Fran Drescher &The Cancer Schmancer Movement

Gracious…Kind…Funny…Humble…Inspiring…

These are some of the words that I would use to describe Fran Drescher.

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with this incredible Queens, New York-born powerhouse.

I was humbled to be able to determine for myself if the rumors about her personality were true.

The rumor is that she is a very warm and loving person.

I absolutely believe it to be true.

Fran Drescher is a rape victim, a divorcee, and a comedian. She is also an actress, a uterine cancer survivor, and a cancer prevention advocate.

She believes strongly that you must take the negative and turn it into a positive.

Sometimes the best gifts come in the ugliest packages.

Yes, she understands, all too well, how difficult this can be dependent on the extreme nature of the action that requires a reaction. She does it, and she does it beautifully.

Fran met her soul mate when they were both teenagers.

This boy would grow up to be writer and producer Peter Marc Jacobsen.

Fran and Peter went to high school together and created The Nanny together.

Peter and Fran Drescher were also brutally attacked together, were absolutely in love and eventually divorced after 21 years of marriage.

Many believe that they divorced because Peter is gay. That is not the truth.

Peter and Fran were mostly happy together, they enjoyed each other’s company and had similar goals. During their marriage, Peter felt that something was not quite aligned properly for him. However, he never thought that it had to do with the wife that he adored. After Fran, and her

After Fran, and her friend were brutally attacked in their home, and Peter forced to watch, it was Fran that realized that she needed space. Things were not quite right for her. They separated,

Peter was angry and moved to New York while Fran’s home base remained in Los Angeles, California.

During their time apart much happened.

Fran Drescher was confronted with the “C” word. Peter finally confronted his feelings towards the same sex.

In Fran’s case, she was diagnosed with stage 1 uterine cancer. This diagnosis took two years, 8 doctors, incorrect testing and countless misdiagnosis. It was only when Fran’s older sister, Nadine,  insisted that Fran have

It was only in 2000 when Fran’s older sister, Nadine, insisted that Fran have an endometrial biopsy that the proper diagnosis was made.

Fran Drescher is not only a survivor but a survivor with a purpose.

She has taken this experience and coupled it with her comedic talent and fame. Out of this, she has created a movement known as “Cancer Schmancer“.

The Cancer Schmancer movement started with a book of the same title.

This book went through four drafts before it became a comedic look at Fran’s experience and what she considers the betrayal “by not only my own body but the medical community.”

By her own admission, the first draft was angry and bitter. After writing this book, Fran decided to go on a press tour.

However, prior to doing that she felt that she needed to see her ex-husband, Peter Marc Jacobsen.

She did not want him to learn of her plight through media. They had not been communicating since the separation and consequential divorce.

When Peter learned of what this woman, who he had spent the majority of his life with, was going through his anger disappeared.

All that was left behind was love.

During this discourse Peter also let Fran know that he was now dating men.  From this point on a new relationship emerged and out of this relationship a fantastic series emerged.

This series is known as “Happily Divorced”  and can be viewed on TV Land.

While on the book tour, Fran came to the realization that so many women had experienced the same difficulties with getting a proper diagnosis.

From this knowledge came a movement.

Fran has gone on to become a major advocate for early detection stating “If you catch it on arrival, 90% survival.” She strongly believes that “Stage 1 is the cure.”

Please visit www.cancerschmancer.org and Trash Cancer to learn more about what you can do to help yourself and to help others.

As well, watch for information on Fran’s youth-based program known as WTF: We The Future.

WTF: We The Future is a program designed to promote healthy living and cancer awareness specifically for youth.