Camille Grammer's Battle With Endometrial Cancer
- “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” alum Camille Grammer, 56, is looking incredible and feeling “much better” after her recent breast implant removal surgery, a procedure she decided to do because she was “over” the look.
- We’re happy to see the loving mom doing well after beating endometrial cancer in 2013, going through divorce, remarrying in 2018, and losing her mom Maureen Wilson Donatacci to kidney and bladder cancer in December 2022.
- Following her diagnosis of stage 2 endometrial cancer, a type of uterine cancer, Grammer underwent a radical hysterectomy, surgery that removed her uterus and reproductive organs.
- “Body image is both the mental picture that you have of your body and the way you feel about your body when you look in a mirror,” Dr. Marianna Strongin, a New York-based licensed clinical psychologist, tells SurvivorNet.
- “As you allow yourself to spend more time looking at all of you, you will begin having a new relationship with your body,” Strongin suggests.
The beloved “RHOBH” star, a former model, and dancer, took to Instagram this week to share her new appearance for 2025, with a bikini photo.
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Grammer then proceeded to give a shout out and thank her surgeon, Dr. Robert Cohen, MD, for doing the procedure.
Fans were quick to praise the beloved housewife for her confidence and decision to do remove her implants, with one writing, “I’m glad you removed the implants, Camille! As you know already it’s healthier. You are still fabulous! Stay healthy! Happy New Year!”
Another fan commented, “You look great!!! With all the celebrities that are reaching and approaching a maturer stage in life’s cycle, I’d like to know if this is more so of a maturity factor but you would still stand on the surgeries for the time you had it in your younger years? Or if you could go back in time you would have never done it kind of stance?!?!”
Grammer replied to that comment, “Probably a combination of all the above.”
When another one of Grammer’s followers commented, “You’re a Natural Beauty Camille – with a gorgeous body..good for you getting rid of the implants..you don’t need them,” adding, “ps you have an enviable flat tummy too!” the former real housewife admitted she also had “help” on her stomach.
“Natural is the way to go, good for you Camille! You are and have always been a natural beauty!” commented a fourth fan.
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Grammer’s celebratory breast implant removal post comes just days after she commemorated the New Year with her friends and family in Hawaii, something she took to Instagram to share photos of.
“Happy New Year from Hawaii! Celebrating with friends and family. “Here’s to a year of blessings and beyond. Happy New Year 2025!” #happynewyear #hawaii,” she wrote alongside photos of her New Years Eve festivities, which included fireworks, Don Perignon champagne, and quality time spend with loved ones.
It’s important to understand that viewing your body in a positive light, like Grammer is, can impact your emotional and physical well-being as a whole, especially after a cancer battle.
“Every day of our lives is really filled with uncertainty” but those facing a cancer diagnosis tend to feel that uncertainty at a more extreme level, Dr. William Breitbart, the chair of the Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, previously told SurvivorNet.
Learn to Accept Yourself A Huge Part of Living With Cancer
Dr. Breitbart also said that learning to embrace that uncertainty is a part of living, not just for those fighting cancer, but for everyone.
“What the task becomes is having the courage to live in the face of uncertainty, realizing that you cannot necessarily control the uncertainty in life, like the suffering that occurs, challenges both good and bad,” Dr. Breitbart says.
“You may not be able to control those but you have control over how you choose to respond.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Marianna Strongin, a New York-based licensed clinical psychologist, also has some helpful advice. She encourages people that spending time in front of the mirror can help with body image.
Although “research has found that when looking in the mirror we are more likely to focus on the parts of our body we are dissatisfied with” which can cause “a negative self-view and lower self-esteem,” it’s important to look at the parts of your body that you love and the parts of your body that you don’t.
Eventually, Dr. Strongin says, doing so can help you create a more accepting relationship with yourself.
“Body image is both the mental picture that you have of your body and the way you feel about your body when you look in a mirror,” she said. “As you allow yourself to spend more time looking at all of you, you will begin having a new relationship with your body.”
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Camille Grammer’s Endometrial Cancer
Camille Grammer has survived two cancer diagnoses: endometrial cancer in 2013 and skin cancer in 2017.
After finding out she had stage 2 endometrial cancer, a type of uterine cancer, Grammer underwent a radical hysterectomy, surgery that removed her uterus and reproductive organs.
How Doctors Recognize and Diagnose Different Types of Endometrial Cancer
Following the procedure, Grammer’s rep told Us Weekly at the time, “The surgery went very well and she is expected to make a complete recovery following a significant recuperation period.”
The rep also explained that Grammer “was at elevated risk due to genetic issues and has been diligent about regular check-ups and monitoring which explains the early detection and rapid treatment.”
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For her skin cancer scare, Grammer was diagnosed with a common type called squamous cell carcinoma, which was thankfully caught relatively early and she was declared in remission after going through surgery.
Breast Implants & Cancer
Questions surrounding whether breast implants themselves cause cancer have remained for years. In 2023, the FDA released safety communication regarding the potential risks of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and lymphoma, a type of cancer that starts in the lymphatic system.
SCC is among the most common types of skin cancer. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, squamous cells are “thin, flat cells that form the top layer of the epidermis.” This skin cancer type isn’t life-threatening and grows slowly, according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association.
More On Breast Implants
- Breast Reconstruction: Implants vs. Your Own Tissue
- Breast Implants & Cancer: One Doctor Asks How Much Silicone Has to Leak Before The FDA Does Something?
- All Breast Implants Should Come With Detailed Safety Warnings, Urges FDA — What The Experts Say About the Risks
- Breast Implants That May Cause Cancer– The FDA’s Meeting About Safety Concerns
- France Becomes First Country To Ban “Textured” Breast Implants Linked To Cancer
- More Cases Of Skin Cancer in People With Breast Implants: Do You Need to Get Yours Removed?
- Here’s What We Know About Breast Implants and This Rare Type of Cancer
The FDA’s safety communication indicated it received ten medical device reports about squamous cell carcinoma. A medical device reporting is a method the FDA uses to collect and analyze data about a marketed device scientifically. The federal agency says it also received 12 reports about varying types of lymphomas related to breast implants.
“The report states that the FDA is aware of 19 cases of SCC in the capsule around the breast implant from published literature,” noting the information includes the FDA’s review of medical literature and reports. “There have been reports in the literature of deaths from progression of the disease. While the FDA continues to believe that occurrences of SCC in the capsule around the breast implant may be rare, the cause, incidence, and risk factors remain unknown.”
Are Breast Implants Dangerous?
The warning follows previous reports of SCC and various lymphomas (cancer of the immune system) related to breast implants. The various lymphomas noted differ from those previously described by the FDA as Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL).
The FDA pinpointed textured implant manufacturer Allergan to remove some of its textured breast implants and tissue expanders from the market amid its report.
“Based on the currently available information, including data submitted in 2019, our analysis demonstrates that the risk of BIA-ALCL with Allergan BIOCELL textured implants is approximately six times the risk of BIA-ALCL with textured implants from other manufacturers marketing in the U.S.,” an FDA spokesperson wrote to SurvivorNet in an email. A complete list of recalled styles can be found via the FDA’s website.
Doctors Weigh In On Breast Implant Concerns
In an earlier interview with SurvivorNet, Dr. Sarah Cate, the lead physician for the Special Surveillance Breast Program at Mount Sinai Beth Israel, and Dr. Jordan Jacobs, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon, discussed breast implant concerns for survivors of breast cancer, following the release of an FDA safety communication. The FDA received 10 medical device reports (MDRs) about squamous cell carcinoma and 12 reports about various lymphomas connected to breast implants.
Doctors Cate and Jacobs tell SurvivorNet, regarding the FDA safety communication, “personally don’t think there is cause for alarm.”
The doctors believe the data shared by the FDA does not conclusively tie breast cancer to implants. Although, the pair does say, “the fact that the cancers were found in the implant capsules is certainly concerning and requires further investigation.”
Dr. Cate and Dr. Jacobs note how the FDA has required the placement of warnings on breast implant packaging. Additionally, there is newly an implant checklist that patients must sign and review before undergoing implant surgery. The doctors noted how ALCL, a rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, has been associated with implants for years.
The doctors affirmed that textured implants, those linked to ALCL, are not used at Mount Sinai. The doctors also note that implants require monitoring, and that if there are an adverse conditions spotted after the implants, they should be reported to the FDA.
Dr. Cate and Dr. Jacobs tell SurvivorNet, “Patients who have implants placed for either cosmetic or reconstructive purposes should have yearly follow-ups with their surgeons.” They add that “there are recommendations from the FDA for routine (every 2-3 years) MRIs to evaluate the integrity of the implant and the surrounding capsule.”
It’s important to note that most women who get breast implants do not get the textured kind that’s linked to cancer. The more popular option is “smooth” implants, which are usually filled with either silicone or saline. Unlike textured implants, smooth ones have not been linked to cancer. However, smooth implants have previously had potential complications reported in the past, such as joint pain, muscle aches, confusion, chronic fatigue, and autoimmune diseases.
“The use of any foreign object in the human body has potential risks,” Dr. Dung Nguyen, Director of Breast Reconstruction at Stanford Medicine, told SurvivorNet in an earlier interview.
“Some are rare and are not known until years after they are in clinical use. It is our professional responsibility to inform our patients of these risks and any changes to them as our experience with the device broadens. The goal is not to cause a mass scare, but to provide evidence-based information in a relatable way so that women can make educated decisions about the use of breast implants for themselves.”
It’s important to note that the medical community has a consensus that women between 45 and 54 have annual mammograms. However, an independent panel of experts called the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) says that women should start getting mammograms every other year at the age of 40, suggesting that this lowered the age for breast cancer screening could save 19% more lives. For women aged 55 and older, the American Cancer Society recommends getting a mammogram every other year. However, women in this age group who want added reassurance can still get annual mammograms.
When Should You Be Concerned About Your Implants?
Moreover, there are signs of cancer that Dr. Cate and Dr. Jacobs want people with breast implants to keep an eye out for. If anyone with implants present the following symptoms, they should contact their physician:
- Breast swelling
- Pain
- Redness
- Tightening
- A change in the shape of their breasts
If you do find yourself in a situation where an evaluation of your implants is needed, you will undergo a physical exam and imaging studies “to evaluate the implant shell integrity, determine if there is fluid around the implant and visualize the implant capsule.” Most breast radiologists can perform sampling fluid, as well, so that the fluid can be examined to see if there are any abnormal cells present.
“Surgical management includes removal of the implant and the surrounding capsule, which is sent to pathology to rule out atypical cells and/or cancer,” Dr. Cate and Dr. Jacobs added.
Understanding Endometrial Cancer & Treatment Advances For The Disease
Endometrial cancer first forms in the inner lining of the uterus, called the endometrium, according to the American Cancer Society.
“Endometrial cancer starts when cells in the endometrium (the inner lining of the uterus) start to grow out of control. Cells in nearly any part of the body can become cancer, and can spread to other parts of the body,” the ACS explains.
RELATED: Endometrial Cancer: Overview
“The uterus is a hollow organ, normally about the size and shape of a medium-sized pear. The uterus is where a fetus grows and develops when a woman is pregnant.”
During a woman’s menstrual cycle, the hormone estrogen causes the endometrium to thicken and, if there is no pregnancy, the hormone progesterone causes the endometrial lining to shed and become the menstrual flow.
Meanwhile, treatment for this cancer varies depending on the stage of the disease, the patient’s overall health, and other factors. Treatment options could be surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and immunotherapy.
Meanwhile, there is new hope for advanced endometrial cancer. The impact of new combination therapies on advanced endometrial cancer is a significant breakthrough for treating the disease. Patients are living longer, healthier lives.
Exciting New Combination Therapy Gives Hope To Women With Advanced Endometrial Cancer
“For a long time, patients with early-stage endometrial cancer generally do very well with a combination of surgery, maybe some radiotherapy,” says Dr. Shannon Westin, a professor in the department of gynecologic oncology and reproductive medicine at the University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX.
According to Westin, the latest treatments combine immunotherapy with standard chemotherapy plus a drug that prevents cancer cells from fixing their own DNA.
The results are encouraging, especially for patients who have late-stage endometrial cancer or their disease has come back.
“However, there’s a population of patients that are diagnosed at a later stage, stage three or four, or that have their cancer come back after initial therapy. And those patients have had a really hard time,” she adds to SurvivorNet.
The new combo involves two drugs:
- Durvalumab (brand name IMFINZI): As an immunotherapy drug, it powers up the body’s immune system so it can better identify and attack cancer cells. Doctors often use durvalumab alongside chemotherapy.
- Olaparib (brand name LYNPARZA): This PARP inhibitor, a type of drug that helps treat some cancers by blocking an enzyme called PARP that helps repair damaged DNA in cells. Olaparib destroys cancer cells, especially cells that already have trouble repairing their DNA. It is often, but not always, used as an add-on to durvalumab.
The combo treatment hits cancer with a double whammy by boosting the body’s immune response against cancer cells while also disrupting the cancer’s DNA repair mechanisms.
“The combination of durvalumab and chemotherapy, with or without olaparib, could redefine the standard care for advanced endometrial cancer, providing new hope for patients who previously had limited options,” Dr. Westin explains.
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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