17 Celebrities Who Were Diagnosed with Cancer Before the Age of 40

According to the American Cancer Society, “More than one million people in the United States get cancer each year.” It’s especially shocking when the diagnosis comes at an early age. Cancer doesn't discriminate, and many celebrities have been diagnosed with cancer before 40. Fortunately, it seems that more and more people are opting to be open about their diagnosis and treatment in an effort to raise awareness. While celebrities often seek to keep their personal lives out of the public eye, a cancer diagnosis is something that many have chosen to reveal to try to help others.

Which famous people were diagnosed with cancer at a young age? TV stars like Michael C. Hall and Christina Applegate both had cancer in their thirties, while Tom Green and Lance Armstrong were diagnosed while still in their twenties. Though some of these celebrities are now cancer-free, others weren't so lucky, leaving behind great work. Read on for the stories of these famous people who had cancer young and how they're doing today.

After years of denial, Lance Armstrong admitted to Oprah Winfrey on the OWN network in 2013 that he indeed used performance-enhancing drugs as a cyclist and was ultimately stripped of his Olympic medal and Tour de France titles. While these accolades have been taken from him, no one can deny the good he has done for cancer survivors after founding the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

Diagnosed in 1996, at the age of 25, Armstrong had stage three testicular cancer that spread to his brain, lungs, and abdomen. He became a champion for the cause and was officially in remission by February 1997.

Many remember Andy Kaufman for his role on Taxi, but he is equally remembered for his sketch comedy skills and over-the-top stunts (he was even banned from SNL). Following his death in 1984, at the age of 35, some thought he may have faked it, but sadly he had, in fact, succumbed to lung cancer. Jim Carrey’s Golden Globe-winning portrayal as Kaufman in Man on the Moon introduced the comedian to a whole new generation of fans.

Bob Marley is one of the most famous musicians to come from Jamaica and is credited with bringing reggae music into the mainstream . In 1977 he was diagnosed with malignant melanoma in one of his toes, but disregarded his doctor’s order to amputate.

Ultimately, cancer had spread throughout his body to his brain and lungs and the singer died at the age of 36 in 1981. His last words - said to his son, Ziggy, at the now-University of Miami Hospital - were, “Money can’t buy life.”

Christina Applegate was first introduced to audiences as Kelly Bundy on the hit series, Married… with Children, but has since gone on to become hugely successful, both in television and on the big screen. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008, at age 36, and underwent a prophylactic double mastectomy. In a 2011 interview with People magazine, Applegate credited the birth of her daughter, Sadie Grace, with helping her to see beyond her breast cancer diagnosis. Rather than constantly talking about and focusing on cancer, her child became the new focus. Applegate stated, “She’s healed me in so many ways.”

Best known for her role as Miranda Hobbes in the Sex and the City series, Cynthia Nixon was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002 when she was 36 years old. Although she was still filming the HBO series when she was diagnosed, Nixon chose to keep her diagnosis a secret to avoid increased scrutiny by the paparazzi.

After undergoing a lumpectomy and radiation treatment, Nixon chose to share her story to help inspire others and even became an ambassador for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation in 2008. In a 2008 interview with ABC News, Nixon advocated early diagnosis by stating, “So the only thing to really be afraid of is if you don’t get your mammograms, because there’s some part of you that doesn’t want to know, and that’s the thing that’s going to trip you up.”

Giuliana Rancic is a celebrated television personality best known for her work on the red carpet and on E!’s Fashion Police. At 36 years old, Rancic was diagnosed with breast cancer; fans saw some of her struggles on Giuliana and Bill, the reality series she shared with her husband.

Rancic defended her decision to have a double mastectomy on TODAY by saying, “If I had chosen to just do another lumpectomy and then do radiation and then do anti-estrogen therapy, which means two to five years of medication, that basically puts me into early menopause, then I would have to put off having a baby for several years.” The couple welcomed their first child, Edward Duke Rancic, in 2012 via a surrogate.

Aussie singer/songwriter and actress, Kylie Minogue, has been in the limelight ever since she released her first album and is still thought of as one of the most beloved Australian celebrities in the world today.

When the news of her breast cancer diagnosis was revealed in 2005, Minogue was only 37 years old. In 2012, Minogue opened up about how her diagnosis has affected her, saying, “I have reminders of it every day so it definitely affects my life in a small part, so you just have to adapt and do things slightly differently… just deal with it and move on.”

Mark Ruffalo is a highly respected actor with the unique ability to act in everything from mainstream blockbuster roles, like The Avengers film series, to smaller TV portrayals, like in The Normal Heart. Regardless of how big the film or how small the audience, Ruffalo has proven he has a special talent that can’t be denied.

Another of his unique abilities is apparently seeking out help after having bad dreams - or at least that's what happened when he was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2000, at age 33. In a 2013 interview with the Acoustic Neuroma Association, Ruffalo recounted how he sought help from a set doctor and said, “Listen, I really had a scary dream last night and you’ll probably think I’m crazy but um… But I think I have a brain tumor and I would really like to get it uh… checked out.” Ruffalo made a full recovery.

There aren’t many actors who can boast the same television success Michael C. Hall can. From being on the hit HBO series, Six Feet Under, to playing the most likable serial killer on TV on Dexter, Hall has been uncommonly lucky in his acting choices. It wasn't quite as smooth sailing in his personal life; in January 2010 Hall, age 38, revealed he was being treated for Hodgkin’s lymphoma. After undergoing chemotherapy, Hall was officially in remission by late April 2010.

Hall addressed his thoughts on battling cancer with a January 2016 interview with The Guardian stating, “When people go get chemo, they’re not injecting themselves with will – I have lost various loved ones to cancer, and I certainly don’t feel that I am any stronger or braver than them.”

When Tom Green was first introduced to audiences through the MTV series The Tom Green Show, people didn’t quite know what to make of his specific style of comedy. Ultimately, his relationship with Drew Barrymore, and a handful of legitimate acting roles helped to boost his status in Hollywood.

In 2000, at the peak of his popularity, Green (then 29) was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Green used his popularity to bring awareness to the disease through humor, whether it was The Tom Green Cancer Special, his song “Feel Your Balls,” or the Tom Green’s Nuts Cancer Fund.