Celebrity Breast Cancer - Betty Ford

 

Betty Ford

A routine checkup in September 1974 at Walter Reed Medical Center saved Betty Ford’s life. Doctors found a lump in the breast of the 56-year-old First Lady and moved quickly to determine whether it was malignant. Within two days, Mrs. Ford was back at Walter Reed for exploratory surgery on the tumor. Before the surgery began the Fords gave the doctors these orders: If the lump proved to be malignant, perform a double mastectomy. And then Mrs. Ford did something truly amazing -- she said the words “breast cancer,” out loud, to the national press. Within two weeks Newsweek carried a detailed account of her illness with the First Lady’s cooperation. She talked about screenings and treatment, in many ways starting her own breast cancer awareness campaign.

Born: April 8, 1918, Chicago

Died: July 8, 2011

Spouse: Gerald Ford (m. 1948–2006)

Children: Susan Ford, Steven Ford, John Gardner Ford, Michael Ford

Education: Bennington College, Central High School