Withers: Navratilova diagnosed with breast cancer

[1]

Sorry for taking so long to get this. Tennis great Martina Navratilova [2] announced this week she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

“I cried. It knocked me on my ass, really. I feel so in control of my life and my body, and then this comes, and it’s completely out of my hands.”

In February, the 53 year old had a routine mammogram and it was discovered she had ductal carcinoma in situ—also called DCIS. The cancer is non-invasive and confined to her milk ducts—it had not spread to any breast tissue. In February Navratilova had a lumpectomy and next month begins six weeks of radiation therapy. From all accounts, as with most women who find out they have DCIS, Navratilova’s future looks bright.

“The prognosis of someone with DCIS is excellent,” Dr. Shelley Hwang told People magazine [3]. “There’s only a one-percent chance of anyone with this diagnosis would die of breast cancer.”

Navratilova admitted it had been four years since her last mammogram. Reminds me of many women in my family. Well that’s not fair. At least Navratilova sees a doctor. My women folk? They are convinced all you need to fight illness is Tylenol, plus an enema. That theory is popular with the women relatives with health insurance.

If it has been awhile since your last mammogram, maybe it’s time to get one.

[1] http://www.365gay.com/wp-content/uploads/Martina-Navratilova-top.jpg
[2] http://www.afterellen.com/blog/trishbendix/morning-brew-wednesday-april-7-2010
[3] http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20358261,00.html

Ellen DeGeneres proves a gay can win over America

Which celebrity would you feel most comfortable leaving your kids with?

Ellen DeGeneres and Portia De Rossi; Jennifer Aniston; Rachel Ray; Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt; or Oprah Winfrey?

If you answered “Ellen and Portia,” you agreed with the 10,000 mostly moms who participated in a recent survey on AOL’s “Parent Dish.”

Thirty-one percent picked the lesbian couple, followed by Aniston (22 percent), Ray (20 percent), “Angelina and Brad” (18 percent), and Winfrey (9 percent).

The perky comedian has captured America’s heart since her huge coming out at age 39 in 1997, including on her award-winning “Ellen” situation comedy and the cover of Time magazine.

Twelve years ago, Ellen’s move was gutsy, potentially career-crushing. Tennis legend Martina Navratilova says her own earlier coming out cost her millions of dollars in endorsements from companies skittish about having a lesbian advertise their products.

But, over these dozen years, Ellen, her gifts, her personal life and her bank account have blossomed.

After hosting the Emmys and the Grammys, Ellen in 2007 became the first out gay person to host the Academy Awards.

She has done ads for American Express and Advil, teamed up with One-a-Day multivitamins to urge women to get checked for breast cancer and, get this, is a Cover Girl.

Pop culture, I’m quick to admit, is my weak suit. So when I found myself shouting “No way!” at the delightful “Parent Dish” results, it was time to do a little TiVoing of Ellen’s daytime talk show: How has this wonder woman pulled off being so 100 percent gay, beloved and successful?

Three shows — and a lot of chuckles — later, I understand. Ellen creates an enchanting, playful land, where she, contestants and the audience embrace the basic goodness in themselves and others.

There are winners — and the also-winners. In one particularly funny contest, audience members Aimee and Pennylane donned huge, padded sumo wrestler outfits and had to answer goofy questions — “How many inches are in 12 inches?” — and waddle to grab a football to win a key that might start a $40,000 Ford Taurus.

When it became clear that Aimee had found her true calling, Ellen gave the last key to Pennylane. No foul was called by Aimee.

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