Julia Louis-Dreyfus: Finding Laughter in the Face of Breast Cancer
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, five years after beating cancer, shares her unique perspective on her breast cancer diagnosis, revealing how she found laughter amidst the darkness A truly inspiring and empowering story of resilience and finding humor in the face of adversity
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Julia Louis-Dreyfus is reflecting on five years of living cancer-free.
At the age of 62, the Seinfeld star was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer in September 2017. By October 2018, she shared the news of being in remission after having a double mastectomy and undergoing six rounds of chemotherapy.
During her interview with WSJ. Magazine, where she was honored as the entertainment innovator of the year, the actress spoke about the moment she learned about her diagnosis.
The day after winning her sixth consecutive Emmy Award for her role as Selina Meyer in Veep, Julia Louis-Dreyfus received a call from her doctor. After ending the call, she burst into laughter, feeling as if the situation was scripted for a dark comedy. However, her emotions quickly shifted, and she found herself crying uncontrollably.
Louis-Dreyfus confessed to feeling terrified as well. "You simply never imagine it happening to you, that's the kind of arrogance we humans have," she remarked. "But inevitably, we will all face mortality at some point."
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, the actress, has adopted a more mindful approach to life in the years following her attendance at the National Breast Cancer Coalition’s 18th Annual Les Girls Cabaret. She described this change as a heightened level of laser focus, although it is not constantly on her mind.
Veep star, during the New Yorker Festival in October, revealed that she initially laughed upon receiving her cancer diagnosis. She explained that the previous night she had won an Emmy and when she came downstairs the next morning, the Emmy was on the dining room table. While getting coffee, her doctor called and informed her about the diagnosis.
"And I'm like, 'What? Seriously?' It was such a weird mix of emotions," the actress expressed. "I couldn't help but laugh initially, but then fear overtook me, just as it would for anyone receiving such a diagnosis."
Louis-Dreyfus acknowledged her support system as her saving grace during this challenging period. "I am forever thankful for my incredible and caring family, who I leaned on - my sisters, husband, sons, mother, mothers, stepmother - all of them," she gratefully acknowledged.
