Fran Drescher has opened up about her cancer diagnosis and how it impacted her ability to have children in a deeply personal and vulnerable interview.
Fran Drescher Discusses Cancer
Drescher is 68, but when she was 42, she was diagnosed with uterine cancer. Her cancer diagnosis ultimately impacted her ability to have children. In an interview with People, published on Friday, January 9, the “The Nanny” actress reflected on her thoughts during this time. She also revealed she had been continually misdiagnosed.
“I had it for two years, and eight doctors misdiagnosed it,” she said of her utrine cancer diagnosis. “Next thing I knew, I had a radical hysterectomy, a full cavity wash, and was told I’d never have kids. Bada bing. But I don’t really like being told what I can and can’t do, so it was a bitter pill to swallow.”
She continued, “I was with a man 16 years my junior, and for the first time in my life, I was like, ‘I could have his kids.’ But I only had like five minutes of fertility left, and was told I should freeze an embryo. But it quickly turned into cancer, and then that option was off the table. That was my destiny.” She shared that it would be difficult for anyone to have the surgery, but when she didn’t already have children, it felt even more challenging. The actress described her feelings as “a bitter pill to swallow.”
Fran Drescher Advocates For Change
After learning she would be unable to have children, Drescher focused her energy elsewhere. She wanted to ensure that others did not find themselves in her position. She advocated for early detection and raised awareness surrounding the disease. “Instead, I gave birth to a bestselling book about it, formed the organization Cancer Schmancer, and became a public diplomacy envoy for the State Department on family health issues,” she said.
Her hard work and dedication resulted in her getting a bill passed in Washington in 2007. She was not done there. “I was sent all over to our allied nations to speak just as I do to this day, and our military bases too, because people in the military, particularly women, aren’t being screened for cancer,” she shared.
A photo from the cover of People showing Drescher discussing her cancer was shared on Instagram, and fans showed their support. “Congrats Fran. What a beautiful interview! We loved your story,” a comment reads. “Forever an icon,” another person shared.
