Julia Louis-Dreyfus' Battle With Breast Cancer
- Julia Louis-Dreyfus, known for acting as Elaine Benes on popular TV sitcom “Seinfeld, once caused her costar Bryan Cranston, to get sick. The pair kissed in a memorable scene from ‘Seinfeld’ and it’s something they’ll never forget.
- Although Cranston caught a cold from Louis-Dreyfus after filming that scene from an episode dubbed “The Label Maker,” he has since forgiven his costar and made light of the situation.
- Louis-Dreyfus was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer back in 2017. Following her diagnosis, she went public with news on her social media channels to an outpouring of support. She was announced to be “cancer-free” about a year later.
- Dr. Dana Chase, a Gynecologic Oncologist at UCLA Health, also it’s important to try to focus on the good, stay positive, and do things that bring you joy [like making others laugh] to the degree you’re able to do so amid battling a disease like cancer.
- “We know, actually from good studies, that emotional health, quality of life is associated with survival, meaning better quality of life is associated with better survival, better outcomes,” Dr. Chase tells SurvivorNet.
Louis Dreyfus, 62, had worked with the 67-year-old actor, while shooting a handful of “Seinfeld” episodes together, when Cranston acted as Jerry Seinfeld’s “Dentist to the Stars” Tim Whatley. However, the filming of one of those episodes was very memorable, specifically, “The Label Maker” episode, a story about regifting presents.
Luckily, it’s appears Cranston has made light of the situation and has forgiven Louis-Dreyfus.
Speaking on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” back in 2020, Cranston opened up about the iconic scene which left him sick, according to The Things.
Cranston told DeGeneres, “I was the dentist on ‘Seinfeld’ for several episodes and we, uh, got together occasionally.” The TV show host replied, “You made out a lot.”
“Yeah there was a makeout — oh hello! There you go!” Cranston continued, as he noticed the scene being played on a large screen behind him.
He continued, “What I remember from that night is that Julia, I think you had a cold that week, and we were kissing and I got a cold.”
“Well, first of all, I want to apologize for that again,” Louis-Dreyfus, who was virtually at the interview, said.
Her apology prompted a laugh from both DeGeneres and herself. She then asked Cranston, “It seems as if you’ve recovered. Right?”
Cranston replied with, “I promise not to bring it up but every other month or so.”
Cranston also brought up the kiss to Rolling Stone in a 2014 interview, where he admitted getting infected by Louis-Dreyfus was “worth it,” The List recounts.
He told the magazine, “I had a big crush on Julia Louis-Dreyfus. When I saw the script for ‘The Label Maker,’ I remember thinking, Oh, so I have to make out with her? Hmmm…”
Cranston was well aware Louis-Dreyfus hadn’t been feeling well and recalled her telling him prior to filming the scene.
“The night that we shot that, she was terribly sick, and she kept apologizing, knowing full well that I would get her cold,” he explained. “Which I did … but my god, it was worth it!”
Later that year, the beloved actors took to the stage at the Emmy Awards, and when Louis-Dreyfus went up to receive her award for “Veep,” she and her former “Seinfeld” costar staged a fiery kiss, which shocked the audience.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Cancer Journey
Louis-Dreyfus was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer back in 2017. Following her diagnosis, she went public with news on her social media channels to an outpouring of support.
“1 in 8 women get breast cancer. Today, I’m the one,” she wrote in her tweet.
Expert Breast Cancer Resources
- Introduction to Early-Stage Breast Cancer
- Advances in Metastatic Breast Cancer Treatments Over the Last Year Offer New Hope for Those Fighting
- For Breast Reconstruction After Mastectomy, Women May Choose ‘Now,’ ‘Later,’ or ‘Never’
- Implant Reconstruction After a Mastectomy: The Options
- Getting to Know Your Breasts with Self-Exams
Her tweet continued, “The good news is that I have the most glorious group of supportive and caring family and friends, and fantastic insurance through my union.
“The bad news is that not all women are so lucky, so let’s fight all cancers and make universal health care a reality.”
Just when you thought… pic.twitter.com/SbtYChwiEj
— Julia Louis-Dreyfus (@OfficialJLD) September 28, 2017
As Louis-Dreyfus bravely fought her breast cancer head-on, she underwent six rounds of chemotherapy and a double mastectomy during her treatment. It took roughly a year, but in October 2018, she announced she was cancer-free.
“I got diagnosed with cancer, and I powered through it,” the long-time actress turned cancer warrior told People, during a 2018 interview. “I came out the other side. I’m grateful for all of it,” she continued.
WATCH: Understanding Your Breast Cancer Diagnosis
The Importance of Laughter & Positivity
Julia Louis-Dreyfus is a perfect example of someone who uses laughter and positivity when times get tough, or when mistakes happen, like giving a cold to her costar after a memorable kiss.
It’s also interesting to note, that according to the National Library of Medicine, research has shown that the amount of pain medication needed for patients is reduced after they watch funny movies.
And perhaps laughter, like Louis-Dreyfus makes sure to have in her life, could also help when someone is dealing with the pain that comes amid a health challenge, whether it’s any sort of health battle, like breast cancer.
The importance of positivity amid tough times has been seen through stand-up comedian Jesus Trejo in Long Beach, California.
Trejo became a caregiver for both of his parents after his mother was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor and his father was later faced with colon cancer. But instead of panicking and focusing on the devastating nature of the situation, the only child stepped up to care for his parents with love and laughter.
In a previous interview with SurvivorNet, Trejo opened up about how he put his career aside to care for his parents in their time of need while making time to smile along the way.
Stand-Up Comedian & Cancer Caregiver, Jesus Trejo Reminds Us That “Laughter is a Game-Changer”
“The only advice I have for anyone watching this is laugh, and laugh often, laugh at yourself. Don’t take yourself seriously. Things are already bad. Because once you do that, it’s a game-changer,” Trejo told SurvivorNet.
He also says the laughter itself might be brief, but “the effects of it just reverberate through your body, and can change an already bad situation into a better one.”
Focusing on hope, and maintaining a positive attitude amid a health battle can always be helpful.
Anecdotal evidence from SurvivorNet experts points to how a positive mindset can impact a cancer prognosis.
Dr. Zuri Murrell, of Cedars-Sinai told SurvivorNet in an earlier interview, “My patients who thrive, even with stage 4 cancer, from the time that they, about a month after they’re diagnosed, I kind of am pretty good at seeing who is going to be OK. Now doesn’t that mean I’m good at saying that the cancer won’t grow.
“I’m pretty good at telling what kind of patient are going to still have this attitude and probably going to live the longest, even with bad, bad disease. And those are patients who, they have gratitude in life.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Dana Chase, a Gynecologic Oncologist at UCLA Health, also says it’s important to try to focus on the good, stay positive, and do things that bring you joy to the degree you’re able to do so amid battling a disease like cancer.
“We know, actually from good studies, that emotional health, quality of life is associated with survival, meaning better quality of life is associated with better survival, better outcomes,” Dr. Chase said in an earlier interview.
Learn to Forgive Yourself — Dealing With the Psychological Aspects of Cancer
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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