Christina Applegate was born to be a star.
But it’s been quite a ride for Applegate.
And not just any ride; a total roller coaster.
A Hollywood veteran, she is renowned for pushing through adversity.
And her record shows she’s capable of doing a lot.
Her health condition, however, might render “Dead to Me” her swansong.
Thankfully, Applegate’s immeasurable work has us well-set on entertainment for many years to come.
The actor has admittedly struggled with getting enough hours of sleep for years.
“Some of the nights could be real rough,” Applegate has testified (viaSelf).
In trying to inculcate better sleep hygiene, Applegate practices sleep meditation.
Her anatomy rendered mammograms somewhat insufficient and she was advised to get an MRI instead.
The medical results turned up what she said was “funky” stuff happening in her left breast.
Priddy was with her when Applegate received a positive diagnosis ofbreast cancer.
The cancer hadn’t spread and had fortunately been detected early.
“I’m definitely not going to die from breast cancer,” she said.
She underwent a double mastectomy
Christina Applegate’s cancer diagnosis brought with it some tough decisions.
She chose the latter.
Owing to her family history of cancer, Applegate ensured that no check posts were left unguarded.
The cancer diagnosis was followed by a second positive test, this time for a BRCA mutation.
A mastectomy was advised, only to be rebuffed by Applegate, who was 36 at the time.
Eventually, she came around after weighing her choices.
The funny woman bade her natural assets a glorious farewell with her first nude photoshoot (viaOprah).
But she wasn’t taking chances anymore.
So in 2017, she went ahead and got her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed.
“My cousin passed away from ovarian cancer in 2008.
I could prevent that.
That’s how I’ve taken control of everything,” she toldToday.
“Do I want to be having this hanging over my head for the rest of my life?”
she asked herself (viaNPR).
Deciding against living in fear of confronting the disease again, she took steps to counter it.
“Breathe deeper,” she advises herself (viaToday).
One of these was the early onset of menopause.
So while the preventive operation assured some respite from disease for Applegate, it also heralded menopause.
In fact, the experience of early menopause hasn’t deterred the comedy veteran from jesting about it.
Just kidding I’ve been in menopause for four years, so I’m good!"
“I wish I had paid attention.
But who was I to know?”
she ruminated (viaThe New York Times).
To add to it, “there is no single test that can provide a definitive diagnosis.”
For instance, an off-camera crew member had to support the actor’s legs during certain scenes.
In November 2022, the veteran actor received a long-deserved star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Did you not notice?"
But in trademark Applegate humor, the Emmy-winning star rows through the storm with tenacious positivity.
“I do not have the luxury of negative thought!
Sure, there have been times when self-pity has been an outlet for her emotions.
“Sometimes, you know, I cry.
And sometimes I scream.
Mine currently is on my pillow.”
