Jennifer Saunders' Breast Cancer Is In Remission

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Main Category: Breast Cancer
Article Date: 11 Jul 2010 - 11:00 PDT

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Jennifer Saunders, 52, an English comedienne, screenwriter, singer and actress was diagnosed with cancer 8 months ago. Ms. Saunders is probably most famous for her role in the comedy series Absolutely Fabulous. Her doctors say her cancer is now in remission. She first detected a lump in her breast in October, 2009 and has completed treatment.

According to the BBC, Ms. Saunders was recently photographed wearing a wig and bandana - one of the side effects of chemotherapy for breast cancer is temporary hair loss.

According to Ms. Saunders' spokesperson, she has no intention of talking about her illness in public.

What is breast cancer?

Breast cancer is a tumor that has become malignant - it has developed from the breast cells. A 'malignant' tumor can spread to other parts of the body - it may also invade surrounding tissue. When it spreads around the body, we call it 'metastasis'.

A woman's breast consists of lobules. Lobules are milk-producing glands. The breast is also full of ducts - milk passages that connect the lobules to the nipple. There is also fatty and connective tissue surrounding the ducts and lobules - this is called stroma.

The most common breast cancers start in the cells around the ducts. Others can start in the cells that line the lobules. A smaller number of breast cancers can start in other parts of the breast. Click here for more information on Breast Cancer.

Jennifer Saunders, Short Biography

Born in Sleaford, Lincolnshire, England on 6^th July, 1958. Her mother was a biology teacher and her father was an Air Marshal in the Royal Air Force.

Educated from age 5 to 18 in boarding schools, one of which was St. Paul's Girls' School, a prestigious west London school.

Worked in Italy for one year as an au pair after school.

Central School of Speech and Drama, London (drama teacher's course). There she met Dawn French, who was to become a future comedy partner. They did not get on too well at first and distrusted each other.

Early 1980s - Saunders and French eventually became members of the informal comedy collective The Comic Strip

Notable works and roles:

• Various in French & Saunders
• Edina Monsoon in Absolutely Fabulous
• Caroline Martin in Jam and Jerusalem
• Vivienne Vyle in The Life and Times of Vivienne Vyle
• Helen Back-Mucus in Young Ones Time
• Emmy Awards - 1994 Absolutely Fabulous
• BAFTA Awards - 1992 Absolutely Fabulous

Saunders is married to comedian Adrian Admonson. They have three daughters.

Written by Christian Nordqvist
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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