Jaclyn Smith Talks Cancer Awareness & Advocacy
- Actress Jaclyn Smith, 77, was one of the original Charlie’s Angels. She and her former co-stars, Kate Jackson and Farrah Fawcett, all went through cancer.
- Smith is still involved in awareness and advocacy, even attending an event for the Farrah Fawcett Foundation, which aims to raise awareness about HPV-linked cancers, last month.
- Smith, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in the early 00s, says that while she went through cancer herself, it was so important to have friends in her corner.
- Many cancer survivors find that building a solid support system of friends and/or family makes the process significantly easier.
In a previous interview with SurvivorNet, Smith, 77, a breast cancer survivor, shared that the Charlie’s Angels cast were able to support each other through their health struggles. The third angel, Kate Jackson, also happens to be a breast cancer survivor.
Read More
View this post on Instagram
Jaclyn Smith’s Cancer Journey
Smith says that her own experience with cancer left her with a profound new outlook on life.
"It's kind of amazing that it ended up making me take action, do things that I wouldn't have done, maybe," the actress told SurvivorNet. "I think when you hear [you have cancer], you realize how precious life is. And hey, I'm not just gonna sit back and do nothing. Let me enjoy this moment. And I flew through radiation working, every day."
While she was receiving and recovering from cancer treatment, Smith was also starring in a TV series, "The District," making film appearances like a cameo in 2003's Charlie's Angels reboot and she even launched her own furniture line.
Because the actress was diagnosed at stage 1, her treatment was a lumpectomy a surgical procedure where part of the breast is removed and several rounds of radiation.
Dr. Sarah Cate explains the difference between a lumpectomy and a mastectomy.
Finding the Right Support
Throughout the cancer journey, Smith said she had an incredible amount of support. While her son, daughter and husband Brad Allen were naturally scared by her diagnosis, Smith says her close-knit family was a huge comfort to her. And her girlfriends, she said, provided a different kind of but very much-needed comfort as well.
"I talk about the power of girlfriends," Smith said. "…The family was so emotionally tied to [the cancer journey]. I saw them worry. Whereas the girlfriends would say, 'OK, we're going to lunch. Should we go to Johnny Rockets today?’"
"They were just always cheery and they were always up, and they wouldn't let me get down," Smith adds. "And if I heard anything, they diffused the story. It's nice to have family, but it's nice to get that support from friends, too."
Smith also got involved in advocating for awareness. She teamed up with an organization called Strength in Knowing and traveled the country trying to educate others about cancer and the importance of screening.
"I did that for about two years, and you'd be surprised how many women are in denial or are afraid to go in for their mammograms, etc.," she said. "…I do realize the importance of organizations like Strength in Knowing because not everybody has family nearby or girlfriends to turn to."
Dr. Connie Lehman breaks down mammography guidelines.
Currently, there is a wide consensus that women should have annual mammograms between the ages of 45 and 54. But there is some disagreement among doctors as to whether mammograms are beneficial for women between the ages of 40 and 45. This is an option you should, of course, discuss with your own doctor.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
