YouTuber Grace Helbig reveals ‘triple-positive breast cancer’ diagnosis
YouTuber Grace Helbig has revealed she has been diagnosed with triple-positive breast cancer.
The content creator shared the “shocking” news in an eight-minute video on her YouTube and Instagram page.
Addressing her fans, she started the video by saying, “I don’t know how to do this, so we’re just going to do this.
“I have breast cancer.”
Ms Helbig said she has now had a “decent” amount of time to process the diagnosis and to start “the process”, after being told the news last month.
Ms Helbig joined the video streaming site 16 years ago and has now accumulated over two million subscribers – she is known for her viral challenges and comedic vlogs.
In the video, she said: “From every doctor or medical professional or person who has any knowledge about cancer, they have said it’s super treatable, highly beatable.”
“We’re going for cure not remission here. Which is exciting, encouraging, helpful, good.”
Ms Helbig said the treatment plan “looks like” six rounds of chemotherapy, which she said is then followed by hormonal therapy.
The YouTuber said she wanted to open up to fans as she has felt as though she had been “existing with a big secret.”
Ms Helbig said before her diagnosis, she had noticed a “weird lump” in her left breast, which she brought up in her gynaecologist appointment.
“I had sort of noticed a weird lump in my left breast, but I really had to talk myself into bringing it up to her in the appointment because I thought I was just a stupid little girl that didn’t know how girl bodies worked and it’s probably just muscle tissue,” she said.
“Thank God I listened to that little voice inside of me that finally got the courage to bring it up to her because she also thought it was abnormal.”
She also encouraged viewers to “get those lumps checked” and advised people not to be afraid to “ask a doctor what you might think is a stupid question.”
‘I’m ready to take this on’
After reaching out to her gynaecologist, Ms Helbig was then sent in for a mammogram and an ultrasound.
She said she felt “unsettled” after the nurse came back and ordered her to get a biopsy.
“The real kicker is when I got the biopsy,” she said.
She explained that the doctor that was doing the biopsy mentioned her own diagnosis five years ago, which Ms Helbig said, “I think in hindsight she might have been trying to show me… ‘look at where I’m at five years later. I’m a doctor doing your biopsy. Not all hope is lost.'”
YouTuber Hank Green, who also recently revealed he had been diagnosed with cancer, shared his support for Ms Helbig publicly in a tweet with heart emojis.
Pic: vlogbrothers/YouTube
Ms Helbig mentioned the two of them have been in touch and said: “I have been texting with him and his videos have been so incredibly helpful.
“And I am now eagerly awaiting his cancer stand-up to read through, which he has promised to send me because I’m going to need comedy through this process.”
Looking into the future, the YouTube star said she will still continue to make episodes for her podcast This Might Get Weird.
Ending the video, Ms Helbig added: “I’m doing well, and I’m ready to take this on.”
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According to the National Cancer Institute, triple-positive breast cancer is a type of breast cancer in which the tumour cells have estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors and a larger-than-normal number of HER2 receptors on their surface.
Triple-positive cancers tend to be more aggressive and often occur in younger people.
HER2-positive – is a breast cancer that tests positive for a protein called human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2).
“This protein promotes the growth of cancer cells,” the Mayo Clinic website says.
There are different treatments available depending on the type of cancer and stage. Cancers that are further along may be treated with chemotherapy, radiation, and other targeted or hormone therapies.
Elijah Wood and other Lord Of The Rings cast members have paid tribute to their co-star Bernard Hill, who died on Sunday aged 79.
Hill played King Theoden in the Oscar-winning fantasy franchise directed by Sir Peter Jackson.
Wood, who played Frodo Baggins, said on X: “So long to our friend, our king. We will never forget you.”
He also shared a quote from JRR Tolkien‘s novel, on which the films are based, writing: “For he was a gentle heart and a great king and kept his oaths; and he rose out of the shadows to a last fair morning.”
Dominic Monaghan, who played Merry Brandybuck in the trilogy, wrote: “The Broken king has passed to the grey havens but he will always be remembered. #ripbernard.”
Hill joined the franchise’s cast for the second film in the series, 2002’s The Two Towers, which won two Academy Awards for best sound editing and best visual effects.
He returned to the franchise for 2003’s The Return Of The King, which picked up 11 Oscars, including best picture and best director for Sir Peter.
The actor had been due to attend Comic Con in Liverpool over the weekend but the event announced on Saturday that he had to withdraw at the last minute because of his partner becoming “very ill”.
The post on X added: “He sends his sincere apologies and thanks you all for your understanding.”
Later footage from the event shows Hill’s co-stars paying tribute to him on stage, with Sean Astin, who played Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings, saying: “He was intrepid, he was gruff, he was irascible.”
Billy Boyd, who played Peregrin “Pippin” Took, said: “We were watching the movies and I said to Dom, I don’t think anyone spoke Tolkien’s words as great as Bernard did.”
Lord of the Rings stars (L to R) Sean Astin, Billy Boyd, Bernard Hill and Elijah Wood in 2003. Pic: Reuters
Hill first made a name for himself as Yosser Hughes in Alan Bleasdale’s BBC drama series Boys From The Blackstuff, about five unemployed men, which aired in 1982.
The role earned him a BAFTA TV nomination in 1983, the same year the show picked up the BAFTA for best drama series.
He went on to play Captain Edward Smith in the Oscar-winning 1997 epic Titanic, which starred Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet.
Hill as Captain Edward Smith in Titanic. Pic: Shutterstock
In the 2015 BBC adaptation of the Hilary Mantel novel Wolf Hall – about the court of Henry VIII – he played the Duke of Norfolk, uncle to Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard.
He can currently be seen in the second series of BBC drama The Responder starring Martin Freeman, which began on Sunday night.
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Bernard Hill dies aged 79
Lindsay Salt, director of BBC Drama, described him as an “incredible talent” who “blazed a trail across the screen” during his career.
“From Boys From The Blackstuff, to Wolf Hall, The Responder, and many more, we feel truly honoured to have worked with Bernard at the BBC.
“Our thoughts are with his loved ones at this sad time.”
Hill in Return of the King. Pic: Shutterstock
Actress and singer Barbara Dickson, who starred with him in a musical based on The Beatles, described him as a “marvellous actor”.
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Alongside a picture of them together, she wrote on X: “It’s with great sadness that I note the death of Bernard Hill.
“We worked together in John, Paul, George, Ringo and Bert, (by) Willy Russell marvellous show 1974-1975.
“A really marvellous actor. It was a privilege to have crossed paths with him. RIP Benny x.”
Meanwhile, Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said: “Boys from the Blackstuff was massive in my early life. God love you, Bernard Hill.”
Actor Bernard Hill, who played roles in Lord Of The Rings and Titanic, has died aged 79, his agent has confirmed.
Hill also featured as Yosser Hughes in the iconic drama series Boys In The Blackstuff.
He was given a number of awards for his role as King Theoden in the Lord of the Rings trilogy and played Captain Edward Smith in the 1997 Oscar-winning film Titanic.
The actor was born in Blackley, Manchester, in 1944 and graduated with a diploma in theatre in 1970.
He was married to fellow actor Marianna Hill, with whom he shared a son. His agent Lou Coulson said he died in the early hours of Sunday.
Hill will return to TV on Sunday night starring in the second series of Martin Freeman’s The Responder.
Fans have already started to pay tribute to him on social media.
Scottish musician Barbara Dickson wrote of their time working together: “It’s with great sadness that I note the death of Bernard Hill. We worked together in John Paul George Ringo and Bert, Willy Russell marvellous show 1974-1975.
“A really marvellous actor. It was a privilege to have crossed paths with him. RIP Benny x.”
In London in 2005. Pic: PA
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Madonna has played her biggest-ever gig to an estimated 1.6 million people on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro.
It was the last show in her Celebration tour and she performed hits such Like A Prayer, Vogue, Hung Up, Into The Groove and Like A Virgin.
The Brazil city was buzzing ahead of Saturday’s free two-hour show, with hotels and Airbnb’s packed and about 170 extra flights expected into the city.
Pic: Reuters
The famous Rio beach was packed with fans. Pic: AP
Helicopters and drones buzzed over the beach as the Queen of Pop took to the stage at 10:37pm, nearly 50 minutes late.
“Here we are in the most beautiful place in the world,” Madonna told the crowd as she pointed out Rio’s famous mountains and Christ the Redeemer statue.
The 65-year-old opened up with Nothing Really Matters from 1998’s Ray of Light album.
Eighteen speaker towers were dotted along the beach to ensure everyone could hear the US star’s vocals.
Brazilian musicians and people from local samba schools were involved in the show – with many fans dressing up in Madonna-themed outfits.
Pic: AP
Pic: Reuters
“Since Madonna arrived here, I’ve been coming every day with this outfit to welcome my idol, my diva, my pop queen,” said Rosemary de Oliveira Bohrer, 69, who wore a version of Madonna’s iconic gold cone bra.
Many fans had staked out a spot many hours – or even days – before the show, while others took in the spectacle from yachts or apartment balconies.
Madonna’s website said it was the biggest she had ever done – more than 10 times the 130,000 she played to in Paris in 1987.
However, Rio is used to huge shows – The Rolling Stones and Rod Stewart have played to similar-size crowds there.
Pic: AP
Pic: Reuters
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Thousands of police were on duty for Saturday’s show, which city authorities estimated drew a crowd of 1.6 million and would earn the local economy about 293 million reals (£46m).
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For Madonna, it was the culmination of an 81-date retrospective tour that began in London in October and moved across Europe and North and South America.
The singer embarked upon the tour a few months after being admitted to intensive care with a serious bacterial inaction in June 2023.
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