Adenocarcinoma

Adenocarcinoma, NOS Classification and external resources

ICD-9 : 151.0, 182.0

ICD-O : M8140/3

MeSH : D000230

Adenocarcinoma is a cancer that originates in glandular tissue. This tissue is also part of a larger tissue category known as epithelial tissue. Epithelial tissue includes skin, glands and a variety of other tissue that lines the cavities and organs of the body. Epithelium is derived embryologically from ectoderm, endoderm and mesoderm. To be classified as adenocarcinoma, the cells do not necessarily need to be part of a gland, as long as they have secretory properties. This form of carcinoma can occur in some higher mammals, including humans. Well differentiated adenocarcinomas tend to resemble the glandular tissue that they are derived from, while poorly differentiated may not. By staining the cells from a biopsy, a pathologist will determine whether the tumor is an adenocarcinoma or some other type of cancer. Adenocarcinomas can arise in many tissues of the body due to the ubiquitous nature of glands within the body. While each gland may not be secreting the same substance, as long as there is an exocrine function to the cell, it is considered glandular and its malignant form is therefore named adenocarcinoma. Endocrine gland tumors, such as a VIPoma, an insulinoma, a pheochromocytoma, etc, are typically not referred to as adenocarcinomas, but rather, are often called neuroendocrine tumors. If the glandular tissue is abnormal, but benign, it is said to be an adenoma. Benign adenomas typically do not invade other tissue and rarely metastasize. Malignant adenocarcinomas invade other tissues and often metastasize given enough time to do so.

Diagnostic significance

A diagnosis of adenocarcinoma which is not further described, known as adenocarcinoma not otherwise specified or adenocarcinoma NOS, is significant because it indicates a cancerous process is present. However, it is not very useful for treatment decisions and prognosis, as these are determined by the tissue from which the tumour cells arose, i.e. the tissue of origin; an adenocarcinoma of the colon has a different prognosis and treatment than an adenocarcinoma of the ovary.
Adenocarcinoma not otherwise specified is often a preliminary diagnosis and can frequently be clarified by a pathologist with the use of immunohistochemistry.
Cancer for which a primary site cannot be found is called cancer of unknown primary.

Histopathology

Examples of tissues where adenocarcinomas may arise:


• colon

Gross appearance of a colectomy specimen containing two adenomatous polyps (the brownish oval tumors above the labels, attached to the normal beige lining by a stalk) and one invasive colorectal carcinoma (the crater-like, reddish, irregularly-shaped tumor located above the label).

Histopathologic image of colonic carcinoid stained by hematoxylin and eosin.

The vast majority of colorectal cancer is an adenocarcinoma. This is because the colon has numerous glands within the tissue. Normal colonic glands tend to be simple and tubular in appearance with a mixture of mucus secreting goblet cells and water absorbing cells. These glands are called glands because they secrete a substance into the lumen of the colon, this substance being mucus. The purpose of these glands are twofold. The first is to absorb water from the feces back into the blood. The second purpose is to secrete mucus into the colon lumen to lubricate the now dehydrated feces. This is crucial as a failure to lubricate the feces can result in colonic damage by the feces as it passes towards the rectum.
When these glands undergo a number of changes at the genetic level, they proceed in a predictable manner as they move from benign to an invasive, malignant colon cancer. In their research paper "Lessons from Hereditary Colorectal Cancer", Vogelstein, et al, suggested that colon cells lose the APC tumor suppressor gene and become a small polyp. Next, they suggested that k-Ras becomes activated and the polyp becomes a small, benign, adenoma. The adenoma, lacking the "carcinoma" attached to the end of it, suggests that it is a benign version of the malignant adenocarcinoma. The gastroenterologist uses a colonoscopy to find and remove these adenomas and polyps to prevent them from continuing to acquire genetic changes that will lead to an invasive adenocarcinoma. Volgelstein et al went on to suggest that loss of the DCC gene and of p53 result in a malignant adenocarcinoma.
Grossly, one will see a mass that looks of a different color than the surrounding tissue. Bleeding from the tumor is often apparent as the tumor tends to grow blood vessels into it in a haphazard manner via secretion of a number of angiogenesis promoting factors such as VEGF. Histologically, a glandular structure, similar to the healthy normal surrounding glands may be seen. If they look very similar, this is a low grade, well differentiated tumor. Often these glands will be disorganized and they will be seen growing back to back. However, if the tumor does not look like a gland anymore, it is a high grade tumor with poor differentiation. Regardless of the grade, malignant tumors tend to have a large nucleus with prominent nucleoli. There will also be a noticeable increase in the incidence of mitoses, or cell divisions.

Lung

• lung non-small cell

Currently, the most common type of lung cancer in lifelong non-smokers is the adenocarcinoma. Adenocarcinomas account for approximately 10% of lung cancers. This cancer usually is seen peripherally in the lungs, as opposed to small cell lung cancer and squamous cell lung cancer, which both tend to be more centrally located. The adenocarcinoma has an increased incidence in smokers, but is also the most common type of lung cancer seen in non-smokers. Adenocarcinoma of the lung tends to stain mucin positive as it is derived from the mucus producing glands of the lungs. Similar to other adenocarcinoma, if this tumor is well differentiated (low grade) it will resemble the normal glandular structure. Poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma will not resemble the normal glands (high grade) and will be detected by seeing that they stain positive for mucin (which the glands produce).

Other

• breast
• cervix
• pancreas (95% of pancreatic cancers are ductal adenocarcinomas.)
• prostate
• stomach
• urachus
• vagina
• Esophagus


Etymology

The term adenocarcinoma is derived from 'adeno' meaning 'pertaining to a gland' and 'carcinoma', which describes a cancer that has developed in the epithelial cells.

PAP TEST or PAP SMEAR

Pap test

Cytological specimen (ThinPrep) from a patient who was later diagnosed with cervical adenocarcinoma in situ. There is at least one mitosis.

The Papanicolaou test (also called Pap smear, Pap test, cervical smear, or smear test) is a screening test used in gynecology to detect premalignant and malignant (cancerous) processes in the ectocervix. Significant changes can be treated, thus preventing cervical cancer. An anal Pap smear is an adaptation of the procedure to screen and detect anal cancers.

The test aims to detect potentially pre-cancerous changes (called cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) or cervical dysplasia), which are usually caused by sexually transmitted human papillomaviruses (HPVs). The test remains an effective, widely used method for early detection of pre-cancer and cervical cancer. The test may also detect infections and abnormalities in the endocervix and endometrium.

It is generally recommended that females who have had sex seek regular Pap smear testing. The patient may also be referred for HPV DNA testing, which can serve as an adjunct to Pap testing.

Results

In the United States, most Pap results are normal, however about 2-3 million abnormal Pap smear results are found each year. Most abnormal results are mildly abnormal (ASC-US (typically 2-5% of Pap results) or LSIL (about 2% of results)), indicating HPV infection.

Typically about 0.5% of Pap results are HSIL, and less than 0.5% of results indicate cancer; typically 0.2 to 0.8% of results indicate ASCUS.

• Atypical glandular cells (AGC)
• Atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS)
• Atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS)
• Atypical squamous cells - cannot exclude HSIL (ASC-H)
• Low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LGSIL or LSIL)
• High grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HGSIL or HSIL)
• Squamous cell carcinoma

Effectiveness

Prior to the introduction of the Pap test, carcinoma of the cervix was a leading cause of death in women.

Failure of prevention of cancer by the Pap test can occur for many reasons, including not getting regular screening, lack of appropriate follow up of abnormal results, and sampling and interpretation errors. Adenocarcinoma of the cervix has not been shown to be prevented by Pap tests. In the UK, which has a Pap smear screening program, Adenocarcinoma accounts for about 15% of all cervical cancers

A medical practitioner performing 200 tests each year would prevent a death once in 38 years, while seeing 152 women with abnormal results, referring 79 for investigation, obtaining 53 abnormal biopsy results, and seeing 17 persisting abnormalities lasting longer than two years. At least one woman during the 38 years would die from cervical cancer despite being screened.

Technical aspects

Unstained cells cannot be visualized with light microscopy.

The sample is then screened by a specially trained and qualified cytotechnologist using a light microscope.

• sensitivity 72%

• specificity 94%

Liquid based monolayer cytology

Once placed into the vial, the sample is processed at the laboratory into a cell thin-layer, stained, and examined by light microscopy. The liquid sample has the advantage of being suitable for low and high risk HPV testing and reduced unsatisfactory specimens from 4.1% to 2.6%. Proper sample acquisition is crucial to the accuracy of the test; clearly, a cell that is not in the sample cannot be evaluated.

Studies of the accuracy of liquid based monolayer cytology report:

• sensitivity 61% to 66%
• specificity 82% to 91%

Some, but not all studies, report increased sensitivity from the liquid based smears.

Human papillomavirus testing

Studies of the accuracy of HPV testing report:

• sensitivity 88% to 91% (for detecting CIN 3 or higher) to 97% (for detecting CIN2+)
• specificity 73% to 79% (for detecting CIN 3 or higher) to 93% (for detecting CIN2+)

By adding the more sensitive HPV Test, the specificity may decline. Due to the liquid based pap smears having a false negative rate of 15-35%, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology have recommended the use of HPV testing in addition to the pap smear in all women over the age of 30.

Regarding the role of HPV testing, randomized controlled trials have compared HPV to colposcopy. HPV testing appears as sensitive as immediate colposcopy while reducing the number of colposcopies needed. Randomized controlled trial have suggested that HPV testing could follow abnormal cytology or could precede cervical cytology examination.

"A statistically significant decline in the HPV positivity rate correlated with the lifetime number of Pap smears received."

Practical aspects

The physician or operator collecting a sample for the test inserts a speculum into the patient's vagina, to obtain a cell sample from the cervix. Pap smears can be performed during a woman's menstrual period, especially if the physician is using a liquid-based test; if bleeding is extremely heavy, endometrial cells can obscure cervical cells, and it is therefore inadvisable to have a pap smear if bleeding is excessive. As abnormal endocervical cells may be sampled, those examining them are taught to recognize them.

The endometrium is not directly sampled with the device used to sample the ectocervix. Cells may exfoliate onto the cervix and be collected from there, so as with endocervical cells, abnormal cells can be recognised if present but the Pap Test should not be used as a screening tool for endometrial malignancy.

Gallery

pap test normal

pap test atropy




pap test endocervical cells




pap test citolysis




pap test trichomonas

pap test abnormal

Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia

Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), also known as cervical dysplasia, is the potentially premalignant transformation and abnormal growth (dysplasia) of squamous cells on the surface of the cervix.Most cases of CIN remain stable, or are eliminated by the host's immune system without intervention. However a small percentage of cases progress to become cervical cancer, usually cervical squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), if left untreated. The major cause of CIN is chronic infection of the cervix with the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus (HPV), especially the high-risk HPV types 16 or 18. Over 100 types of HPV have been identified. About a dozen of these types appear to cause cervical dysplasia and may lead to the development of cervical cancer. Other types cause warts.
The earliest microscopic change corresponding to CIN is dysplasia of the epithelial or surface lining of the cervix, which is essentially undetectable by the woman. Cellular changes associated with HPV infection, such as koilocytes, are also commonly seen in CIN. CIN is usually discovered by a screening test, the Papanicolaou or "Pap" smear. The purpose of this test is to detect the changes early, while it has not yet progressed to invasive carcinoma, and is easier to cure. An abnormal Pap smear may lead to a recommendation for colposcopy of the cervix, during which the cervix is examined under magnification. A biopsy is taken of any abnormal appearing areas. Cervical dysplasia can be diagnosed by biopsy.

Grades

Depending on several factors such as the type of HPV and the location of the infection, CIN can start in any of the three stage, and can either progress to the next grade, or regress.
CIN is classified in grades:

• CIN1 (Grade I), the least risky type, represents only mild dysplasia, or abnormal cell growth. This corresponds to a low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LGSIL or LSIL) result on a Pap test. It is confined to the basal 1/3 of the epithelium. This corresponds to infection with HPV, and typically will be cleared by immune response in a year or so, though can take several years to clear.

• CIN2/3 correspond to high grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL). Sometimes this is further divided:

o CIN2 (Grade II): Moderate dysplasia confined to the basal 2/3 of the epithelium

o CIN3 (Grade III): Severe dysplasia that spans more than 2/3 of the epithelium, and may involve the full thickness. This lesion may sometimes also be referred to as cervical carcinoma in situ.

Normal cervical epithelium (H&E stain).



Grade I CIN.



Grade II CIN.



Grade III CIN.





Prevalence

Between 250,000 and 1 million American women are diagnosed with CIN annually. Women can develop CIN at any age, however, women generally develop it between the ages of 25 to 35. If caught early, CIN is usually curable.


Risk Factors

Some risk factors that have been found to be important in developing CIN are:

• Women who begin to have sex at an early age

• Women who have multiple sexual partners

• Women who have sexual partners who have had multiple sexual partners

• Women who become infected by a higher risk types of HPV, such as 16, 18, 31 or 45.

• Women who belong to a lower socioeconomic group (thought to be related to beginning intercourse at an earlier age)

• Women who smoke

• Women who are immunodeficient


Progression

Cases of CIN are thought by some to progress through these stages toward cancer in a linear fashion.
However most CIN spontaneously regress. About 50% of CIN 2 will regress within 2 years without treatment. Progression to cancer typically takes 15 (3 to 40) years. Also, evidence suggests that cancer can occur without first detectably progressing through these stages and that a high grade intraepithelial neoplasia can occur without first existing as a lower grade.
It is thought that the higher risk HPV infections, have the ability to inactivate tumor suppressor genes such as the p53 gene and the RB gene, thus allowing the infected cells to grow unchecked and accumulate successive mutations, eventually leading to cancer.

Treatment

In many cases, CIN will regress without treatment. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables, smoking avoidance and condom use increase regression of cervical dysplasia.
CIN is curable, although the lifetime recurrence rate is 20%. Methods used to treat CIN require removal or destruction of the surface cells of the cervix. These methods include cryocautery, electrocautery, laser cautery, LEEP, and cervical conization. Therapeutic vaccines are also in development.

CERVIX CANCER

Schematic frontal view of female anatomy
1: fallopian tube, 2: bladder, 3: pubic bone, 4: g-spot, 5: clitoris, 6: urethra, 7: vagina, 8: ovary, 9: sigmoid colon, 10: uterus, 11: fornix, 12: cervix, 13: rectum, 14: anus
Latin	cervix uteri
Gray's	subject #268 1259
Artery	vaginal artery, uterine artery
Precursor	Müllerian duct
MeSH	Cervix+uteri
Dorlands/Elsevier	cervix uteri

The cervix (or neck of the uterus) is the lower, narrow portion of the uterus where it joins with the top end of the vagina. It is cylindrical or conical in shape and protrudes through the upper anterior vaginal wall. Approximately half its length is visible with appropriate medical equipment; the remainder lies above the vagina beyond view. It is occasionally called "cervix uteri". Cervix means neck in Latin.

Anatomy

Ectocervix

The portion projecting into the vagina is referred to as the portio vaginalis or ectocervix. On average, the ectocervix is 3 cm long and 2.5 cm wide. It has a convex, elliptical surface and is divided into anterior and posterior lips.

External os

The ectocervix's opening is called the external os. The size and shape of the external os and the ectocervix varies widely with age, hormonal state, and whether the woman has had a vaginal birth. In women who have not had a vaginal birth the external os appears as a small, circular opening. In women who have had a vaginal birth, the ectocervix appears bulkier and the external os appears wider, more slit-like and gaping.

Endocervical canal

The passageway between the external os and the uterine cavity is referred to as the endocervical canal. It varies widely in length and width, along with the cervix overall. Flattened anterior to posterior, the endocervical canal measures 7 to 8 mm at its widest in reproductive-aged women.

Internal os

The endocervical canal terminates at the internal os which is the opening of the cervix inside the uterine cavity.

Cervical crypts

There are pockets in the lining of the cervix known as cervical crypts. They function to produce cervical fluid.^[

Histology

The epithelium of the cervix is varied. The ectocervix (more distal, by the vagina) is composed of nonkeratinized stratified squamous epithelium The endocervix (more proximal, within the uterus) is composed of simple columnar epithelium.

The area adjacent to the border of the endocervix and ectocervix is known as the transformation zone. The Transformation zone undergoes metaplasia numerous times during normal life. When the endocervix is exposed to the harsh acidic environment of the vagina it undergoes metaplasia to squamous epithelium which is better suited to the vaginal environment. Similarly when the ectocervix enters the less harsh uterine area it undergoes metaplasia to become columnar epithelium.

Times in life when this metaplasia of the transformation zone occ

CERVICAL CANCER

Cervical cancer
Classification and external resources


Histopathologic image (H&E stain) of carcinoma in situ, stage 0.
ICD-10 : C53

ICD-9 : 180

OMIM : 603956

DiseasesDB : 2278

MedlinePlus : 000893

eMedicine : med/324 radio/140

MeSH : D002583

This large squamous carcinoma (bottom of picture) has obliterated the cervix and invaded the lower uterine segment. The uterus also has a round leiomyoma up higher.


Cervical cancer is malignant cancer of the cervix uteri or cervical area.
Treatment of high grade changes can prevent the development of cancer. In developed countries, the widespread use of cervical screening programs has reduced the incidence of invasive cervical cancer by 50% or more.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a necessary factor in the development of nearly all cases of cervical cancer. HPV vaccine effective against the two strains of HPV that cause the most cervical cancer has been licensed in the U.S. and the EU. These two HPV strains together are currently responsible for approximately 70% of all cervical cancers. Since the vaccine only covers some high-risk types, women should seek regular Pap smear screening, even after vaccination.




Signs and symptoms

The early stages of cervical cancer may be completely asymptomatic. Also, moderate pain during sexual intercourse and vaginal discharge are symptoms of cervical cancer.


Causes

Human papillomavirus infection
The most important risk factor in the development of cervical cancer is infection with a high-risk strain of human papillomavirus. Types 16 and 18 are generally acknowledged to cause about 70% of cervical cancer cases. Together with type 31, they are the prime risk factors for cervical cancer.
Genital warts are caused by various strains of HPV which are usually not related to cervical cancer.
The medically accepted paradigm, officially endorsed by the American Cancer Society and other organizations, is that a patient must have been infected with HPV to develop cervical cancer, and is hence viewed as a sexually transmitted disease, but most women infected with high risk HPV will not develop cervical cancer.


Cofactors

The American Cancer Society provides the following list of risk factors for cervical cancer: human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, smoking, HIV infection, chlamydia infection, dietary factors, hormonal contraception, multiple pregnancies, exposure to the hormonal drug diethylstilbestrol (DES) and a family history of cervical cancer. T


Biopsy procedures

While the pap smear is an effective screening test, confirmation of the diagnosis of cervical cancer or pre-cancer requires a biopsy of the cervix.

Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, the precursor to cervical cancer, is often diagnosed on examination of cervical biopsies by a pathologist.

• adenocarcinoma (about 15% of cervical cancers in the UK)
• adenosquamous carcinoma
• small cell carcinoma

For premalignant dysplastic changes, the CIN (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia) grading is used

Staging

The TNM staging system for cervical cancer is analogous to the FIGO stage.

• Stage I - limited to the cervix

• Stage II - invades beyond cervix


Treatment

Due to the possible risk of cancer spread to the lymph nodes in stage 1b cancers and some stage 1a cancers, the surgeon may also need to remove some lymph nodes from around the uterus for pathologic evaluation.

According to the US National Cancer Institute's 2005 Health Information National Trends survey, only 40% of American women surveyed had heard of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and only 20% had heard of its link to cervical cancer.

Screening

The widespread introduction of the Papanicolaou test, or Pap smear for cervical cancer screening has been credited with dramatically reducing the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer in developed countries.
Until recently the Pap smear has remained the principal technology for preventing cervical cancer.
The HPV test is a newer technique for cervical cancer triage which detects the presence of human papillomavirus infection in the cervix. Since more than 99% of invasive cervical cancers worldwide contain HPV, some researchers recommend that HPV testing be done together with routine cervical screening.
HPV testing can reduce the incidence of grade 2 or 3 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia or cervical cancer detected by subsequent screening tests among women 32-38 years old according to a randomized controlled trial.

Together, HPV types 16 and 18 currently cause about 70% of cervical cancer cases. HPV types 6 and 11 cause about 90% of genital wart cases.

Higher levels of vegetable consumption were associated with a 54% decrease risk of HPV persistence.

Subjects in the lowest serum retinol quartile were at increased risk of CIN I compared with women in the highest quartile

A statistically significantly lower level of alpha-tocopherol was observed in the blood serum of HPV-positive patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.

A 56% reduction in HPV persistence risk was observed in women with the highest plasma [lycopene] concentrations compared with women with the lowest plasma lycopene concentrations.

Fish oil

In a 1999 study, Docosahexaenoic acid inhibited growth of HPV16 immortalized cells.

Prognosis depends on the stage of the cancer.
With treatment, 80 to 90% of women with stage I cancer and 50 to 65% of those with stage II cancer are alive 5 years after diagnosis. Only 25 to 35% of women with stage III cancer and 15% or fewer of those with stage IV cancer are alive after 5 years.

Recurrent cervical cancer detected at its earliest stages might be successfully treated with surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, or a combination of the three. Thirty-five percent of patients with invasive cervical cancer have persistent or recurrent disease after treatment.
Average years of potential life lost from cervical cancer are 25.3 (SEER Cancer Statistics Review 1975-2000, National Cancer Institute (NCI)).
Regular screening has meant that pre cancerous changes and early stage cervical cancers have been detected and treated early. Figures suggest that cervical screening is saving 5,000 lives each year in the UK by preventing cervical cancer.
About 1,000 women per year die of cervical cancer in the UK.

Epidemiology

Worldwide, cervical cancer is the fifth most deadly cancer in women. Among gynecological cancers it ranks behind endometrial cancer and ovarian cancer. The incidence of new cases of cervical cancer in the United States was 7 per 100,000 women in 2004.

In Canada, an estimated 1,300 women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2008 and 380 will die.

History

• 400 BCE - Hippocrates: cervical cancer incurable

• 1976 - Zur Hausen and Gisam: found HPV DNA in cervical cancer and warts


Epidemiologists working in the early 20th century noted that:

1. Cervical cancer was common in female sex workers.

The List of Notable Breast Cancer Patient

This list of notable breast cancer patients includes people who made significant contributions to their respective fields and who were diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lives, as confirmed by public information.

According to the United States National Cancer Institute, an estimated 212,920 new cases and 40,970 deaths (women only) would have occurred nationwide in 2006 .

Alive

• Elizabeth Agassi, mother of American tennis champion Andre Agassi
• Tami Agassi, author and sister of American tennis champion Andre Agassi
• Barbara Allen, American politician, Kansas State Senator.
• Anastacia, American popular singer
• Christina Applegate, American actress and advocate for breast cancer research
• Cheryl Aranda, American singer/songwriter
• Dame Eileen Atkins, British stage and film actress
• Carol Martineau Baldwin, mother of American actors Daniel, Stephen, William, and Alec Baldwin, and foundress of the Carol M. Baldwin Breast Care Center of the University Hospital and Medical Center at Stony Brook
• Kaye Ballard, American actress
• Brigitte Bardot, former French actress and current animal rights activist
• Allyce Beasley, American TV/comedic actress
• Jami Bernard, American author and film critic for the New York Daily News
• Aisha Bicknell, daughter of British actress Rita Tushingham
• Shirley Temple Black, famous Oscar-winning American former child star & former U.S. Ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia
• Raelene Boyle, Australian athlete
• Rhona Brankin, British politician, Member of the Scottish Parliament
• Eileen Brennan, American actress
• Nancy Brinker, American founder of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure
• Edward Brooke, African-American former U.S. Senator
• Edna Campbell, African-American professional basketball star
• Valerie Campbell, mother of supermodel Naomi Campbell
• Robin Carnahan, American politician, Missouri Secretary of State
• Diahann Carroll, African-American actress, singer
• Pattie Daly Caruso, mother of American television personality Carson Daly
• Agnes Chan, Asian singing star and academic
• Beth Nielsen Chapman, American singer-songwriter
• Sonja Christopher, Survivor: Borneo contestant (first to be voted off the island;
• Mary Jo Codey, former First Lady of New Jersey, school teacher and wife of former Governor of New Jersey Richard Codey
• Elizabeth Cowie, Army National Guard Staff Sergeant who has been deployed to Iraq, after refusing to stay behind despite a diagnosis of cancer in her right breast; she was treated with two surgeries and a week of intensive radiation
• Sheryl Crow, American singer/musician
• Fran Dalessandro, a 2003 Cancer Research and Treatment Fund Survivors Hall of Fame inductee
• Margaret Daley, wife of American politician Chicago, Illinois Mayor Richard M. Daley
• Marina Dalglish, founder of the Marina Dalglish Appeal and wife of former British international football player Kenny Dalglish
• Pat Danner, American politician; former Democratic U.S. House Representative from Missouri
• Ruby Dee, African-American actress
• Betty DeGeneres, American author and mother of American actress and TV host Ellen DeGeneres
• Elisabeth DelPadre, mother of The View TV talk show host Elisabeth Hasselbeck; Hasselbeck's two grandmothers and one aunt are also breast cancer survivors
• Simone de Oliveira, Portuguese actress/singer
• Diana Dill, British-American actress; ex-wife of American actor Kirk Douglas; mother of American actor Michael Douglas
• Susan Duncan, Australian author
• Elizabeth Anania Edwards, American lawyer; wife of former U.S. Senator from North Carolina John Edwards
• Barbara Ehrenreich, American author/ethicist
• Jill Eikenberry, American actress and wife of American actor Michael Tucker
• Linda Ellerbee, American TV journalist
• Melissa Etheridge, American singer; lesbian activist
• Marianne Faithfull, British singer and actress
• Edie Falco, American stage and TV actress
• Deanna Favre, founded The Deanna Favre Hope Foundation and wife of American football quarterback Brett Favre
• Caitlin Flanagan, American magazine writer, editor and book author
• Peggy Fleming, American Olympic champion figure skater
• Betty Ford, former U.S. First Lady
• Wenche Foss, Norwegian actress
• Maria Friedman, British actress
• France Gall, French singer and wife of late French composer Michel Berger
• Liza Goddard, British actress
• Ernie Green, African-American former professional Cleveland Browns football player
• Christine Gregoire, American politician; current Governor of Washington State
• Nanci Griffith, American singer/songwriter
• Lucy Grijalva, writer of romance novels
• Dorothy Hamill, American Olympic champion figure skater
• Shelly Hamlin, American professional golfer
• Jane Hamsher, American film producer, author and liberal blogger
• Sheila Hancock, British actress and widow of British actor John Thaw
• Julie Harris, legendary American stage actress
• Heidi Heitkamp, North Dakota politician and lawyer
• Kay Helgenberger, mother of American actress Marg Helgenberger; 26-year survivor.
• Lydia Clarke Heston, former actress; widow of American actor Charlton Heston
• Darby Hickson, graphics designer; 2nd wife of Deputy White House Chief of Staff Karl Rove
• Amy Pasternack Hughes, mother of Sarah Hughes and Emily Hughes
• Marsha Hunt, African-American singer, novelist, breast cancer activist and mother of Mick Jagger's first child, Karis Jagger
• Laura Ingraham, American radio host/pundit
• Kate Jackson, American actress
• Kim Jagd, American assistant coach of the UCLA Bruins women's volleyball team and former UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) volleyball player
• Ann Jillian, American actress, entertainer
• Betsey Johnson, American fashion designer
• Melanie Johnson, former British Member of Parliament
• Jennifer Jones, American Oscar-winning star actress
• Susan Ryan Jordan, mother of American actress Meg Ryan; Jordan is a 29-year survivor
• Barbara Joss, Australian writer and autodidact
• Susan Kadis, Canadian politician in the Canadian House of Commons
• Phyllis Kagan, mother of CNN television news show host Daryn Kagan
• Sonia Kashuk, makeup artist & cosmetics businesswoman (had a lumpectomy; later decided on a prophylactic bilateral mastectomy as per People magazine, October 30, 2006)
• Joan Kennedy, former wife of U.S. Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA); had surgery and is continuing treatment
• Linda Kerr, mother of American golfer Cristie Kerr who plays on the LPGA Tour
• Janelle Kidman, mother of Australian actress Nicole Kidman
• Maeve Kinkead, American actress, predominantly on daytime soap operas
• Hoda Kotb, Egyptian-American television news anchor, journalist and correspondent
• Becky Krimstein, American video and film producer and breast cancer activist
• Barbara Krueger, mother of American TV personality Kandace Krueger
• RuthAnn Lobo, American author and mother of American professional basketball star Rebecca Lobo
• Sondra Locke, American actress
• Adamari López, Puerto Rican actress; diagnosed in April 2005
• Geralyn Lucas, American journalist, television producer, and writer
• Jennifer Lyon, American contestant on the CBS reality television series Survivor: Palau
• Marisa Acocella Marchetto, American writer, cartoonist and memoirist
• Matuschka, aka Joanne Matuschka; American fine art photographer and breast cancer activist
• Rue McClanahan, American TV/stage actress
• Doris McCormack, mother of Canadian actor Eric McCormack
• Judy Eason McIntyre, African-American politician - Oklahoma State Senator
• Amanda Mealing, British actress
• Tucker L. Melancon, male United States District Judge, Western District of Louisiana, 5th Circuit since 1994
• Wendy Mesley, Canadian host and reporter for CBC Television
• Kylie Minogue, Australian singer, actress
• Hala Moddelmog, American president and CEO of Susan G. Komen for the Cure
• Diana Moran, British model, fitness expert and journalist
• Shelley Morrison, American actress; currently battling breast cancer, also battled lung cancer
• Sharon Murphy, mother of American actress Brittany Murphy
• Jenni Murray, British BBC presenter
• Sue Myrick, American politician, Republican U.S. House Representative from North Carolina
• Janet Napolitano, American politician, Governor of Arizona
• Kitten Natividad, Mexican actress,
• Jocelyn Newman, former Senator from the Australian Parliament for Tasmania; treated successfully
• Phyllis Newman, American TV and Broadway actress/singer; widow of American playwright Adolph Green
• Olivia Newton-John, UK/Australian singer/actress
• Susan Niebur, American astrophysicist & former NASA consultant;
• Jerri Nielsen, American physician who famously treated herself for breast cancer while stuck in the South Pole after discovering a lump on her breast
• Cynthia Nixon, American stage and TV actress
• Linda Nolan, Irish-born singer, actress and former member of the 1970s pop band, The Nolans
• Sandra Day O'Connor, first female U.S. Supreme Court Justice.
• Sister Ellen Porter, Benedictine nun and poet; author of “A Hermit Holds My Heart” (released as part of a special National Poetry Month celebration); she has been living with metastatic breast cancer since 1987
• Claudia Price, inflammatory breast cancer survivor and mother of African-American R&B and soul singer Kelly Price
• Nancy Priddy, mother of American actress Christina Applegate.
• Judy Rankin, American Hall of Fame professional golfer.
• Betsy Rawls, American Hall of Fame professional golfer
• Claire Rayner, British journalist
• Nancy Reagan, former U.S. First Lady
• Lynn Redgrave, Oscar nominated British-American actress
• M. Jodi Rell, American politician, Governor of Connecticut
• Kathleen Reynolds, wife of former Irish taoiseach, Albert Reynolds
• Cokie Roberts, American journalist
• Robin Roberts, African-American women's basketball player, ESPN sportscaster and ABC-TV television personality
• Dede Robertson, wife of American Christian evangelist Pat Robertson
• Margaretta Fitler Murphy Rockefeller aka Happy Rockefeller, American socialite and wife of former N.Y. Governor and U.S. Vice President Nelson Rockefeller
• Betty Rollin, American author, retired TV correspondent
• Richard Roundtree, male African-American actor
• Linda Saarloos, mother of Oakland Athletics baseball pitcher, Kirk Saarloos
• Gloria Salerno, wife of master jewel thief Pete Salerno of Dinner Set Gang notoriety
• Lynn Sherr, American writer and TV correspondent for ABC News.
• Debra Shipley, British politician - Labour Party member of Parliament
• Claire Shulman, former Borough President of Queens, New York City
• M. Kay Siblani, Arab-American co-founder and executive editor of The Arab American News
• Jean Simmons, British-born U.S. actress
• Carly Simon, American singer
• Jaclyn Smith, American actress, businesswoman
• Dame Maggie Smith, Oscar-winning British actress of stage and screen
• Suzanne Somers, American actress
• Stephanie Spielman, wife of American NFL linebacker Chris Spielman
• Arlene Spires, Chief Executive, Ulster Cancer Foundation
• Karin Stanford, African-American professor and writer
• Janet Stark, mother of American former tennis champion Jonathan Stark
• Koo Stark, American soft-porn actress who had a controversial relationship with Prince Andrew of the United Kingdom
• Gloria Steinem, American feminist activist; stepmother of British actor Christian Bale
• Helen Stewart, wife of former British Formula One racing champion Jackie Stewart
• Lynne Stewart, American lawyer/activist
• Gloria Stuart, legendary American actress
• Sarah Susanka, English architect and author
• Ruth Ann Swenson, American soprano opera star
• Jools Topp, New Zealand folk singer, one of the Topp Twins
• Linda Tripp, former U.S. Government federal employee and Monica Lewinsky's former confidant
• Dawn Upshaw, American soprano diva
• Ann Veneman, former head of the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture
• Linda Waterfall, American singer-songwriter
• Laura Ziskin, American film and television producer, and cancer activist

Died due to breast cancer

• Lila Abboud, mother of noted Lebanese-American clothing designer Joseph Abboud; Abboud's sister also died due to breast cancer
• Kathy Acker, American author (died at age 50).
• Susan Alamo, wife of evangelist Tony Alamo (died in 1982).
• Margery Allingham, British mystery writer (died at age 62).
• Generosa Ammon, widow of murdered New York businessman and multimillionaire Ted Ammon (died at age 47).
• Luana Anders, American film actress (died at age 58).
• V. C. Andrews, American horror fiction writer (died at age 62).
• Mary Anning, British fossil collector and paleontologist from Lyme Regis, Dorset, England; subject of the book Mary Anning of Lyme Regis by Crispin Tickell (died at age 48).
• Anne of Austria, mother of King Louis XIV of France and Philippe I, Duke of Orléans, wife of King Louis XIII of France, daughter of Habsburg parents, King Philip III of Spain and Margarita of Austria, sister of Philip IV of Spain, aunt and mother-in-law of Spanish Habsburg princess Maria Theresa of Spain, and possible lover of French Prime Minister Jules Cardinal Mazarin (died at age 66).
• Brenda ("Mardi") Nowak Arquette, psychiatrist and mother of American actors Patricia, Rosanna, Alexis, Richmond and David Arquette, and wife of actor Lewis Arquette and daughter-in-law of actor Cliff Arquette (died in 1997).
• Mary Astell, English philosopher and feminist writer (died at age 65).
• Jeanne Bal, American television actress (died at age 67).
• Judi Bari, American environmentalist and labor leader (died at age 47).
• Jeanne Bates, American film actress (died at age 89).
• Sally Belfrage, American author and journalist (died at age 57).
• Frances Belzer, mother of American actor, Richard Belzer (died when Richard was 18 years old).
• Ingrid Bergman, Oscar-winning star Swedish actress (died at age 67).
• Sonja, Countess Bernadotte af Wisborg (died at age 64).
• Betty Berzon, American psychotherapist and lesbian activist (died at age 78).
• Bibi Besch, Austrian-born American actress (died at age 56).
• Colette Besson, French athlete (died at age 59).
• Rose Elizabeth Bird, first female Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court (died at age 63).
• Carina Bleeth, French-Algerian-born American model, businesswoman and mother of American actress Yasmine Bleeth; died of inflammatory breast cancer (died at age 47 when Yasmine was 20 years old).
• Brandi Borr, American stand-up comedian (died at age 39).
• Missy Boswell, American television camerawoman, producer and assistant director (died at age 51).
• Anita O. Bowser, former Indiana State Senator (died at age 86).
• Mary Brogan, wife of Florida politician Frank Brogan
• Vanessa Brown, Austrian-born American actress (died at age 71).
• Coral Browne, Australian-born American actress (died at age 77).
• Mary-Ellis Bunim, American film/TV producer (died at age 57).
• Barbara Burton, wife of American politician Dan Burton, United States Representative from Indiana (died at age 65).
• Rachel Carson, American environmentalist and author (Silent Spring) (died at age 56).
• Rose Chan, Chinese-born "Queen of Striptease" exotic dancer (died at age 62; see [213]).
• Lilyan Chauvin, French-born American actress and director (died at age 82)
• Elizabeth Ries Chavira, mother of American actor Ricardo Antonio Chavira (died at age 43 when Ricardo was 15 years old).
• Madonna Louise Ciccone, mother of American singer/songwriter Madonna (died at age 30 when Madonna was 5 years old).
• Cassie Cisyk, Ukrainian-American soprano (died at age 44).
• Heather Clarke, wife of Northern Irish golfer Darren Clarke (died at age 39)
• Doris Coley, African-American singer (one of The Shirelles) (died at age 58).
• Joan Riddell Cook, American journalist and labor activist; founded JAWS (Journalism and Women Symposium) died in 1995 (died at age 73).
• Norma Crane, American actress (died at age 44).
• Linda Creed, American songwriter (died at age 37).
• Mary Culpeper, mother of English botanist, herbalist, physician, and astrologer Nicholas Culpeper (died circa 1635).
• Charlotte Saunders Cushman, American stage actress (died at age 59).
• Faye Dancer, former star of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League and the inspiration for Madonna's character in the film A League of Their Own (died at age 77).
• Julia Darling, award-winning British writer (died at age 48).
• Bette Davis, American Oscar-winning star actress (died at age 81).
• Jo Ann Davis, U.S. Representative from the State of Virginia (died at age 57).
• Skeeter Davis, American Grand Ole Opry star (died at age 72).
• Cecilia de la Hoya, mother of Mexican-American boxing champion Oscar de la Hoya (died at age 35).
• Mary Jean Woolslair Denton, mother of American actor James Denton (died in 2002).
• Helen Dewar, American reporter for the Washington Post newspaper (died at age 70).
• Kelly Jo Dowd, American mother of American golf protege, Dakoda Dowd (died at age 42).
• Siobhan Dowd, British children's writer (died at age 47).
• Shirley Graham DuBois, African-American author, playwright, composer, activist and wife of noted African-American thinker, writer, and activist W. E. B. DuBois (died at age 80).
• Peggy Duff, British political activist and organiser of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (died at age 71).
• Lucy, Lady Duff-Gordon, London-born Canadian early 20th century fashion designer known as "Lucile"; sister to screenwriter Elinor Glyn (died at age 71).
• Eileen Dugan, Brooklyn, New York State Assemblywoman (died at age 51 in 1996).
• Julie Ege, Norwegian actress (died at age 64).
• Belinda Emmett, Australian actress (died at age 32).
• Miriam Engelberg, San Francisco-based graphic writer/blogger (died at age 48).
• Margaret Ewing, Scottish National Party politician and Member of the Scottish Parliament and wife of fellow MSP Fergus Ewing (died at age 60).
• Judith Campbell Exner, JFK relationship-related American celebrity (died at age 65).
• Oriana Fallaci, Italian writer and journalist (died at age 77).
• Faith Fancher, African-American television journalist for KTVU and breast cancer activist (died at age 53).
• Heather Farr, American LPGA Tour golfer (died at age 28)
• Sandra Feldman, former president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) (died at age 65).
• Sandra Regina Machado Arantes do Nascimento Felinto, Brazilian politician; daughter of Pelé (died at age 42).
• Kathleen Ferrier, British opera singer (died at age 41).
• Syvilla Fort, African-American dancer and choreographer (died at age 58)
• Lacey Fosburgh, American author and wife of American author David Harris (died around age 50).
• Kay Francis, American film star of the 1930s (died at age 63).
• Georgia Frontiere, American businesswoman; owner of the NFL team, the Saint Louis Rams (died at age 80).
• Kathryn Frost, Retired U.S. Army Major-General and former Commander of the United States Army and Air Force Exchange Service from August 2002 to April 2005, wife of Martin Frost, former Democrat U.S. Representative from Texas (died at age 57).
• Loie Fuller, French-based American dancer and choreographer (died at age 65)
• Margaret Furse, Academy Award winning British costume designer (died in 1974).
• Bea Gaddy, African-American Baltimore politician and activist (died at age 68).
• Helen Gahagan, American actress and (under the name Helen Gahagan Douglas) a politician; wife of actor Melvyn Douglas (died at age 79; see [263]).
• Betty George, American musical theatre actress (died on November 16, 2007).
• Megan Lloyd George, British politician, daughter of Prime Minister David Lloyd George (died at age 64).
• Sophie Germain, French mathematician (died at age 55).
• Yamila Gharib, mother of Colombian-Lebanese U.S. singer/songwriter, Soraya (died in 1992 when Soraya was 22 years old).
• Margaret Gibson, Canadian novelist (died at age 57).
• Barbara Gittings, LGBT activist (died at age 74)
• Shirley Glass, psychotherapist and author of Not Just Friends and mother of public radio personality Ira Glass (died at age 67).
• Nicolette Goulet, Canadian-American actress; daughter of actor/singer Robert Goulet (died at age 51)
• Gloria Grahame, Oscar-winning American actress (died at age 57).
• Betty Gray, younger sister of actress Linda Gray (died in 1989).
• Kate Greenaway, British illustrator (died at age 55).
• Lady Augusta Gregory, Irish nationalist landowner (died at age 80).
• Alvaleta Guess, African-American film actor and Broadway performer (died at age 41 in 1996).
• Florence Halop, American comedienne/comedic actress (died at age 63).
• Fannie Lou Hamer, African-American anti-segregation activist (died at age 59).
• Barbara Hamilton, Canadian actress (died at age 69)
• Sara Henderson, Australian author and pastoralist (died at age 68).
• Dorothy Hewett, Australian writer (died at age 79).
• Regine Hildebrandt, German biologist and politician (died at age 60).
• Klara Hitler, Austrian mother of Adolf Hitler (died at age 47).
• Anita Hoffman, American writer and wife of former "Yippie" activist Abbie Hoffman (died at age 56).
• Judy Holliday, American Oscar-winning star actress (died at age 43).
• Bertha Holte, mother of African-American singer/author/actress Patti LaBelle; LaBelle watched her mother as well as her three sisters all die of cancer before any of them reached 45 years of age
• Shirley Horn, African-American jazz singer; died due to complications of diabetes and breast cancer (died at age 71).
• Lady Anne Hyde, Duchess of York, first wife of James, Duke of York (the future King James II of England), mother of Queen Mary II of England and Queen Anne of Great Britain and daughter of Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon (died at age 34)
• Jeanne Hyde, wife of U.S. Congressman Henry Hyde (died in 1992).
• Diana Hyland, American actress (died at age 41).
• Trina Schart Hyman, American children's book illustrator (died at age 65).
• Jill Ireland, British actress, wife of American actor Charles Bronson (died at age 54).
• Molly Ivins, American journalist and author succumbed to inflammatory breast cancer (died at age 62).
• Alice James, American diarist, sister of American psychologist William James and American author Henry James and daughter of American theologian Henry James Sr. (died at age 43).
• Jessica James, American actress of stage, film and television (died at age 60).
• Jocelyne Jocya, French singer-songwriter & children's rights advocate (died at age 61).
• Pauline Johnson, Native Canadian poet and orator, who was born on the Six Nations Reservation in Ontario, Canada (died at age 52).
• Fannie Ann Little Jones, mother of African-American rapper Nas (died in 2002).
• Puma Jones, American singer (Black Uhuru) (died at age 36).
• June Jordan, African-American professor of African-American studies, poet and author of 28 books (died at age 62).
• Helen Kane, American singer and entertainer (died at age 62).
• Barbara Ann Karmanos (died in 1989)
• Caron Keating, Northern Irish celebrity (died at age 41).
• Marie Keating, mother of Irish singer Ronan Keating (died in 1998).
• Virginia Clinton Kelley, American mother of former President Bill Clinton (died at age 71).
• Margaret "Marge" Kensit, mother of actress Patsy Kensit (died in 1993).
• Margaret Kilgallen, American artist (died at age 33)
• Kathleen "Kat" Kinkade, a founder of the Twin Oaks experimental utopian community near Charlottesville, Virginia (died at age 77)
• Susan G. Komen, American breast cancer activist; sister of Nancy Brinker (died at 36 years of age).
• Marianna Komlos, Canadian bodybuilder and fitness model (died at age 35).
• Irene Kral, American jazz singer (died at age 46).
• Helen Gorman Kushnick, NYC-born Hollywood producer (died at age 51).
• Jewel Lafontant, Republican politician from Cook County, Illinois
• Mary Lakes, mother of American Florida Gators football player Reggie Nelson (died on December 21, 2006
• Paula Schlesinger Lang, mother of Austrian-American film director Fritz Lang; she died of complications from breast cancer.
• Joi Lansing, American actress (died at age 43).
• Jennifer Lash aka Jini Fiennes; British writer/artist; mother of six (including Ralph, Martha, Joseph, Magnus, Sophie and Jacob Fiennes) (died at age 55).
• Thomasina Lawson, daughter of former British Chancellor of the Exchequer Lord Nigel Lawson and sister of British journalists Nigella Lawson and Dominic Lawson (died at age 32)
• Beatrix Hamilton Leacock, wife of Canadian writer Stephen Leacock (died in 1925).
• Frances Lear, Lear magazine publisher and ex-wife of American TV producer Norman Lear (died at age 73).
• Violette Leduc, French author (died at age 65).
• Elisabeth Leseur, French diarist (died at age 47).
• Nikolai Leskov, male Russian writer (died at age 64).
• Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, American opera singer; in 2000 her younger sister Alexis also died due to breast cancer (died at age 52).
• Ronnie Lippin, music industry publicist/business manager (died at age 59).
• Audre Lorde, African-American author (died at age 58).
• Juliette Gordon Low, American Founder of Girl Scouts of the USA (died at age 67).
• Cassie Mackin, American television journalist and correspondent (died at age 43 in 1982).
• Datin Seri Endon Mahmood, wife of the Prime Minister of Malaysia Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Two years before, her twin sister, Noraini, also died due to breast cancer. (died at age 64).
• Shirley Ardell Mason, American artist, inspiration for the book and film of the life of "Sybil" (book and film) (died at age 75).
• Denise McAllister, wife of former Scottish football captain Gary McAllister (died aged 39).
• Lady Linda McCartney, American singer, activist; wife of Sir Paul McCartney (died at age 56).
• Mary Mohin McCartney, County Monaghan, Ireland-born mother of "Beatle" Sir Paul McCartney (died when Paul was 14 years old).
• Mary McCollough, mother of African-American actor, Bernie Mac (died during Bernie's sophomore year of high school; see [340]).
• Hattie McDaniel, African-American actress (died at age 57).
• Susan McManus McGahern, mother of late Irish writer, John McGahern; died in 1943
• William McGhee (aka William Bill McGhee), African-American actor (died at age 76).
• Jane McGrath, wife of Australian cricket champion Glenn McGrath
• Sarah Parkinson Merton, screenwriter and wife of British actor Paul Merton (died on 23 September 2003).
• Sylvia Millecam, Dutch actress (died at age 45).
• Mary of Modena, Italian-born Queen Consort of King James II of England (died at age 59).
• Charlotte Moorman, American cellist and performance artist (died at age 57).
• Bernadette Doyle Mowbray, late wife of Scottish footballer/manager, Tony Mowbray
• Jean Muir, English fashion designer (died at age 66).
• Melissa Nathan, British novelist (died at age 37 on April 7, 2006).
• Ellie Nesler, American mother who gained a measure of publicity/notoriety for killing an accused child molester (died at age 56).
• John W. Nick (The John W. Nick Foundation was founded "to help eradicate breast cancer in men and women through education, prevention, early detection, state of the art treatment, and to provide support groups, and services to cancer patients and their families"; see Nick Foundation)
• Eileen O'Connell, Nova Scotian Member of the Legislative Assembly for the riding (constituency) of Halifax-Fairview (died on September 27, 2000
• Roseann Murtha O'Donnell, the mother of American actress/television personality/comedian Rosie O'Donnell (died at age 38).
• Siobhan O'Hanlon, Northern Irish Sinn Féin official and former PIRA member (died at age 43 on April 11, 2006).
• Gayle Olinekova, Canadian marathon runner and bodybuilder (died at age 50).
• Elizabeth Owens (aka Kathe Schneider Feist), American actress and theatre producer (died on March 8, 2005, aged 77).
• Grace Paley, American poet, writer and political activist (died at age 84).
• Edith Pechey, aka Mary Edith Pechey-Phipson; one of the first British female doctors and a women's rights activist (died at age 63).
• Jacqueline Peart, wife of Canadian musician Neil Peart (died in 1998).
• Susan Peretz, American film and television actress (died at age 64).
• Ruth Picardie, British writer (died at age 33).
• Heather Pick, American television news reporter & cancer/diabetes awareness activist (died on November 7, 2008).
• Margaret Morgan Potter, wife of British writer Dennis Potter (died in 1994 shortly before her own husband's death).
• Barbara Pym, British author/writer (died at age 66).
• Dina Rabinovitch, British writer and journalist (died at age 44).
• Irma Rangel, American politician, Texas State Representative; died of inflammatory breast cancer (died at age 71).
• Jackie Raven, American dancer and lyricist (died at age 51 on August 19, 2002).
• Deirdre Redgrave, née Hamilton-Hill, wife of British actor Corin Redgrave and mother of British actress Jemma Redgrave (died in 1997).
• Sherill Lynn Rettino, American television actress (died at age 39).
• Angelena Rice, mother of United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (died in 1985 at age 61).
• Wendy Richard, British actress (died at age 65).
• Kathleen Fenton Richards, mother of American actresses Kyle Richards, Kim Richards and Kathy Hilton, and the maternal grandmother of Paris and Nicky Hilton (died in March 2003).
• Minnie Riperton, American singer, mother of American actress Maya Rudolph (died at age 31).
• Lila Roberts, former model and mother of Canadian model and actress Rachel Roberts (died in 1995).
• Toby Robins, Canadian actress and television journalist (died at age 55 or 56).
• Rod Roddy, American male radio and television announcer (died at age 66 of breast and colon cancers).
• Ann Marie Rogers, British activist who won a lengthy legal battle against the British NHS to get cancer victims access to the life-prolonging drug Herceptin (died at age 57).
• Roxie Roker, American actress, mother of American singer/songwriter Lenny Kravitz (died at age 66).
• Patsy Rowlands, British actress (died at age 71).
• Rosalind Russell, American star actress (died at age 69).
• Caroline St John-Brooks, British journalist and academic (died at age 56).
• Lyudmila Salita, mother of boxer Dmitry Salita (died in 1999).
• May Sarton, Belgium-born American poet, novelist, and memoirist (died at age 83).
• Delia Scala, Italian actress (died at age 74).
• Jane Scott, English writer, dramatist and theatre manager (died in 1839, aged 59 or 60).
• Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick, American academic, educator, author and theorist in the fields of gender and queer studies (died at age 58).
• Irene Mayer Selznick, American theatrical producer (died at age 83)
• Penny L. Severns, Illinois State Senator (died at age 46 in 1998).
• Elizabeth Seymour, Duchess of Somerset (died at age 55).
• Carol Shields, Canada-based U.S. author (died at age 68).
• Marjorie Shostak, American anthropologist (died at age 51).
• Dorothy Shula, wife of former American Miami Dolphins football coach Don Shula who founded the Don Shula Foundation for breast cancer research (died in 1991).
• Ricky Silberman, American activist who co-founded the Independent Women's Forum (died at age 69).
• Charlotte Smith (née Hennessy), mother of screen legend & co-founder of United Artists, Mary Pickford (died in 1928).
• Soraya (full-name Soraya Raquel Cuevas Gharib), Colombian-American singer, songwriter, guitarist, arranger, and record producer, as well as breast cancer advocate (died aged 37).
• Jo Spence, British photographer (died at age 58).
• Wendie Jo Sperber, American actress (died at age 47).
• Dusty Springfield, British songwriter/singer (died at age 59).
• Athena Starwoman, world-famous astrologer, columnist for Vogue and Woman's Day, and TV commentator. (died in her mid-50s).
• Doris J. Stein, American philanthropist (mother of Susan Stein-Shiva)
• Susan Stein-Shiva, American philanthropist (daughter of Doris J. Stein)
• Nettie Stevens, American geneticist (died at age 50).
• Glenda Stewart, wife of artist Mark Stewart (died in September 1995).
• Hendrickje Stoffels, artist model and mistress of Dutch artist Rembrandt
• Marie Stopes, Scottish author and birth control advocate (died at age 78).
• Susan Strasberg, American actress; daughter of theatre director and drama coach Lee Strasberg and Paula Strasberg, and the sister of John Strasberg (died at age 60).
• Pauline Styron, mother of writer and novelist William Styron (died in 1939)
• Audrey Cowell Sumner, mother of British actor/singer/activist Sting (died in 1987).
• Rell Kapolioka`ehukai Sunn, American world surfing champion (died at age 47).
• Jacqueline Susann, American writer (died at age 56).
• Myfanwy Talog, Welsh actress and long-term common-law-spouse of British actor Sir David Jason; (died at age 49).
• Patti Tate, crime victims activist and sister of murdered actress Sharon Tate (died at age 42).
• Mary Gay Taylor, WCBS-AM radio reporter/radio personality (died at age 71).
• Empress Theodora, empress of the Byzantine Empire and wife of Emperor Justinian I; both are commemorated on November 14 as saints in the Eastern Orthodox Church (died before the age of 50).
• Betty Thompson, Canadian television host of a children's programme produced at CKCO's studios (died at age 60).
• Dorothy Perry Thompson, African-American professor and poet (died at age 68).
• Penny Thomson, Scottish theatre and television director (died at age 56).
• Jane Tomlinson, British athlete and campaigner/fund raiser for cancer charities (died at age 43).
• Marietta Peabody Tree, American socialite and political activist (died at age 74).
• Louise Troy, American actress and wife of British actor Douglas Seale (died at age 60).
• Danitra Vance, African-American actress (died at age 40).
• Vivian Vance, American actress, singer (died at age 70) also suffered from bone cancer as a result of metastasis.
• Annabelle Lane Vincent, Kentucky Democratic politician and member of the Kentucky Democratic State Executive Committee (died at age 55)
• Geraldine Warrick-Crisman, African-American television executive and former assistant New Jersey state treasurer (died at age 76).
• Angela Webber, 52, Australian comedienne and writer (died at age 52).
• Dolly Wilde, Anglo-Irish socialite & niece of writer Oscar Wilde; diagnosed with breast cancer in 1939, died two years later of uncertain causes.
• Suzie Shapiro Wilson, mother of American child actress Mara Wilson (died at age 46 when Mara was 9 years old).
• Stephanie Williams, American journalist and author (died at age 32).
• Eileen Schauder Winters, sometime actress/wife of comedian Jonathan Winters from 1948 until her death in 2009 (died at age 84).
• Thelma Wood, American sculptor (died at age 69).
• Syreeta Wright, African-American singer/songwriter and ex-wife of African-American singer/songwriter Stevie Wonder; (died at age 58).
• Gretchen Wyler, American actress, singer and dancer (died at age 75).
• Chen Xiaoxu, Chinese actress and Buddhist nun (died at age 41)
• Kim Yale, writer and editor for multiple comic book companies, including Marvel, DC, First and Warp Graphics; wife of fellow comics creator John Ostrander
• Kay Yow, North Carolina State women's basketball coach (died at age 66).
• Amalie von Wallmoden, Countess of Yarmouth (died at age 61).
• Judith D. Zuk, American conservationist, horticulturist and environmentalist (died at age 55)