"I am not my hair"

I'm staying in the spirit of Breast Cancer awareness month today. To show that cancer does not discriminate, I'm counting down five celebrities who have had breast cancer. 

5. Melissa Etheridge. In October 2004, Etheridge was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent chemotherapy treatment. In 2005 at the Grammy's Melissa performed a tribute to Janis Joplin with Joss Stone. She appeared on stage proud, with a bald head which sparked India Arie to write the bridge in to her song "I am not my Hair". Melissa continues to be cancer free after treatment.

4. Olivia Newton-John. Oh Sandy. In 1992, the week after her father passed
away Newton-John was diagnosed. After treatment she has remained cancer
free to this day, and is still a tireless advocate for Breast Health.

3. Sheryl Crow. In 2006 Sheryl was diagnosed, and treated with both minimal surgery followed by radiation treatment.  Sheryl said in an interview on the Ellen show, that the song 'detours' is very much about her battle with cancer. Today she is cancer free and continues to raise awareness and funds for various Breast Cancer Charities.

2. Christina Applegate. In 2008 Christina was diagnosed with breast cancer in one of her Breasts. She  also was found to have a BRCA1 mutation, which led her to have a double mastectomy as treatment at just 37 years old. Today Christina is cancer free and is currently pregnant with her first child.

1. Linda McCartney. Many people remember Linda, as being the wife of one of the worlds most famous musicians. She was also a Mother, a cook book author, a vegetarian, a professional photographer and an activist. Sadly, after three years of treatment Linda lost her battle in 1998. Following her passing, her husband called upon his community of fellow musicians when holding the "Concert for Linda" to raise funds and awareness for drug treatments that were not tested on animals. Shortly after this,Paul McCartney donated two million dollars to the hospital where Linda sought treatment, which was more than double of it's annual allocation for Breast Cancer. The money was donated on the strict condition that it be used for the breast Cancer wing, and that it was to go towards treatments that were 100% not tested on animals. Linda may have lost her battle here on earth, but her legacy lives on.

Today as I stand collecting for the NZBCF I will think three things. Firstly for all the people who have lost loved ones to this terrible disease, I will think of my beautiful Nan and all that she endured. Secondly I will think of the brave women who fight for their lives every day whilst being treated, I will think of my Mum and the inner strength she found to fight. Thirdly I will think of the future. I can only hope that by the time I have children, that Breast Cancer is a disease that doesn't come with such deadly statistics. You can help make a difference. Make a donation, every dollar, every cent counts.