Drew Barrymore is opening up about a recent health scare that left her emotional but grateful. During Monday’s episode of “The Drew Barrymore Show”, the Emmy-winning actress and host revealed that she underwent an “emergency biopsy” after receiving what doctors described as a “bad mammogram.”
“This was the thing I wanted to risk talking about on this show because I recently had a scare,” Barrymore shared with guest Tig Notaro, as reported by Entertainment Weekly.
GettyTurning to her audience, she added, “I’m completely fine, but I did get a bad mammogram, and I got taken into that room, and then I had an emergency biopsy. And I waited those five days.”
The actress’s voice cracked as she recalled the difficult wait for results. Notaro, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012, nodded and replied softly, “It’s a long wait.”
Tig Notaro Shares Her Story of Resilience
GettyBarrymore commended Notaro for speaking openly and courageously about her cancer journey. “You had breast cancer and you have spoken about it humorously, eloquently, fiercely, and brilliantly yourself,” Barrymore told her. “How did you calm yourself? How did you make peace with it?”
Notaro, who has been cancer-free since 2013 following chemotherapy and a double mastectomy, reflected on how the experience changed her outlook on life.
“I went from being somebody that held everything to myself — I was gonna do it on my own and I’m okay,” she said, as reported by Entertainment Weekly. “Even when I came back from surgery, I had a double mastectomy and my closest friends were settling in to stay with me and I was like, ‘Oh, I’m fine.’ And I couldn’t even lift my arms.”
She recalled with a smile, “They were like, ‘You’re all set, Tig?’ And I’m like, ‘Yep, I’m all set. You guys can just head out now.’”
Laughing at Notaro’s self-reliance, Barrymore quipped, “I’ll just martyr myself right into my bed and stay there for the next month!”
The Importance of Asking for Help
GettyNotaro used the moment to emphasize the importance of leaning on others. “It is the greatest gift you can give yourself and the people that love you,” she said. “Because people want to help. People want to do good, and it changed my life.”
Barrymore thanked her for sparking the conversation. “Thank you, Tig, for opening this conversation so we can change the narrative on what’s coming for all of us,” she said.
“That we can embrace it in a new way — your documentary is going to be groundbreaking and so important for people, and it’s one of the most beautiful love stories I’ve ever seen in my life.”
Notaro appeared on the show to promote her new documentary Come See Me in the Good Light, which explores the relationship between poet and activist Andrea Gibson and Megan Falley after Gibson was diagnosed with terminal ovarian cancer.
Barrymore’s Advocacy for Breast Cancer Awareness
Barrymore has long encouraged viewers to prioritize regular breast cancer screenings. She has even filmed herself getting a mammogram on The Drew Barrymore Show to make the process feel less intimidating.
In October 2023, she also dedicated an entire episode to breast cancer awareness, honoring her colleague Ross Mathews’ late mother, Gay, who died from the disease. “It was so heartbreaking, but it also taught me so much about strength and family and love,” Mathews said during the episode.
Notaro continues to share her story through her art, discussing her cancer journey in her 2014 stand-up special, Live, and in her 2016 memoir, “I’m Just a Person“.
I really feel for you. I never even thought I would ever get cancer. It doesn’t run in my family. I was feeling tired so I went in to get my thyroid checked to see if I needed my medication adjusted. The next day I was diagnosed with Stage 4 HER2+ Breast Cancer. I went straight into chemo due to the aggressiveness. I had it in four internal organs and my bones and brain. The good news is they gave me up to 3 years to live and now I’m over six years into it and in three chemos and getting to watch my 3 kids succeed in life! My message to you is never give up and live every day like it’s your last! Support is huge and I have a lot of it. God Bless🙏🏼
Thank you for sharing your story. You are right to say Never give up. My mother-in law was diagnosed with breast cancer at 67 yrs. She had a double mastectomy, she lived to 87 and passed from emphazema not cancer.
Biopsies may spread cancer. Many cancers recently maybe due to parasites which Ivermectin/Fendbendazole may help or ozone/no gluten/Vit D3/sunlight etc.. may help.