those socialized healthcare countries get them later (meaning people die in the interim) while we get them first. Also, the higher price gives them their money back for their development costs and then after 10 years the generics kick in and prices come down but costs were recouped. Im also really afraid of “death panels” for socialized medicine, telling me I don’t qualify for life saving efforts due to age etc. my mom was pressured by her doctor and job to go on hospice. She refused and she keeps doing more experimental trials and she has lived so far 2 years beyond her expectancy. She would be dead had she listened to her doctor and “accepted her fate,” and her doctor was given power to decide, but private insurance has let her live.
Please, by all means, tell me I’m wrong and why. I really want everyone covered. My mom has cancer and it is destroying her bank account. Illness shouldn’t cause you to file bankruptcy, and premiums shouldn’t either (our instance has gone up thousands more since the ACA passed ( we are shouldering the costs of ensuring more). and we have a young family. We cannot afford to use it!!! I can’t afford it he copays. I’ve been unable to talk with a. Horse voice for weeks but I can’t afford to go in, knowing the copay.) honestly. The monthly premium is the same as our mortgage now!!!! so it can’t be “socialized medicine” only paid for by the middle class, because those like me are dying on the vine and will break if it keeps going up.
So, please educate me. What is the solution? Socialied is no affordable as-is right now. For profit leaves people out. Where is the solution? I’m sure its complex. And I don’t know it.
@Menutia – I’m Canadian, we have universal health care and I can tell you that “death panels” are not thing. AT. ALL. please do not think they are real.
Our health care may not be perfect (there can be longer wait times for elective procedures) but if you need surgery, treatment, exams etc, your wealth does not dictate the treatments you are allowed to have access to. I thank god for universal health care every day because I grew up with a very chronically ill mom and there is no way we could have afforded the medical care if we were American. She would certainly have died a long time ago.
Thank you for replying Lala. They tend to think there’s a way better solution then the one the United States is using right now, so I appreciate hearing what works Ielsewgere. I have not felt informed enough to voice my opinion on the matter, so I don’t know where I stand on the issue. Where I ultimately standards that people be healthy and don’t file bankruptcy to stay alive. That’s just cruel
@menutia – On top of @lala’s reply, here are two good FAQs on single-payer systems. These were really helpful to me; they answer some of the most common questions and are very easy/quick to read. One key thing to note: “single payer” (which is what Bernie and others are proposing) is not the same as “socialized healthcare” (which the UK has.) These two terms are often mistakenly used interchangeably, and they’re not the same at all. These FAQs address your questions about how costs would be covered and also medical research and innovation. For example, from the PNHP FAQ:”
What about medical research?
“Medical research does not disappear under universal health care system. Many famous discoveries have been made in countries with national health care systems. Laparoscopic gallbladder removal was pioneered in Canada. The CT scan was invented in England. The treatment for juvenile diabetes by transplanting pancreatic cells was developed in Canada…”
Also, one quick personal experience. We live in Boston, which is a hub for some of the best doctors and hospitals in the entire country. My uncle has a rare nerve disease, and he traveled to France for a special surgery. One or two doctors here could have done it, but he literally saved tens and tens of thousands of dollars by going to France instead, even taking into account his travel and extended stay there. No one should have to do this – travel to other countries for care because of exorbitant costs here. 🙁
http://www.pnhp.org/facts/single-payer-faq
http://masscare.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/amsasinglepayer101.pdf
Thank you, Jojo! This helps a lot!
Wishing her successful treatments and a future of good health.
The way she announced it made my eyes tear up. I don’t watch VEEP, but love to watch her as Elaine. So funny and real. God damn cancer.
I’m picturing Elaine pushing that bastard and yelling, “GET OUT!”
I hated Seinfeld for years and years and years until my fiance begged me to give it a shot.
I don’t know how I lived before Elaine.
One of the greats! Best wishes for recovery.
Also wanted to add that the VEEP episodes with Julia and Hugh Laurie are priceless.
Love her and wishing her all the best. And the exchange between her and Joe Biden was so lovely. Veeps stick together!
Have always loved her. May she have a speedy recovery. What a gracious and selfless act to call for universal health care. This is the true American spirit–to want everyone taken care of, not just oneself.
Amen to everything you said.
Her Why-NOT-Me? attitude about it really got me! Tells me what I need to know about her.
@GingerCrunch, I like that: a Why-NOT-me? attitude. That’s what ppl need to keep in mind when we talk about universal health care. Health disasters can happen to ANYONE and everyone deserves care and treatment.
What a classy lady. Thinking of others when faced with her own health crisis. Wishing her the best for recovery.
A million best wishes to Julia. She is a treasure.
I believe in Japan they designate some people as Living National Treasures. JLD should be one.
I love this because she could so easily have not said anything; even if she didn’t have union insurance she could still easily afford the best care possible without making a dent in her bank account. It’s amazing that many people’s sole arguement against universal healthcare comes down to capitalism.
I wish her all the best and yes the US needs universal health care. When you get a life threatening diagnosis the last thing you need is to worry about being able to afford the treatment.
Wishing her all the best and feeling appreciative of her message. It’s truly frightening and heartbreaking to think of all those who potentially might not have access to the care they need and deserve if the GOP has their way, the heartless bastards.
During one of my Dad’s many visits to the ER while he was battling cancer and the nurses were prepping him (taking blood, blood pressure, temp, etc.) and also getting him ready for CT Scans and all that fun stuff, I took a walk through the halls and saw a sign that listed all the prices for coverage ($5,000 for a ct-scan, $3,000 for an x-ray, etc.) and was amazed at the costs if you didn’t have insurance. This was posted for visitors to Canada. All we had to do was show them Dad’s Care Card and the card the Cancer Agency gives you when you need to visit the ER so they’ll know what he’s battling and needs to move to the front of the triage list.
Not once, his entire battle, did we have to factor money into the equation. Not for his medical treatment or the prescription medication he was on.
Now visiting my future in-laws in Indiana, the Mom keeps working so she can still have access to her crappy benefits where she’s still out of money for high blood pressure. It’s insane to me that there’s no universal health care here. That there’s no prescription medication plan here.
I keep telling my fiance that as soon as we can, we’ll start the process where he can become a Canadian citizen. I can’t live here in these types of conditions where we can lose everything because the elected officials have their cushy benefits while us peasants have to worry about a slip and fall, or car accident, or a diagnosis that can be treated easily but cost you everything.
Yeah when I read Julia’s Tweet I thought immediately that if Graham-Cassidy passed I would probably just move to France if I got a cancer diagnosis—and I live in Boston where we have some of the best hospitals in the world. A cancer patient recently said that they would have had to pay $700K for their treatment were it not for the ACA. Scary times….
I def. think it’s a smart move for your husband to obtain Canadian citizenship.
This is a day late but if any body is reading, Canada enrolls Permanent Residents in insurance after a waiting period, at least in Ontario. For us it was about a 90 day residency period and we filled the gap with travel insurance. Citizenship offers the right to vote and a passport etc. But healthcare, taxes etc apply to residency. This is good.
I lost my mother to Breast cancer. My mother battled it for 20 years. Whenever I hear about a women with Breast cancer I immediately want to give them a hug. I’m sending my love and support to Julia and her family right now . It’s going to take everyone to in her family to stay strong .
I was listening to our local NPR station yesterday, the state attorney general does a monthly interview/call in q&a. There was a heartbreaking caller talking about the devastating impact medical bills (and he had insurance) have had on his life. Ruined credit, bankruptcy, etc. There is something wrong when you have to debate the financial ramifications while trying to stay alive.
I don’t comment very often, but I’m a daily reader of Celebitchy.
JLD’s statement really rings so true and so close to home, as I am, with no exaggeration, currently sitting in a waiting room at Sloan Kettering for my post op appointment. I was laid off in March and was trying to wrap up my health insurance prior to paying over $2400 month for my family’s COBRA. Went for my mammo because I was too busy to go last year and BAM, found I had breast cancer. Not remotely on my radar and I have no family history AT ALL, plus I’m 46, so a little young.
Long and the short of things…it was caught super, super early and after 2 breast surgeries, a month of radiation and my ovaries & fallopian tubes removed to eliminate all estrogen production, I have a 2% chance of reoccurrance.
It is nothing short of pitiful that our government has chosen to politicize health care. I enter these buildings and I am nothing short of humbled when I see my fellow patients- the children… the babies, the truly suffering, the weathered individuals that have obviously ‘done this before’. No one, rich or poor, chooses this experience. I feel as if I’m an imposter, as I really don’t have it so bad, yet, I have every reason to be here. I am extraordinarily lucky.
I am beyond greatful to my parents for covering my COBRA payments for me, my husband and son. I think about those who can’t afford the treatments, who skip checkups, versus me who stupidly got too busy and had a crazy ‘stroke of luck ‘ to lose my job when I did… and I could weep for them. I’ve only had to pay $200 out of pocket, but the billed amount is roughly $90k.
Perhaps what our celebrity obsessed politicians need are more public voices to heard…the Julia Louis Dreyfus’, the Jimmy Kimmel’s, et al, and they can make a difference because it certainly feels like the vast majority of the Republican party is not listening to their constituents.
I wish Ms. Louis Dreyfus, and all sufferers only the best.
Very glad you commented. You honor us with your insight. My very best to you and your family.
Sending you my support . You are strong warrior and thank you for your post .
Nyloric, I feel like crying, reading your post. Wishing you a complete recovery, and all good wishes.
I found out I had Leukemia by a fluke. 4 yrs. ago, prior to diagnosis I had foot surgery, and my blood work was fine. During recovery, I was tired, lost some weight, but figured it was all the schlepping around on a knee walker. When I went back to work, I was exhausted, but thought it was just being back in the classroom. By fluke, I needed a TB test (we are mandated to get it every 5 yrs). So I asked the doctor to check my vitamin levels to see if I was lacking anything to pep me up. He came back with my blood results, and bam! At the age of 57, my life changed forever. NO family history, out of the blue diagnosis.
The point (after all this background) is this: as an elementary school teacher, I would NEVER have been able to afford the treatment I received without insurance. I was in Cedars Sinai for 6 was. Fr the initial chemo treatment, and then City of Hope for SCT. The stem cell transplant alone was almost $200k (my part was $140k, and to harvest my sister’s stem cells was $60k- my ins. paid for both). City of Hope is amazing, as they work with you, generously, to help. I was VERY lucky, in respect, to recovery and financially. Not that my dad and sister wouldn’t have sold every thing to help, but because of my insurance, they didn’t have to.
Jimmy Kimmel and Julia have ALL the respect for talking about this and thinking of others’ plights as they went/are going through their battles. All the very best wishes for recovery (and continued) success in her’s and his son’s treatments.
Nyloric,
To your recovery! Best of luck, warrior! xoxo
Not just celebrities, but ordinary people sharing their stories, like you just did.
I was truly moved by your comment and wish you years of future health and happiness.
I was diagnosed exactly two years ago today, to the day.
Thankfully, being in the UK, our wondrous NHS leapt into action. &, yes, I absolutely echo the call for universal healthcare for all.
I really feel for you, Nyloric. There’ll be crap times, times when you feel incredibly low & desperately rough – there’s some great support available online if you need it & things will get better.
Thinking of you & all the other 1-in-8s. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.
(Also self-diagnosed & it was found early enough for a mastectomy on its own – no further treatment apart from Tamoxifen for 10 years. The fear of it recurring never quite goes away though ….)
A classy woman and a thoughtful, classy announcement.
Quick recovery and health vibes to her.
She’s amazing. Best wishes to her and to everyone battle terrible monster that is cancer.
Lost my mother and my aunt to breast cancer when I was in my teens (in the 70s). Bless her, bless her family. She seems like a VERY strong woman, very much loved by her family and the acting community. Breast cancer research has come a long way since the 70s, thankfully. Godspeed, Julia!
Paul Ryan was shown this morning hugging Steve Scalise and saying, “It’s been a long time since I’ve cried.” It’s fine that he’s happy for his friend’s recovery, but that statement indicates that he’s shed not one tear for the millions he wants to deprive of health insurance.
Thanks for for pointing this out. We can be glad for the congressman and his family, and also point out the obligations these public servants have to the people. Also, THE NEW YORKER has a pointed satire about McConnell and Ryan lamenting their [temporarily] lost dream of depriving the less fortunate of health insurance.
I hope Ryan never stands out in the rain; his wiring will short circuit and his electrical panel will fry. That is one broken man.
Blue ribbon for best description of that idiot yet.
I wonder if someone has pointed out to Ryan that his friend’s injuries will need months or years of rehabilitation sessions, and will most likely be categorized as a pre-existing condition for the rest of his natural life. Either of those things could mean Scalise would be on the hook for all his future medical bills if Ryan and his colleagues succeed in their repeal efforts.
Nope he won’t. Senators and Congressmen are exempt-they and their families have their own healthcare. They wouldn’t be caught dead (pun intended) using what’s “good enough for the masses”. He and his buddies take care of their own, you can go to the bank on that.
I saw Julia’s statement on Instagram the minute it appeared yesterday and was floored. I’ve always loved Julia and Elaine is one of my favorite characters. I’m sure she’ll beat it, she has to.
I had a mammogram a year ago. Two months after the exam I noticed red streaks moving up my one breast. Over a six month period these streaks worked their way half way up my breast. Then, in one month they shot up and almost completely covered my breast. My doctor didn’t know what it was, so she sent me to a oncologist who has never seen this before. These streaks aren’t hot or cold, they’re not painful or numb and when I get really cold or really hot, they turn purple. Please, does anybody have any idea what this might be, or has gone through this? I’m scared and no one has any answers. I’ve been online for months trying to figure this out.
Honestly, I would try Chinese medicine. Not with someone fresh out of acupuncture school, but instead with a mature physician, preferably from China and about aged 50-55 or so. That means the person, before coming to the USA, probably spent years following a “barefoot doctor” out in the country in China so that they see and treat EVERYTHING under the sun. This way, you’ll get someone who has an incredibly wide range of experience.
Chinese medicine is less invested in symptom and much more interested in pattern. This means that your practitioner will look at the varying factors involved and maybe treat indirectly. For mastitis (which may be in alignment with what you are experiencing), you can see here (http://www.americandragon.com/conditions/Mastitis.html) that there are many different patterns that may cause it.
Chinese medicine is very good for things that Western medicine can’t figure out. Even if you don’t continue on with a treatment plan, at least you may be able to figure out what’s going on and have an integrative plan or simply just a better-informed Western plan.
Good luck to you!
Thank you Frida_K so very much. I’ve found 2 practitioners fairly close in my area and I’m going to try and set up appointments next week. I can’t thank you enough. The oncologist wants to take pictures and weight every six months and casually suggested potential removal to err on the side of caution. This cannot be, especially without a diagnosis. Again, thank you.
If it is not painful, I don’t think it is mastitis. Sounds like the stretch marks I got when nursing. Have you gain or lost a bunch of weight recently? You could try making an appointment with a dermatologist.
I don’t think it is mastitis either but that is an easy one to show the many, many ways Chinese medicine can take one issue (in this case mastitis) and interpret it as a variety of syndromes. It’s a common issue so it’s simple to use as an example for a breast concern, that’s all.
I think there is some kind of stasis there. I would have to see, and do a complete intake. Obviously, that isn’t possible via internet commentary, but I hope that she can see that there are many ways to interpret this (and she needs to find the right one) if she goes to a TCM practitioner.
WOW I remember her dad died the Friday before she won last year’s Emmys and now she learned she has cancer the day after this year’s Emmys. Best Wishes to her.
Best wishes, Julia, for a healthy and full recovery.
I love that movie she made with James Gandolfini (RIP). – I can’t think of the name off the top of my head.
Enough Said. They were both so wonderful in that.
I got my first mammogram recently. It was free (I’m over 40), super easy, didn’t hurt (I’d heard stories) and only took ten minutes out of my day. I’m on the register now too so like pap smears, I’ll get sent a reminder for my next one.
Do it, people!
Wishing her all the best.
When I read her tweet I almost started sobbing uncontrollably…because no one is safe from breast cancer! 1 in 8 is ALOT…
During her 2016 presidential campaign, Hilary said we can “never ever” have universal health care. Never Ever.