What Suzanne Somers's Story Can Help Us Understand About Breast Cancer

The news

Suzanne Somers, the actor and author known for Three's Company and Step by Step, died in October 2023 at age 76. It was widely reported that she had first been diagnosed with breast cancer around 2000 and had lived with the disease, on and off, for more than two decades. She spoke about her experience publicly over the years.

That is what was shared publicly. We do not speculate about private details of her diagnosis or the personal choices she made about her care.

Why people are talking about it

Somers was open about her cancer across many years, and her long experience became part of how the public remembered her. Her story is a reminder that breast cancer is not a single, uniform illness — it varies from person to person, and every individual's situation is different. What one person shares publicly is only part of a much more personal picture.

What this cancer means

According to the National Cancer Institute, breast cancer is cancer that starts in the breast, when cells there grow without control and form a mass called a tumor that may spread elsewhere in the body. It can start in the milk-producing lobules or in the ducts that carry milk to the nipple; most breast cancers are ductal. When abnormal cells stay within the ducts or lobules and have not spread into surrounding tissue, it is called carcinoma in situ. Invasive cancers have grown into nearby breast tissue and can spread to lymph nodes or other organs. NCI notes that breast cancer mostly affects women aged 45 and older, but anyone with breasts can develop it.

Common questions

Is every breast cancer the same? No. NCI describes many types, depending on where the cancer starts and how far it has spread. This is one reason two people's experiences can look very different.

What does "in situ" mean? It means the abnormal cells have not yet spread beyond the ducts or lobules. Invasive cancer has grown into surrounding tissue.

Can breast cancer come back? A cancer's behavior over time varies by individual. Questions about recurrence are best discussed with a person's own healthcare team.

Awareness, screening, and prevention

NCI describes breast cancer screening as an important part of routine health care for women, and notes that screening has been found to reduce deaths from breast cancer by helping find it earlier, when it may be easier to treat. Mammography is the standard screening test for most women. As with any screening, there are both benefits and potential harms, and whether and when to be screened is a personal decision to make with a healthcare professional. NCI also encourages people to be aware of how their breasts normally feel and to report any unusual changes.

Turning a story into something useful

A long public story like Somers's can prompt a simple, useful conversation: "What breast cancer screening is right for me, and when should I start?" Learning what breast cancer is, understanding that it takes many forms, and bringing any changes to a healthcare team are calm, practical steps. Supporting free, trustworthy cancer education helps this kind of information reach more people.

Questions to ask a healthcare team

• When should I begin breast cancer screening, and how often?
• What changes in my breasts should prompt me to reach out?
• Does my personal or family history affect my screening plan?
• Where can I find reliable, non-alarming information to learn more?