What makes celebrities different from the average person
diagnosed with breast cancer?

Pop star Kylie Minogue's brush with breast cancer this year sparked a dramatic increase in the number of women undergoing first-time screenings. This newfound public awareness, and especially the trend of thirtysomething women getting mammograms, was later dubbed the “Kylie effect.”

When Melissa Etheridge performed bald at the 2005 Grammy Awards, she sent a powerful message to the millions of viewers and cancer patients among them: that battling breast cancer (and losing your hair in the process) was nothing to be ashamed of.

Because Minogue and Etheridge were so open about their illnesses, thereby elevating awareness of the cause, they made public what is usually a very personal battle. But following the initial shock of a diagnosis, these celebrities still face the same worries and concerns as everyone else. So what makes them different from the average person—one of an estimated 211,240 American women—who will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year?

The power of publicity

For starters, these women are household names that others feel a connection with and respect. As a spokesperson for the disease—whether personally afflicted or in support of a friend or loved one—their name and fame can influence awareness and action around the world. But with publicity comes responsibility. When celebrities make statements and choices, especially when faced with an illness, fans are sure to follow in their footsteps.

Indeed, researchers say that when celebrities talk about their bouts with a disease, people listen. A new study, published in the May issue of the “Journal of the National Cancer Institute,”found that 73 percent of women aged 40 and older reported they'd seen or heard celebrities talk about mammogram screenings for breast cancer. Twenty-five percent said the star-studded endorsement made them more likely to have a mammogram. "There is little question that celebrities can have a powerful impact on the public and that their influence can be put to good use," the researchers concluded.

Case in point: Minogue. In Australia, Minogue’s home country, appointments for breast screening exams by women aged 40 to 69 who had not been examined previously rose 101 percent in the two weeks following the announcement of her diagnosis.

Celebrities put “a familiar face on a scary disease and may break down barriers for some in terms of learning about breast cancer,” adds Wendy Mason, director of health science programs for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. “Having a celebrity face associated with a disease can get educational messages to population groups that we have not always been able to reach before.”

And in that effort to reach and educate the masses, many celebrities have already created noteworthy milestones in the fight against breast cancer:

First lady of awareness

In 1974, Betty Ford was one of the first women in the limelight to go public with her breast cancer diagnosis. At that time, there was a dire need for publicity about breast cancer, screening and treatment, yet the topic was still not spoken about in public and women were hard-pressed to find out details about the disease. In the period following Ford's diagnosis, many women followed her cue and received their first-ever mammograms during an ensuing nationwide screening campaign.

Live and let “Liv”

In 1992, songstress Olivia Newton-John was diagnosed with breast cancer and now, as a survivor, is widely respected for promoting the importance of early detection. Her “Liv Kit,” a breast examination aid that heightens the sensitivity of fingers by using a lubricant-filled bag to conduct personal tests, was introduced in 2004. In addition, her California-based Liv Foundation promotes breast cancer education and awareness and the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Center in her hometown of Melbourne, Australia, provides treatment, education and research.

Man power

Rod Roddy from The Price is Right and actor Richard Roundtree of Shaft fame were both diagnosed with male breast cancer and did much to educate the public that it is not a gender-specific disease. Roundtree has said that when he got news he thought, “I couldn't possibly have breast cancer. Men don't get this.” But they do. Although breast cancer is about 100 times more common among women, the American Cancer Society estimates that some 1,690 new cases of invasive male breast cancer will be diagnosed in the United States this year. Roddy succumbed to the disease in 2003; Roundtree, a survivor, now serves as a spokesman for both the Komen Foundation and a men's health care initiative called “Know Your Score” that encourages African-American men to see their doctors regularly.

Getting the “word” out

Now, breast cancer patients can educate themselves with the help of their favorite celebrity. More than 40 stars have lent their voices to the “Celebrity Talking Dictionary” project at breastcancer.org. Celebrities such as Roundtree, Newton-John, Courtney Cox, Celine Dion, Bonnie Raitt, Katie Couric and Al Roker discuss and define a wealth of complex (and often overwhelming) breast cancer terminology and topics, such as the chemotherapy drug Taxol, immunodeficiency and carcinoma in situ. Many of these celebrities had personal reasons for participating as well. As CNN anchor Paula Zahn explains in her introduction: “I know from my own experiences with my mother, who is a two-time cancer survivor, how hard it is to watch someone you love battle breast cancer. I’m adding to the Celebrity Talking Dictionary project to help all the moms and daughters out there—and all the families—facing this terrible disease.”