Nicole Eggert, known for acting in the TV series “Baywatch” and the sitcom “Charles in Charge,” has admitted that although she appears to be happy on social media, she has been enduring “aches and pains,” as well as mobility issues, and anxiety, as she awaits more cancer treatment.
The 52-year-old mom of two, who recently underwent a mastectomy [the surgical removal of one breast] amid getting treated against stage 2 cribriform carcinoma breast cancer, took to Instagram this week to offer a health update to her fans.
Alongside the video update Eggert shared, she quoted late writer Ingrid Bengis, “Imagination has always had powers of resurrection that no science can match,” before adding her own words, “No day is free from some levels of anxiety about an impending situation. Relief from this anxiety lies in my mind. I’ll use my imagination wisely today.”
After acknowledging how she hasn’t posted a video in a while, Eggert explained, “I’ve really kind of been in this waiting period, post mastectomy … recovering from that. It’s quite more complicated than I anticipated it to be.
“I have 18 rounds of treatment ahead of me. So I’m just sort of enjoying this period and trying to heal as much as I can.”
She continued, noting how she is doing well and taking “good care” of herself, “I just want to say pictured are deceiving and I am experiencing a lot of pain. This isn’t easy and don’t be fooled by me smiling all of the time.
“I haven’t been able to walk the past two days. It’s been rough … so, I have as lot of aches and pains and it’s been rough from behind the smile. As much as I am happy, and that my body responds well to treatment and moving along, do see the light at the end of the tunnel … but there’s a lot of stuff going on. Don’t let it fool you.”
Eggert’s update comes after she announced on Instagram in September that her cancer was “much more advanced than we anticipated and on,” adding, “[on] the operating table my surgeon and I decided to just take the one boob and immediately get back into treatment.”
She said at the time that she did have a “good MRI” and responded “wonderfully to the chemo,” however, she knows that doesn’t mean that some of the cancer didn’t spread outside of her breast.
We’re happy to see her pushing through this difficult time with resilience and maintaining hope for the future, something many cancer warriors can look up to.
Nicole Eggert’s Cancer Journey
Nicole Eggert was diagnosed in December 2023 with stage 2 cribriform carcinoma breast cancer after discovering a lump in her breast while performing a self-breast exam.
A self-breast exam is an easy way to keep watch for anything abnormal regarding your breasts. It involves feeling the breast for any swelling, bulging, or changes in the shape of the breast or nipple. Checking for signs of redness, rashes, or discharge is also part of this exam. If anything is found to be concerning, you should contact your doctor. It’s important to note that self-exams should be done with regular mammograms.
Eggert said she initially started experiencing “terrible pain” and rapid weight gain that she first dismissed for signs of menopause. However, after she discovered a lump during a self-exam, a mammogram and multiple biopsies confirmed that she had breast cancer.
The rare type of breast cancer Eggert has is often slow-growing and low-grade, according to Breast Cancer Now.
“I can definitely feel it. It’s there. It needs to be taken out. So it’s just a matter of do I have to do treatment before the surgery or can they perform the surgery and then I do the treatment after,” Eggert told People earlier this year.
Eggert’s treatment plan included eight rounds of chemotherapy over the course of six months, and was followed by surgery to remove the cancer via a mastectomy.
She’ll soon be undergoing another 18 rounds of treatment, however, she has not specified the exact type of treatment she will be getting.
Nicole Eggert’s Breast Cancer Battle
- “Baywatch” star Nicole Eggert, 52, is enduring “aches and pains” after recently undergoing a surgical removal of one breast amid her battle against stage 2 cribriform carcinoma breast cancer, but she’s maintained a smile on her face despite feeling anxiety.
- Stage 2 breast cancers are either larger than stage 1 tumors or have moved to a few nearby lymph nodes. Treatment will likely be some combination of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. If chemotherapy is also needed after surgery, the radiation is delayed until the chemo is done. The same approach is taken to hormone receptor and HER2 positive as stage 1.
- In Eggert’s case, she has already finished up eight rounds of chemotherapy over the course of six months, and underwent surgery to remove the cancer. She’s waiting to get a breast reconstruction and another 18 rounds of treatment.
- A cancer diagnosis can have a profound impact on mental health, affecting patients, survivors, and their loved ones in a variety of ways. Some ways a diagnosis can reveal itself in your mental health can be through added stress and anxiety, mood swings, depression, and social isolation.
- Coping with a diagnosis or some other stressor in your life can be an emotional experience that affects your mental health. Psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik suggests people facing these challenges tap into their support group to help navigate their emotions.
