Nicole Eggert, the actress famous for her role as Summer Quinn on the television series Baywatch, revealed how she initially dismissed the symptoms of her life-changing breast cancer diagnosis.
Eggert attributed the effects of her stage 2 carcinoma to menopause, believing the changes to her breast tissue were the result of normal changes associated with aging and fluctuating hormonal levels.
Highlights
- Nicole Eggert mistook her cancer symptoms for menopause, delaying diagnosis.
- Self-examination was pivotal for Eggert in discovering her breast cancer.
- Eggert progresses well post-mastectomy but faces more surgeries and hormone therapy.
- Support from fans and her daughter has been crucial in Eggert's recovery journey.
- Eggert's GoFundMe has raised 66% of its $100k goal to aid her cancer battle.
"What I thought was, you know, our breast tissue is always growing and changing, and as women, our breasts move, and gravity hits and all that. So, I kind of chalked it up to that," she said.
Unable to fit her bra properly, she thought the mass on her chest to be fat, but it was actually a tumor, growing and taking up more space.
Actress Nicole Eggert shared her regrets after confusing her breast cancer symptoms with menopause, delaying its detection
Image credits: _nicole_eggert
"I went for my yearly mammograms and my ultrasounds. I have dense breast tissue. So I was doing what I was supposed to be doing," she recounted.
During that time, Eggert also began experiencing what she described as "really serious" and unexplained weight gain, further causing her to confuse the effects of breast cancer with menopause.
Image credits: _nicole_eggert
"I was at my ideal weight, and I was holding strong, and I was feeling really good," she recalled. "And then, all of a sudden, no matter what I was doing, I was gaining weight."
The actress eventually learned that the changes her body went through were the result of the type of cancer cells found on her breast. These cells were estrogen receptor-positive, which meant they grew and spread using the hormone.
The actress emphasized the importance of self-examination, which can help women get treatment early by recognizing abnormalities in their breasts
Image credits: _nicole_eggert
For Eggert, the realization of her condition came after she conducted a self-examination, motivated by pain and throbbing in her breasts, unlike anything she had ever experienced.
"I went ahead and did the self-exam as soon as I felt the throbbing. And I found it. And it was this moment of like, 'How did I not know that was there?'" she recalled.
"I was not doing self-exams. So, I want to stress that women and men should do the self-exams. Feel yourself up. Get to know your girls. If I had been doing that, I would have found it much sooner," she said.
Image credits: _nicole_eggert
According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, "Adult women of all ages are encouraged to perform breast self-exams at least once a month."
The foundation also states that while self-exams are not a replacement for mammograms, they can help women detect cancer early by helping them become familiar with how their breasts normally look and feel.
"Alert your healthcare professional if you notice any changes in your breasts, such as a new lump, sore spot, changes in the appearance of the skin, or nipple discharge," the site read.
Eggert has progressed positively in her treatment, but she's expected to undergo at least two more surgeries, as well as hormone therapy
Image credits: _nicole_eggert
After her diagnosis, Eggert underwent a mastectomy and completed chemotherapy earlier this year. Her treatment is far from complete, however, as she still has another breast surgery to go, which will be coupled with a reconstruction procedure.
The actress maintained her sense of humor and positive attitude but recognized the emotional toll the process has had on her, especially after learning that her cancer was "more advanced" than her doctors anticipated.
Image credits: _nicole_eggert
Eggert, who has been regularly updating her fans on her progress, explained in early December how sharing her journey has been a major boost to her mental health and has allowed her to form a community around the challenging illness.
Image credits: _nicole_eggert
"They have a place to come and somebody to relate to that's going through the same things. It also gives everybody a platform to start chatting and talking about what they did and how their experience was," she explained.
"You really learn a lot that way too. I think every platform that we can have to talk about this disease is good."
The support of her followers and the love of her youngest daughter have been crucial in her road to recovery
Image credits: Fotos International/Getty Images
Image credits: Fotos International/Getty Images
The love of her online community has been critical for the actress who, in an interview with Fox News, described herself as "having nothing" to support her—not even family.
The actress is the mother of two daughters, 25-year-old Dilyn and 12-year-old Keegan.
"There's just no succumbing to this," she said while thinking of her daughters. "To think of them in pain or to think of them losing me or being hurt in any way. It hurts us tenfold.
"And so that's what it is. It's figuring this out and fighting as hard as I can so that my kids have a mom."
Image credits: GoFundMe
Keegan, who still lives with the actress, has remained strong and positive throughout her mother's ordeal, and Eggert has tried as much as possible to "shield her from the ugly side of the treatment."
"When I was really sick and going through chemo, she would go away for the weekend with friends," the actress explained. "I always made sure she had plans and was doing some things so that on those really dark days, she's not around."
Netizens congratulated the actress for being strong in the face of adversity, prioritizing her daughter's mental health above her own
"Love you Nicole, I'm always thinking of you. Keep fighting and enjoy the holidays!" one fan wrote.
"Thank you, Nicole, please keep sharing your story, it's so important," another wrote.
"I'm reading this during therapy. Sending you positive vibes and hugs!" a follower stated.
"You have been an inspiration to me through it all. It has been quite a journey. Thank you for being so open through yours," another said.
"You are so strong, and I admire your courage every day. God bless you!"
Those interested in helping Nicole Eggert fight breast cancer can do so via her GoFundMe page, which has raised 66% of a $100,000 goal so far.
"You are a rockstar." Netizens felt inspired by the actress' resilience in the face of cancer, wishing her a swift recovery
