Baywatch alum Nicole Eggert, 51, says her “biggest fear” in her battle with cancer is the possibility of leaving behind her 12-year-old girl.
Recently diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer, the former sex symbol says the look of “horror” on her daughter’s face is enough to power her through to recovery.
“She needs me more than anything and anybody,” says the single mom.
Keep reading to learn more about the actor’s devastating diagnosis.
If you grew up in the 1980s, you’ll know the catchy tune that opened the TV sitcom, Charles in Charge, that starred Nicole Eggert, now 51.
Only 15 at the time, Eggert’s effortless ability to engage audiences as Jamie Powell positioned her for a successful career in Hollywood.
When the show wrapped up in 1990, Eggert, who was engaged to the late Corey Haim, appeared in a couple of films and TV series, like Who’s the Boss and Fantasy Island.
In 1992, she was offered the role of a lifetime on a TV series called Baywatch, where she played Summer Quinn in the cult classic that also starred David Hasselhoff and Pamela Anderson.
Struggles
Unfortunately, since the former sex symbol left Baywatch, she struggled physically and financially.
The woman, who’s never been married, packed on some pounds after having her first daughter Dilyn (now 25), and in 2010, she looked for weight loss support on the TV series Celebrity Fit Club, where she lost 10 lbs.
Then in 2015, Eggert, who’s also mom to daughter 12-year-old Keegan, filed for bankruptcy.
The same year, on the TV series Botched, she met with Dr. Terry Dubrow and Dr. Paul Nassif to reduce her cup size after undergoing multiple breast augmentation surgeries over the years.
Breast cancer
In December 2023, the actor was diagnosed with stage 2 cribriform carcinoma breast cancer.
Speaking with People, the actor recalls gaining 25 lbs in only three months and experiencing “terrible pain” in her left breast.
And then, during a self-examination, she found a lump.
“It really was throbbing and hurting,” she tells People in a January 8 interview. “I immediately went to my general practitioner, and she told me I had to immediately go get it looked at.”
After a discovery mammogram and three biopsies, her pathology reports came back positive for cancer.
“This journey’s been rough for me. This hasn’t been a breezy sail through life,” she shares. “I always read inspirational quotes and corny stuff, but it gets me through.”
Her next step will be surgery, followed by a chemotherapy and radiation plan that’s being developed by the oncologist.
Right now, she’s hoping the cancer hasn’t spread to other parts of her body.
“I can definitely feel it,” she says of the lump. “It’s there. It needs to be taken out. So, it’s just a matter of do I have to do treatment before the surgery, or can they perform the surgery and then I do the treatment after.”
“I have panic [attacks] where I’m like, just get this out of me,” she adds. “You sit there and it’s in you and you’re like, every second that passes and it’s inside of me. It’s growing, and you’re just like, you just want it out.”
Recovery plan
As the daughter of parents who both had cancer, Eggert’s “biggest fear” is not being there for Dilyn and Keegan.
Reflecting on “the horror” she saw on Keegan’s face when she shared her diagnosis, Eggert says “[Dilyn’s] an adult, but I have a 12-year-old at home where I’m the only caregiver. I have no family. I have nothing.” Adding that her daughters are giving her strength to win her battle against cancer, she continues, “It immediately made me realize, there’s just no succumbing to this. This is something I have to get through. This is something that I have to beat. She needs me more than anything and anybody.”
Supporting Eggert on her road to recovery, one of her friends, Mindy Molinary, created a GoFundMe page, to offset the costly health battle ahead.
“She has a long, scary road ahead and has a terrible time asking for help,” Molinary writes. “She still has a little one at home and she is terrified of not being able to afford the treatments and surgery necessary while also keeping a roof over their heads.”
Humbled by her circumstances, Eggert tells People that being a single mother has “not been an easy road” financially.
“My fear is that my everyday hustle, everything that I do to keep everything going is going to come to a screeching halt when I’m not feeling well or I’m sick or I’m in the hospital or whatever is going on.” She continues, “It’s just so overwhelming.”
And, after her recovery, Eggert says she plans on creating a non-profit organization to help others like herself.
“I absolutely 100% want to start a non-profit for other single parents such as myself, who don’t have any family, don’t have anybody to turn to,” she says. “They take on all this by themselves because they love their kids so much, but when something happens to them, then what?”
“I’ve gotten such an outpouring of love and it makes you feel so good. It changes your whole day and other people just don’t have that,” Eggert adds.
Nicole Eggert’s diagnosis is so heartbreaking, but her openness will help others who are experiencing the same.
Please share this story with others so she’ll know we’re rallying behind her recovery!
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