Former “Baywatch” star Nicole Eggert wants others to try to live better as she deals with stage 2 breast cancer.
On April 28, Eggert spoke during a Women’s Cancer Research Foundation gala about how hard it can be to “be healthy” in America.
“I think people really need to start living a disease-preventative lifestyle,” Eggert told Fox News Digital. “That’s No. 1. It’s very hard to be healthy here in America. It’s just a fact.”
Eggert was first diagnosed with stage 2 cribriform carcinoma breast cancer in December 2023. During an interview with the Real Pink Podcast, Eggert talked about how just months before, in October, she felt a “throbbing” in her breast.
“I felt a throbbing in my breast,” Eggert said. “And all of a sudden, I had started, I felt like I was blowing up. Like was gaining weight like rapidly, suddenly, and, just throbbing. So I did a self-exam and I found a large lump, and I panicked, of course, and called to get my appointment made sooner and to get a diagnostic mammogram instead of just my regular one.”
“So by mid-October, I had that appointment and had a biopsy the next day,” Eggert said, “And by late October, early November, I had my diagnosis.”
Although the actress is still dealing with cancer, she has taken a positive outlook on the situation.
“I do believe it’s preventable, but if you do find yourself with the diagnosis, I think it’s about using modern medicine along with lifestyle changes and all the other things that you can do to prevent disease,” Eggert said. “And it’s a lot. … There’s just so much more you can and should be doing.”
According to the National Cancer Research Foundation, getting a mammogram “means that treatment can be started earlier in the course of the disease, possibly before it has spread.” Eggert told FoxDigital that her “proactive” outlook on dealing with her cancer has kept her motivated.
“That’s really what’s kept me going and sane, because you feel so hopeless … helpless and all of those things, but if you’re being proactive, it can really help,” Eggert said. “At least for myself, it really helps to keep me motivated and keep me going.”
Eggert is most known for playing the role of Summer Quinn in 44 episodes of “Baywatch,” and in over 100 episodes of “Charles in Charge.”