NEWS > ENTERTAINMENT >FARRAH FAWCETT DEATH SHOWS CANCER FINALLY GETTING ITS BREAK IN HOLLYWOOD

FARRAH FAWCETT DEATH SHOWS CANCER FINALLY GETTING ITS BREAK IN HOLLYWOOD

June 26 2009

Los Angeles, CA – Even the word cancer often brings shudders of fear to the most stoic of people. Named for the constellation, the first clear diagnosis of the disease happened over 1800 years by the godfather of medicine, Galen of Pergamum. It was Galen who first bestowed the name to the disease who noted a physical similarity
between some tumours and crabs which has now become the boogeyman haunting everyone who fears death. Since Galen’s bestowing of that heavenly the term itself has become synonymous with death and now it’s beginning to stalk even the most successful.

With the death of 70’s icon Farrah Fawcett at the age of 62 many in Hollywood are suddenly on alert in a way normally reserved for common people with the fear that Cancer has finally gotten a foothold amongst the stars. Though many celebrities have succumbed to Cancer in the past, many of them have been elderly, but the death of Fawcett has sent shudders throughout the town with concern that the disease may no longer be respecting the public’s affection or the iconic nature of certain stars.

“After a long and brave battle with cancer, our beloved Farrah has passed away,” said long time partner Ryan O'Neal. “Although this is an extremely difficult time for her family and friends, we take comfort in the beautiful times that we shared with Farrah over the years and the knowledge that her life brought joy to so many people around the world.”

Other recent celebrity deaths attributed to Cancer include elderly screen legend Paul Newman and British reality star Jade Goody. The death of Fawcett though is shocking the Hollywood community in ways that only ailments like AIDS have done in the past.

“I’ve always felt growing up that Hollywood was more or less immune to things like Cancer. Sure some old people get it and die but they were going to go anyway, it’s just a matter of time. For someone like Farrah Fawcett to die from the disease though, well it’s just shocking. I
mean in a way she never aged with that poster so to think she’s dead is just shocking,” said an upcoming celebrity who preferred to remain nameless. “I mean part of the reason that I came to Hollywood in the first place was to get away from things that normal people have to deal with. Regular people die from Cancer not celebrities but that may not be the case anymore.”

Hollywood has often mined the disease for plotlines but rarely has the community been so directly affected, due in large part to their ability to pay for medical treatment.

“The concern of course is that Cancer has now stepped forward for its place in the spotlight. Throughout the recent history of Hollywood diseases have become famous for all kinds of reasons and have been able to cement themselves firmly in the minds of people in the industry but for the first time a common disease has stepped forward for its share of the spotlight,” said Scrape TV Entertainment analyst Tracey Temple. “Everything from HIV to Lupus have Hollywood supporters and all kinds of movie money but Cancer, really the king of diseases, has long been snubbed. Perhaps now that will change.”

Cancer has long been one of the leading causes of death amongst non-celebrities but stylish and obscure diseases have long drawn the majority of attention. Many health experts expect that will change with the death of Fawcett.

“There’s really no better platform for fundraising and fighting disease than Hollywood. Now that people in the industry feel like they may in fact be vulnerable to the disease it may provoke a change in attitude that will help bring in some dollars to research the disease,” continued Temple. “Really it represents the decline of Hollywood glamour and is part of a greater phenomenon. Jade Goody was a good example of that; a normal person become celebrity dying of a normal disease. Now that Fawcett has succumbed, all sorts of regular diseases may make their way into Hollywood.”

Any future fundraising by Hollywood is not expected to help Fawcett recover from the disease.

Samantha Dryden, Entertainment Correspondent

NEWS > ENTERTAINMENT >FARRAH FAWCETT DEATH SHOWS CANCER FINALLY GETTING ITS BREAK IN HOLLYWOOD