Blythe Danner, 79, Reveals Cancer Battle
- Actress Blythe Danner, 79, recently revealed she battled a rare form of oral cancer called adenoid cystic carcinoma for several years. She was diagnosed in March 2018. Her adenoid cystic carcinoma initially presented as a lump in her neck.
- Danner is the mother of Oscar-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow and appeared in films like Meet the Parents. Danner lost her husband, Bruce Paltrow, to oral cancer in 2002.
- Oral cancer is a type of cancer that forms in the tissues of the mouth or the throat. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), approximately 54,000 Americans are diagnosed with oral cancer every year.
- Danner underwent two surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation, and several years of alternative treatments. She had a third surgery in 2020, which fully removed the cancerous tissue. Today, she’s in remission.
Danner is the mom of Oscar-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow and has appeared in films and television for decades. She was a popular fixture on NBC’s Will & Grace, on which she played Will’s mom. Danner is an Emmy winner as well.
Danner’s Cancer Discovery
Danner was diagnosed with adenoid cystic carcinoma in March 2018 after several symptoms first presented. PEOPLE reports how Danner says she first felt around the time before she was diagnosed. She says, “I started feeling very woozy and I was forgetting everything.” Danner shares how she also felt a lump in her neck, near to where her husband Bruce Paltrow had discovered a lump in his neck.
After her diagnosis, Danner says, “I remember I looked up at heaven and said to Bruce, ‘Are you lonely up there?'” Danner notes how it’s unusual for partners to battle the same form of cancer.
Paltrow lost his battle with cancer, but Danner is well and thriving. “It’s a sneaky disease,” she says. “But I’m fine and dandy now. And I’m lucky to be alive.”
Danner underwent two surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation, and several years of alternative treatments. She had a third surgery in 2020, which fully removed the cancerous tissue. Today, she’s in remission.
Danner says she remained calm in the face of cancer. “I wasn’t quaking in my boots,” says the grandmother of four. “I don’t have any fear of death at all.”
Understanding Oral Cancer
Adenoid cystic carcinoma is a rare form of oral cancer which typically develops in the salivary glands.
Oral cancer is a type of cancer that forms in the tissues of the mouth or the throat. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), approximately 54,000 Americans are diagnosed with oral cancer every year.
It’s important to be aware of the factors that may increase the risk of oral cancer, such as tobacco use, heavy alcohol consumption, and excessive sun exposure to the lips.
These cancers tend to cause lesions to form in the mouth and anyone concerned about something that's popped up should see a doctor immediately to rule out oral cancer.
There are also steps we can all take to reduce our risks. Not smoking and being cognizant of how much we drink are obvious choices, but in recent years, there have been great developments when it comes to preventing HPV-linked cancers as well.
Many people assume that HPV can only cause cancer in women due to its link to cervical cancer. However, the virus can also cause cancer in the head and neck.
"We recommend strongly that children are vaccinated against HPV to prevent cervical cancer, but also to prevent head and neck cancer," Dr. Jessica Geiger, a medical oncologist specializing in head and neck cancer at Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center, told SurvivorNet. "HPV is spread through sexual contact. Now the key with the vaccine is that you received the vaccine before you ever reach sexual debut or have sexual encounters."
The vaccine is recommended because HPV is so widespread in Western society, Dr. Geiger said. "Fortunately, for the majority of us over 90% we clear the virus without ever knowing that we were exposed. However, in a small subset 6% or 7% of the population the virus remains dormant in our body. And over time, meaning decades after we were first exposed, the virus gets into our DNA, and likes to settle in the tissues of the cervix or the back of the throat, and can ultimately cause changes that form cancer."
Dr. Jessica Geiger explains why the HPV vaccine is so important in cancer prevention
Sharing a Cancer Diagnosis with Your Children
Many people choose to share their cancer diagnosis with loved ones like their children shortly after their diagnosis. But Danner didn’t want anyone to worry. She says, “I kept it from my kids for a long time. I wanted to forge ahead as a mother, and I didn’t want them to worry.”
When Danner told her daughter, Goop-founder, Paltrow, 50, Paltrow was “very shocked,” the Shakespeare in Love actress says. “It was scary. And it felt really eerie because it was so similar [to my dad’s].”
Paltrow says she admires how her mom faced her illness head-on. “She went through it with so much grace,” says Paltrow. “I was amazed at how strong she was able to be.”
Of her own cancer battle and of her husband’s, Danner says, “I think we’ve all become somehow stronger. It’s a bit of a crapshoot this disease and this life. But I’ve had a career, great kids and a loving husband. I’m very grateful.”
Telling Your Kids You Have Cancer: "When it Comes to Your Kids, You Want to Protect Them"
Contributing: Laura Gesualdi-Gilmore
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