Rita Steals the Show at the Emmys
- Actress and singer Rita Wilson dazzled the crowds at last night’s Emmy Awards as she rapped to a Biz Markie song; many viewers adored her for it but not everyone was a fan.
- Wilson is a breast cancer survivor; she was diagnosed with invasive lobular carcinoma breast cancer in 2015. To treat it, she had a mastectomy, followed by reconstructive surgery.
- Mammograms are the screening method for breast cancer, and women aged 45 to 54 with an average risk of breast cancer (i.e. no family history of the disease) should have mammograms annually.
Read MoreI am not drunk enough for Rita Wilson rapping over Just A Friend !!! pic.twitter.com/Li7c5KRHao
— Carrie Courogen (@carriecourogen) September 20, 2021
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While we were loving it and so were a plethora of others not everyone was a fan of Wilson’s performance.
WHO KEEPS TELLING RITA WILSON SHE SHOULD RAP?! #Emmys pic.twitter.com/R4a4GIw0DD
— Decider (@decider) September 20, 2021
However, she had loads of support, too. One Twitter user called the lively performance “something I needed to see.”
https://twitter.com/NotDoogieHauser/status/1439761499216654337
Others on Twitter joked how Wilson was an even better rapper than her son, Chet, who is a professional rapper.
The mother (Rita Wilson) of Chet Hanks is a better rapper than him! 💀#Emmys pic.twitter.com/92lErosFCk
— Afua S. Owusu (@afuasowusu) September 20, 2021
Rita’s Breast Cancer Journey
Wilson was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015. She underwent a mastectomy, followed by reconstructive surgery, to treat her cancer. The actress and singer's specific diagnosis was invasive lobular carcinoma.
This type of breast cancer is named for its point of origin: the lobules. Invasive lobular carcinoma begins in the milk-producing glands, called lobules, of the breast. For this kind of cancer that’s invasive, cancer cells have “broken out” of the lobule where they began and they may spread to other areas of the body.
Invasive lobular carcinoma only represents a small portion of breast cancers. The most common type of breast cancer starts in the breast ducts.
Related: What is a BRCA Mutation?
Treatment options for breast cancer include surgery (via a mastectomy or lumpectomy), chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Some people also get preventative mastectomies if there’s a history of breast cancer in the family and thus an elevated risk of developing the disease.
When Should You Consider a Mastectomy?
Screening for Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is typically detected via a mammogram, the screening method for this type of cancer. Mammograms look for lumps in the breast tissue and early signs of breast cancer.
Women aged 45 to 54 with an average risk of breast cancer (i.e. no family history of the disease) should have mammograms annually. Dr. Connie Lehman, the chief of the Breast Imaging Division at Massachusetts General Hospital, says in an earlier interview, "If you haven't gone through menopause yet, I think it's very important that you have a mammogram every year."
Related: When Should I Get a Mammogram?
"We know that cancers grow more rapidly in our younger patients, and having that annual mammogram can be lifesaving," says Dr. Lehman. "After menopause, it may be perfectly acceptable to reduce that frequency to every two years. But what I'm most concerned about is the women who haven't been in for a mammogram for two, three, or four years, those women that have never had a mammogram. We all agree regular screening mammography saves lives."
When You're Getting a Mammogram, Ask About Dense Breasts
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