Julia Louis-Dreyfus Reveals Breast Cancer Diagnosis Sharpened Her Priorities

“At a younger age, there's often a certain brashness,” the 63-year-old actress noted.

By Mian HamidPublished 15 days ago • 3 min read

“At a younger age, there's often a certain brashness,” the 63-year-old actress noted.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus is sharing how her breast cancer diagnosis brought about a shift in her perspective.

On June 10, the Veep star appeared on the Today show, engaging in a heartfelt conversation with Hoda Kotb about their individual battles with health.

“One of the reasons I’ve always wanted to talk to you is because many years ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer, and something profound struck me at that moment,” said Kotb, 59, who faced her own breast cancer diagnosis in 2007.

“For the first time in my life, I realized that my existence had both a beginning and an end,” she continued. “I had never really visualized it until that diagnosis. It was like the world suddenly came into sharp focus. I discarded things I no longer wanted and held on more tightly to what I did.”

Louis-Dreyfus, 63, echoed similar sentiments regarding her own breast cancer diagnosis.

“When you’re younger, there’s a certain arrogance of feeling immortal,” she explained. “And then, suddenly, you’re confronted with the reality that life is finite. You don’t often think about it. So, it sharpens your priorities—it certainly did for me.”

The actress revealed that she ultimately adjusted her outlook. “I underwent an attitude shift concerning my priorities and how to move forward. Much of the work we’re discussing today stems from that,” she added, referring to her new film Tuesday and her podcast Wiser Than Me.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus Reveals Breast Cancer Diagnosis Sharpened Her Priorities

Back in November 2023, Louis-Dreyfus reflected on her changed mindset. She recalled the moment she received the call from her doctor, informing her she had stage 2 breast cancer, the day after winning her sixth consecutive Emmy award in September 2017. After hanging up, her first reaction was to burst into laughter.

“It felt scripted, like a dark comedy,” she told WSJ. Magazine. “And then it morphed into uncontrollable sobbing.”

The star confessed her fear upon receiving the diagnosis.

“You just don’t think it will happen to you; that’s the arrogance of humanity,” she said at the time. “But eventually, we all face mortality.”

Louis-Dreyfus announced she was cancer-free in October 2018 after a double mastectomy and six rounds of chemotherapy. She used to feel invincible, but now, five years post-treatment, she approaches life with a new determination to cherish her remission.

“I live more mindfully now,” she said. “It’s not a constant presence, but there’s a more precise focus.”

The Quran - Chapter Ar-Rahman : 17 - 18

˹He is˺ Lord of the two easts and the two wests.

Then which of your Lord’s favours will you both deny?

Allah is the Lord of the Two Points of Sunrise and the Two Points of Sunset

رَ‌بُّ الْمَشْرِ‌قَيْنِ وَرَ‌بُّ الْمَغْرِ‌بَيْنِ (He is the Lord of both points of sunrise and both points of sunset...55:17) The sun rises at different cardinal points in the east in winter and in summer: Thus we have the two easts [ mashriqain ].

Similarly, the sun sets at different cardinal points in the west in winter and summer: Thus we have two wests [ maghribain ].

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Mian Hamid

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