Celebrity Spotlight: Jaclyn Smith

Angel On A Mission

In The Fight Against Breast Cancer, Jaclyn Smith Believes Knowledge Is Power

Best known for her role as Kelly Garret in the hit television series Charlie’s Angels, Jaclyn Smith was enjoying a fulfilling life and successful career in 2002 as an actress, fashion entrepreneur and mother of two. But that all changed in an instant when Jaclyn was diagnosed with breast cancer. She recently sat down with MyHealth to talk about her battle with cancer, the lessons she’s learned, and the ways she’s helping women become more educated about the disease.

How did you find out you had breast cancer?

I went in for my annual mammogram in 2002. My doctor noticed something suspicious and followed up with an ultrasound and biopsy. At the time, I didn’t think anything about it. Breast cancer was the last thing on my mind. After all, there was no history of cancer in my family. Then, when I went to get the biopsy results, my doctor said I had breast cancer.

What was your reaction to the news?

When I first heard the word “cancer,” I was stunned. It was a surreal experience. My mammogram the year before had been clean, and I hadn’t felt a lump or bump. I was feeling totally healthy and then I get this news that just stopped my whole world. I think the first question I asked was “Am I going to be here for my kids?” That’s when my doctor explained that the growth had been detected early, thanks to my scheduling a mammogram every year.

What happened next?

That first week after the diagnosis was rough. I really went to a dark place. But then I started to turn myself around. I remembered Kate Jackson, my co-star on Charlie’s Angels, was a breast cancer survivor. Then the good news came that the cancer had not spread to my lymph nodes. I had a lumpectomy and underwent eight weeks of radiation therapy. Now I’ve been cancer-free for 11 years.

What have you learned from the experience?

I learned that knowledge is power. After my diagnosis, I was gripped with fear because I didn’t know anything about breast cancer. But once I started to educate myself and got my hands on the right information, I felt empowered. I’ve also learned that it’s so important for women to have a support group. It’s a time to surround yourself with family and friends and let their strength sustain you. My girlfriends blessed me by driving me to doctor’s appointments during my treatment and taking me to lunch afterwards. Looking back at my own experience, I know now that I should never have gone alone to learn the results of my biopsy. I needed someone right by my side to help me process the information and provide emotional support because you really can’t hear what the doctor is saying.

Any final thoughts?

Every 13 minutes a woman dies of breast cancer in America, and every three minutes someone is diagnosed with the disease. As women, we can’t run away from the subject. We need to educate and enlighten ourselves. Early detection is the key and that’s the reason I so strongly encourage every woman over 40 to have a mammogram every year. It just might save your life.