44 Years Ago Today Joan Crawford Passed from Stomach Cancer; What Are The Symptoms of This Disease?

Crawford was and remains a legend of the silver screen, starring in iconic movies like Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?, Mildred Pierce and The Women. She took home an Oscar for Best Actress for her titular role of Mildred Pierce.

Born Lucille Fay LeSueur in San Antonio, Crawford got her start working as a dancer and a chorus girl on Broadway, eventually ascending to film work in Hollywood, where she made a name for herself over several decades working in showbiz. Gone from the lights of Broadway, Crawford signed to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1925 in Los Angeles and began making films for the behemoth of a studio.

Crawford had a somewhat tumultuous personal life and was married four times. She adopted five children, and her relationship with some of her children was tense. Allegations of abuse later surfaced in a “tell-all” memoir by one of her children.

Understanding Stomach Cancer & Its Symptoms

Stomach cancer occurs when an abnormal growth of cells begins in the stomach and becomes cancerous. Treatment options for this disease include surgery, medications, radiation and chemotherapy. Crawford became a Christian Scientist later in life, and according to Biography, it was due to her faith that she refused aggressive treatment for cancer.

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According to the American Cancer Society (ACS) there will be approximately 26,560 new cases of stomach cancer diagnosed in the U.S. this year (16,160 in men and 10,400 in women). Stomach cancer typically affects older people, with the average age of diagnosis being 68. Nearly 6 of every 10 people diagnosed with stomach cancer each year are 65 or older. Symptoms of this disease may include:

• Difficulty swallowing
• Feeling bloated after eating
• Feeling full after eating small amounts of food
• Heartburn
• Indigestion
• Nausea
• Stomach pain
• Unintentional weight loss
• Vomiting

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Choosing to Battle Cancer Privately

Crawford reportedly did not tell many people that she was battling cancer. She passed away in her home, in her bedroom. (Famously, a year after she passed away, Crawford’s adoptive daughter Christina Crawford published a book called Mommie Dearest in 1978 which depicted the actress in an unflattering and abusive light.)

Vanity Fair reports of her privacy around her illness, “Crawford had quit drinking by the time she learned she had stomach cancerthanks to a renewed allegiance to Christian Sciencebut, in keeping with her desire to project a pristine image, refused to tell many people of her condition.”

Related: Olivia Newton-John Remembers Kelly Preston, Who Kept Her Cancer Battle Private & Reveals Why She Went Public With Her Own Diagnosis So Many Years Ago

Crawford’s private nature may have been the impetus for daughter Christina to wait until after her passing to publish her memoir. Whatever her reasons were for keeping her stomach cancer battle private, they are hers and hers alone. When battling a disease like cancer, share the information with those closest to you, if you so choose. When it comes to health, it’s such a personal choice; make the decision that feels good to you.

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