Diahann Carroll, actress and breast cancer survivor, delivered the keynote speech at the annual Candid Conversations event sponsored by Spectrum Health Cancer Center and Betty Ford Breast Care Services at the Richard and Helen DeVos Center for Arts and Worship at Grand Rapids Christian High School. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
An audience member listens to Carroll speak at the sold-out Candid Conversations event. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Shawnte Williams poses for a picture with Diahann Carroll. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Breast cancer survivor Tammy Myers and Jennifer Jurgens laugh while waiting in line to meet Diahann Carroll during a meet and greet. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
A dancer from Jazzae Ford of Imprint Dance Co. waits to perform on stage during the closing of Candid Conversations. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Diahann Carroll poses for a photo during a meet and greet before the Candid Conversations presentation. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Carroll embraces with Kim Moore after Candid Conversations. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Carroll was the first African-American actress to star in her own television series, "Julia." (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
People gather at the Richard and Helen DeVos Center for Arts and Worship at Grand Rapids Christian High School before Diahann Carroll speaks at the annual Candid Conversations event. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Panelists Spectrum Health surgical oncologist Marianne Melnik, MD, left, Spectrum Health diagnostic radiologist Tammy Kreuzer, MD, chief of Spectrum Health Cancer Center, Judy Smith, MD, Spectrum Health Multispecialty Cancer Center clinical manager Loril Garrett, and breast cancer survivor and advocate Tammy Myers speak during the 'Cancer Straight Talk.' (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
A dancer from Jazzae Ford of Imprint Dance Co. performs during the closing of Candid Conversations. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Carroll admired first lady Betty Ford's decision to go public with her diagnosis of breast cancer in 1974. Her openness "gave us the means to turn victims into survivors," the 81-year-old, Tony Award-winning actress said. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
A dancer from Jazzae Ford of Imprint Dance Co. performs during the opening of Candid Conversations. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Diahann Carroll, actress and breast cancer survivor, delivered the keynote speech at the annual Candid Conversations event sponsored by Spectrum Health Cancer Center and Betty Ford Breast Care Services at the Richard and Helen DeVos Center for Arts and Worship at Grand Rapids Christian High School. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Carroll has devoted much of her time advocating for minority communities, where she has witnessed a greater reluctance of women getting regular mammogram screening. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Carroll poses for a photo during a meet and greet before the Candid Conversations event. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Dancers from Jazzae Ford of Imprint Dance Co. perform during the opening of Candid Conversations. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Audience members give Carroll a standing ovation. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Tammy Myers and Dr. Kreuzer socialize at the meet and greet event with Diahann Carroll. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
A dancer from Jazzae Ford of Imprint Dance Co. performs during the opening of Candid Conversations. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Audience members laugh during Carroll's Candid Conversation. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Carroll recalled that she almost postponed her annual physical in 1998 because it was a stressful and busy time. But then a mammogram detected a shadow in her breast and a biopsy revealed cancer. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Carroll's glasses sit next to her while speaking during Candid Conversations. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
"I was in show business," said Carroll, whose credits include starring roles in the TV shows "Dynasty" and "Julia." "In my profession what it's all about is glamour. You can't imagine how many low-cut gowns I had hanging in my closet when I found out I had breast cancer." (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Dancers from Jazzae Ford of Imprint Dance Co. perform during the closing of Candid Conversations. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Informative signs about Betty Ford Breast Care Services line the Richard and Helen DeVos Center for Arts and Worship. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
A special video remark from Susan Ford Bales, daughter of Betty Ford and President Gerald R. Ford plays during Candid Conversations. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Dr. Melnik and Dr. Kreuzer speak during a special cancer talk for the Candid Conversations event. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
The panelists have a 'Cancer Straight Talk' during Candid Conversations. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Carroll asked audience members who are cancer survivors to raise their hands. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Audience members give Carroll a standing ovation. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
"It's a blessing to know the survival rate of breast cancer patients continues to rise," Carroll said. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Diahann Carroll admired first lady Betty Ford’s decision to go public with her diagnosis of breast cancer in 1974.
Her openness “gave us the means to turn victims into survivors,” the 81-year-old, Tony Award-winning actress said, speaking at Spectrum Health’s Candid Conversations event Wednesday, Oct. 19. “That means was her voice. Most of us were afraid.”
Sixteen years later, Carroll was stunned to hear that she, too, had breast cancer. And as much as she admired the first lady’s openness, Carroll struggled with whether to share her cancer journey with the world.
“I was in show business,” said Carroll, whose credits include starring roles in the TV shows “Dynasty” and “Julia.” “In my profession what it’s all about is glamour. You can’t imagine how many low-cut gowns I had hanging in my closet when I found out I had breast cancer.”
Also, she said, she was raised “not to make my private life my public life.”
Ultimately, she decided to share her experience in hopes of helping others.
She visited patients and families in hospitals, discussed her cancer battle in television interviews and allowed Connie Chung to bring a camera crew into the room when she had radiation treatments.
She promoted early detection, encouraging the audience to get checkups and mammograms.
She recalled that she almost postponed her annual physical in 1998 because it was a stressful and busy time. But then a mammogram detected a shadow in her breast and a biopsy revealed cancer.
“The doctor looked at me and said, ‘You are very fortunate,’” she said. “We found this early. It is less than a centimeter.”
Having cancer helped her simplify her priorities, she added. She focused on getting well and staying well.
Carroll spoke about her gratitude, as a survivor, to enjoy time with her daughter and her two grandchildren.
“I am just so happy I have been allowed to hang around for that,” she said.
And she spoke about the progress made in detecting and defeating breast cancer.
“It’s a blessing to know the survival rate of breast cancer patients continues to rise,” she said.
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