‘Charlie’s Angels’ Star Cheryl Ladd, 74, Reveals Past Breast Cancer Diagnosis: ‘Do Not Ignore It’
The actress opens up about going bald and credits her husband with supporting her through it all
Key Takeaways
- Cheryl Ladd, 74, reveals she secretly battled an aggressive form of breast cancer
- The actress urges women to never ignore breast changes or early warning signs of cancer
- Ladd credits her husband and doctors for helping her through a long recovery journey
When Cheryl Ladd took the stage at a PaleyFest panel on April 6 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Charlie’s Angels, she had something deeply personal to share with the world. The beloved actress, 74, revealed during the panel discussion that she had previously battled an aggressive form of breast cancer, a diagnosis she kept private until now. Her message to women was both simple and urgent: “If you find a little something in your breasts… do not ignore it.”
Cheryl Ladd’s breast cancer was ‘aggressive’
Ladd was joined onstage by former Charlie’s Angels costars Kate Jackson and Jaclyn Smith when she shared the news of her breast cancer battle. The special panel reunited three of the show’s stars to mark the milestone anniversary of the series that first aired on ABC in 1976. But amid the warmth and nostalgia of the celebration, Ladd spoke honestly about breast cancer, a disease that she said had impacted multiple lead actresses from the show.
“Mine was an aggressive form,” the actress said, according to People.
Woman's World Answers
Her decision to share her diagnosis publicly was driven by a desire to help other women—especially knowing how deeply cancer has touched the Charlie’s Angels family. Both Jackson, 77, and Smith, 80, have also previously been diagnosed with breast cancer. Original Charlie’s Angels star Farrah Fawcett died at age 62 in 2009, three years after she was diagnosed with anal cancer.
Smith recalled the moment she learned of Ladd’s diagnosis. “When Cheryl called me, the first thing I did was send her my wigs. She was so brave,” Smith said.
Cheryl Ladd’s husband supported her during her breast cancer battle
Opening up about the physical and emotional toll of her breast cancer treatment, Ladd described what it was like to face an aggressive form of the disease and lose her hair along the way. She spoke with raw honesty about one of the most difficult experiences of her life—and about the person who stood by her side through every moment of it.
“I was bald. It was a humbling experience and yet I have a wonderful husband… he was there for me at every turn,” Ladd said during the panel. “Eventually I started to get little sprouts of hair. It was a long, long, hard road, but you just get on with it.”
Ladd also credited her “wonderful doctors” with helping her overcome her illness, and urged women not to ignore changes in their breasts.
Ladd on the enduring legacy of Charlie’s Angels
Charlie’s Angels aired for five seasons on ABC from 1976 to 1981 and later spawned a hit movie reboot starring Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore and Lucy Liu. In an exclusive 2019 interview with Ladd, the star opened up about the empowering message behind the original show.
“Isn’t it interesting how intimidated men in the press and in general were by the show? They had to put it down in some way,” she said. “I mean, okay, we were young women who wore bathing suits and that was part of the draw, but they missed the whole other part. The part of empowered and highly intelligent women.”
“Women who had to act on their feet and make quick decisions and look after each other,” she added. “I always say we were like three grown up girl scouts, but that was a good, powerful image for young women. Of course, I didn’t realize how powerful it was for women to kind of break out and be the person they wanted to be, and that it was inspirational to so many young women.”
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