Drew Barrymore recently shared details of a breast cancer scare. The revelation came during an emotional conversation on The Drew Barrymore Show.
She spoke with comedian Tig Notaro, who has battled breast cancer, on Monday, November 3. Barrymore, 50, emphasized that she is now "perfectly fine."
The actress described a concerning process that included a negative mammogram. This led to an emergency biopsy and a tense five-day wait for the results.
"This is something I’ve wanted to risk talking about on this show because I recently had a scare," Barrymore told Notaro.
Barrymore then turned the discussion to Notaro’s experience. Notaro, 54, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012 and underwent a double mastectomy.
Barrymore praised Notaro for her humorous and determined approach to her battle. She asked Notaro how she managed to find peace with her diagnosis.
Notaro admitted the experience "completely broke me" initially. She revealed she tried to face it alone, even after her double mastectomy, despite being unable to lift her arms.
Notaro urged others in similar situations to accept support. She advised against the instinct to act like they need no one.
"It was the greatest gift you can give yourself and those who love you, because people want to help, they want to do good," Notaro stated. "It changed my life."
Barrymore has previously been candid about her health and personal struggles. She has openly discussed her past substance abuse issues during her teenage years.
During an October episode of her show, Barrymore recalled entering rehabilitation at age 14. She described the two years she spent institutionalized as "the best thing that ever happened to me."
She previously told Us Weekly that her time in rehab taught her the importance of communication. This approach to open dialogue now forms the foundation of her talk show.
Barrymore, who turned 50 in February, also discussed overcoming her divorce from ex-husband Will Kopelman. They share daughters Olive, 13, and Frankie, 11.
She described feeling profoundly lost during that period. It served as a "real wake-up call" to take control of her life.
"It’s the damn time to get my life together and be the most solid person I can be," Barrymore concluded about her realizations in her early forties.