Cancer Type – Breast
Bio – Jaclyn Smith the invincible Charlie’s Angel’s actress faced the news that changed her life in the summer of 2002. Read her story here…
Short Story – This Charlie Angel’s star was shocked to hear she needed to have a breast tissue biopsy in the summer of 2002, and really did not think anything of it. When the doctor delivered the news she had cancer in her left breast, it left her stunned.
After further testing, cancer had not spread to the lymph nodes and she went from demanding her breast be removed to a lumpectomy and eight weeks of radiation.
Her Charlie Angels co-star Kate Jackson helped a great deal through her ordeal, as she too had survived her own bout with cancer. Jaclyn Smith’s spouse, Dr. Brad Allen a heart Surgeon has also provided incredible support,
Jaclyn stated in an interview, “It’s amazing. Once I educated myself and took the long walk into fear, I started to come around and gain strength,” she said. “I always tell my children, you have to face your fear. If not, it’s like running from a dog that will bite you in the back.”
The actress is cancer-free and continues to live a healthy lifestyle. She has completely cut out her beloved french fries, eating healthy and regularly working out.
Jaclyn’s family and children stood by her through her treatments, and today she is still grateful for every moment she spends with her family, feeling as though having cancer was a kind of wake-up call. “When something like this happens to you, you begin to think, what does it all mean? I have always been grateful for family and for all that I’ve been given, but I realized it’s something deeper than that. It’s just a realization of how things can change in a moment. So having cancer does make you try to be better at everything you do and enjoy every moment. It changes you forever. But it can be a positive change.”
Jaclyn Smith Spouse – Brad Allen – Married 1997
Website – http://www.jaclynsmith.com/
Facebook Page – https://www.facebook.com/Jaclyn-Smith-105585649023/
Jaclyn Smith Breast Cancer Update
Jaclyn Smith will turn 75 this October and celebrate 21 years of marriage with her current husband, Brad Allen, a pediatric heart surgeon. She was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002. At that time, she had no reason to think she had cancer; she felt great. Only through early detection of a mammogram did the doctor find something not quite right. She had a core biopsy, an ultrasound, and a needle biopsy before the doctor confirmed she had breast cancer.
Jaclyn’s friends Kate Jackson and Farrah Fawcett, who both had cancer, also. Jaclyn has a great support system with her husband and friends, especially during her battle with cancer. She also has the following advice for women regarding cancer “Any woman who has a biopsy don’t go back for results by yourself because you don’t hear anything clearly,”
Jaclyn has two children from a prior marriage a daughter Spencer Margaret Richmond and a son Gaston Richmond.
Jaclyn is doing well; her cancer has not returned. She takes care of herself, eating a healthy diet, and exercising to keep her body fit. And, she never misses a mammogram. She says, “it is important that women have yearly screenings.”
Cancer Horizons wishes to thank Jaclyn for talking honestly to women about breast cancer and screenings.
| Born | Jacquelyn Ellen Smith, October 26, 1945 (age 74), Houston, Texas, United States |
| Education | Trinity University (Texas) (withdrawn) |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1969–present |
| Spouse(s) | Roger Davis (1968–1975; divorced), Dennis Cole (1978–1981; divorced), Anthony B. Richmond (1981–1989; divorced; 2 children), Brad Allen (1997–present) |
| Children | 2 |
| Website | jaclynsmith.com |
Image Credits – m j c [CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
