cancer battle

Openly lesbian tennis icon Martina Navratiolva opened up to CNN about her battle with breast cancer, and her comeback to win the doubles competition at the French Open less than four months after first learning of the diagnosis.

Patricia Baker, a lesbian activist from Rhode Island, has died after a long battle with lung cancer, according to Marriage Equality Rhode Island. Baker, who was a retired correctional officer, spent the last year of her life testifying on behalf of marriage equality. The activist, who at times needed to use her oxygen tank to help her breathe at hearings, stated that she was angry that her wife would not receive benefits after her death.

British reality TV star Jade Goody died Sunday following a very public battle with cervical cancer.

A federal judge said the state of Indiana must recognize the same-sex marriage of a woman who has been battling stage four ovarian cancer for five years.

Elizabeth Edwards died after a long battle with breast cancer at age 61 Tuesday. She was at her home surrounded by her family. Monday Edwards, who was married to former Presidential candidate John Edwards, announced she was stopping cancer treatment upon learning her cancer had spread to her liver and doctors told her she had only a few months to live.

One of the Mouseketeers from the original The Mickey Mouse ClubCheryl Holdridge died at 64 at her Santa Monica, Calif., home Tuesday following a two-year battle with cancer. She was 64.

Charlie's Angels star, Farrah Fawcett has lost her long painful fight against  cancer. The 62-year-old actress who continued to battle anal cancer was rushed to a Los Angeles hospital again earlier this week with long-time friends and on-again, off-again lover, Ryan O'Neal at her side.

Rosie O'Donnell is afraid she may face a battle with breast cancer, which she revealed in a post called First in a While on her blog, on Monday. She describes doctors finding two lumps in her breasts last week, and how she is getting both biopsied. When speaking to Extra TV, O'Donnell revealed she worries that she could have the same disease that killed her mother. The out lesbian comedienne's mother lost her life in a battle with breast cancer at age 39, just four days before O'Donnell's 11th birthday.

Tennis great and pioneering lesbian in sports Martina Navratilova was honored Monday evening at the U.S. Open in New York, where she credited a positive attitude and love of tennis with helping her through the challenges of coming out and her current battle with breast cancer.

Iconic sitcom star Bea Arthur has died at age 86, a family spokesperson confirmed Saturday morning.
Arthur had been battling cancer. She is famous for her roles in Maude and The Golden Girls.

Crystal Craven, one half of the lesbian couple who made history — and sparked outrage — when they married last month in Laurel, Miss., has died, reports Jim Romanesko. Craven lost her battle against brain cancer on Monday, March 11. She was 34.

Geraldine Ferraro, the first woman to run on a major party ticket as a vice presidential nominee, died Saturday at the age of 75 after a long battle with blood cancer. Ferraro, who shared the unsuccessful 1984 Democratic ticket with Walter Mondale, died at Massachusetts General Hospital from complications of multiple myeloma.

Original Charlie's AngelFarrah Fawcett is back in a Los Angeles hospital battling cancer, which has plagued her since 2006. Her longtime partner Ryan O'Neal reveals in a Barbara Walters interview that he asked Farrah to marry him.

Jennifer Saunders has fought and won her battle with breast cancer. The 52-year-old Absolutely Fabulous star and creator says she’s been fighting the disease since discovering a lump in her breast nine months ago. She said she was given the all clear last month, and celebrated by showing off her new buzz cut.

In the past year she’s battled breast cancer and a pulmonary edema scare on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro. But on and off the court, lesbian tennis star Martina Navratilova is still a fighter. Navratilova continues to speak about injustices inflicted on gay people, adding thoughts on lawmakers who use homophobia for political advantage and how democrats can't keep backing down. Watch the behind the scenes video interview!

This past summer SheWired contributor and our friend Tatum de Roeck was diagnosed with breast cancer. The co-host of Cherry Bomb and of her own interview style show on SheWired T-Time with Tatum began blogging about her experience shortly after her diagnosis. Via her writing, she shares the intimate details of taking breast cancer one step at a time in a blog that is incredibly emotional and moving but always infused with Tatum's lightning-quick wit and her ability to remain positive.