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| Published by GRAND CENTRAL PUBLISHING UNITED STATES 2003 |
Please, try to imagine a movie star
you like very much. Probably this person is rich, beautiful and admired not
only by you. Some people are probably secretly jealous of her wonderful and
sugary life and maybe they would be happy if they had a chance to interchange
with her. Most of us take for granted that the gained popularity ensures
happiness and the people watching on the small screen are the elects of the
fate who do not have any everyday worries. Maybe are there only the appearances?
Are we sure that any personal drama, which is not mentioned about, does not
hide behind a snow-white smile because you cannot disappoint your loyal fans,
and above all, you cannot give a cheap fodder to the press seeking it.
As we know some autobiographies
appear on the publishing market from time to time. They are the response to the
ever interest in the private life of public figures. Apart from the books
associated with the difficulties in the achievement of the fame and praising
the advantages of being recognized, there are also publications that describe
some important topics and social problems. Such a record of experiences often has
tremendous impacts on the strength not only to the fans of the writer but also
the wider public.
Fran Drescher is primarily known for
the TV series "The Nanny". There she played the role of a go-getting
nanny of three children employed by a lonely widower called Maxwell Sheffield.
Her distinctive voice is known to the viewers for her episodic role in the
legendary film called “Saturday Night Fever” where she dances with one of the
most famous American actor – John Travolta. Looking at the Fran Drescher’s
filmography it is hard to imagine a moment when she does not infect other
people with her unique laughter. Meanwhile the private life of the very popular
person coming from Flushing [1],
unfortunately, has not been idyllic. In 1985 Fran Drescher fell victim to the
brutal assault when her house was attacked by a gang of robbers. However, the
criminals did not stop at the looting of her residence which certainly left an
incredible mark on the delicate psyche of the future performer of Miss Fine’s
role. The years were passing and it seemed that everything what worst had been
over and the whole limit of bad luck had run out. However, in October 1997 the
fate got difficult times to Fran again which shook the entire stabilized world.
Just in this place a very personal diary of the comedy star begins. In her
diary she describes her difficult experience lasting in the course of just over
four years. In this way Fran Drescher has become a model of the power,
determination and hope for thousands of women in the whole world.
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| Fran Drescher |
A divorce in Hollywood
spheres is something remarkably universal, although there are couples of people
who seem to contradict the nasty statisticians. Peter Marc Jacobson and Fran
Drescher complemented each other both in their private and professional life in
perfectly way for a long time. Their joint project, which they are well-known
for up till today, just celebrated the great success. At that time the married
couple, knowing each other from the secondary school times, decided on the
parting. However, this difficult situation was only a prelude to another
trouble. Soon it turned out that the CBS channel was going to cease broadcasting
“The Nanny” after six seasons. They decided that the main star of this popular
sitcom would give the message to the viewers. It would be the best solution of
this uncomfortable situation. The authorities of the CBS channel also told Fran
Drescher to take all the blame for finishing the production upon herself.
However, the real drama which was
supposed to influence the future of the famous actress, took place mainly after
turning off the cameras and at first she did not realize that the worst experience
would only happen. The subtle symptoms, which most women are used to regarding
as something transitional, were the beginning of a bumpy road for our heroine in
search for the conclusive and difficult diagnosis. Your best bet is to think
that everything will fall into place as soon as the situation in the private
and professional life normalizes. However, this is not happening. At some point
it becomes obvious that these ailments can be a symptom of something serious.
"Cancer Schmancer" is
about the difficult experience in the struggle against the horrible disease
which can affect anyone regardless of race, origin or financial status. It
might seem that in the case of the public person the road from the first
anxiety to the proper diagnosis should be a little bit simpler than usual. This
story proves that this is not always the case. While reading I got the
impression that the specialists still ignored the growing health problems of
the artist for a long time. How many of them thought that the woman was a
hypochondriac who because of her profession, where you primarily play on
people’s emotions, exaggerated everything? The patient heard that there
probably was a premenopausal state and the next doctor was sure that it was
only a result of too much amount of spinach in her diet. A lot of unanswered
questions made Fran felt cheated by the medical community, but she also knew
that she had to find out the truth before it would be too late in order to
change anything. The eight doctors (you are reading well: E-I-G-H-T) were
essential so that the author of this book heard the news which she was most
afraid of. She had uterine cancer.
While the narration of this book is
led with a slight grain of salt, there is a layer of intelligent irony under
which the really painful experience is hidden that the author tries to tame in
her own way. Sometimes it is even a therapeutic return to the most painful
pre-disease memories. My first feeling was that I should not reach for this
book because even as a declared fan of the famous nanny, I do not have the
right to learn about such as an intimate part of her life. Probably Fran
Drescher had to realize that her history would be interpreted widely in the
media. In spite of her publisher’s requests in order to omit certain details,
the narrator is a devastatingly honest both to readers and to herself. She does
not hide her weaknesses and sometimes uncontrollable temperament showing that
despite the wide possibilities associated with the health care, she had the
same dilemma as other people fighting with an insidious disease.
In her diary the American woman
describes all her examinations in a great detail. She does not omit even the
most intimate trifles. We can see her without makeup even in moments which many
patients do not want to share even with the closest family members. Such an
accurate description of her experience shows how important for the narrator is
to provide the readers, who may someday find themselves in a similar situation,
that it is worth fighting over themselves no matter how much adversity they
will meet on their road.
The greatest impression is how
openly the star talks about her emotions in moments when she was alone only
with her own thoughts. The fear of diagnosis, treatment or acceptance of a
partner is the same at any latitude but when a woman, who lives in a world
where everything must be perfect, talks about them, you can consider this as a
sign of extraordinary courage. Fran could not afford the comfort of surviving
hard times only surrounded by their loved ones because the media quickly learnt
about her operation. Someone can say that it is a small price while you can
hire two private nurses and a good hospital. But would each of us bear such a
great public being interested in the state of our health?
The book tells not only about the
pain but also about the importance of the closest surroundings’ support. The
artist devotes much space to describe her relationships with her family and
friends. Although the woman is the person who does not like asking for help and
torment others with her problems, she could always count on the acceptance and
patience of her loved ones. Moreover it is worthwhile attracting our attention
to the fact that in the moment of doubt a contact with the nature and a
exceptional relation of the owner with her doggy called Chester
The diary is finished after over a
year from the operation which saved the life of the famous actress who played a
nanny. Defeating the source of the problem is often only the beginning of a
very difficult road to recovery. The emotional layer often heals more slowly
than the physical wounds. There is still the fear of the recurrence and acceptance
of the consequences of changes which you cannot reverse. Fran Drescher proves
that the return to full strength is possible but it requires a lot of time.
“Cancer Schmancer” tells us to put in the place of the main character what
makes this book a valuable clue and a source of hope for those who directly or
indirectly experience the cancer problems. Of course, in this book we will not
find any obvious recipes and ensuring that everything will be fine, but rather
an example of the way how to find the strength to overcome the disease. I think
that this book is perfect not only for the readers who struggle with cancer but
also for people who support patients so that they can understand, although in a
certain way, their difficult emotions that accompany during the fight and
recovery. Of course, not everyone can be the addressee of this story because it
is throughout saturated by the American mentality and their characteristic
sense of humour. But I have no doubt that for many this book will be one of the
most important books on the shelf. It is a great pity that so far nobody has
decided to translate this book into Polish.
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| Fran Drescher and the presenter Alfons Haider at the charity ball dancer against cancer (Hofburg Imperial Palace, Vienna, 2010) (photo by Manfred Werner) |
In the long perspective the release
of “Cancer Schmancer” turned out to be a very important turning point in the
actress’ life. During the Q&A session with the author, the readers were
paying their attention to how essential of hope and help the book proved to be
for them. This fact induced Fran Drescher to take an action. What is important,
Fran Drescher brought to life The Cancer Schmancer Movement on the seventh anniversary
of her operation. It was June
21, 2007 . This organization focuses on promoting the early
detection and prevention of cancer in women. While the world of science is
searching for the effective medicine, the organization demonstrates how you can
minimize the risk of falling ill, and if it fails, you can find out how to pay
attention to capture the moment when you must go to your doctor. There are
three main pillars of the action:
- Early detection – the important issue
actually depends on us. First of all we have to notice that we begin to
feel differently. Then it is necessary to consult a doctor who will deny
or confirm our fears. You may find that this is something much less
serious than at first we thought, or we can reduce the chance of the
disease’s existence. The flagship project called Fran Van is the research
program of mammography allowing for the detection of cancer in the initial
phrase of the coming into existence which provides easier and more
effective treatment. On the official website of the organization you can
read about the symptoms which should alarm us; how to prepare for the
first conversation in the doctor’s office and what you should ask about.
The stories of people who won their fight against cancer are a source of
hope for others.
- Prevention – according to saying that prevention
is better than curing. According to the estimates only 10-15 percent of
cancers are genetically[2]
determined, and the rest is the result of different environmental factors
such as lifestyle, the way of feeding or the exhibition to the sun which
we have some influence on. Sometimes there are really simple and cheap
solution e.g. quitting smoking, or finding a few moments to physical
activity can help reduce the risk of the appearance of the disease. Of
course, we do not live in the ideal world where we can afford only to eat
the natural food and living without stress, but the Detox Your Home action
shows that these are not the only problems. In our homes there are plenty
of hidden dangers we have no idea about them. Potentially ingredients
included in cosmetics or chemical household detergents are dangerous for
us. The Cancer Schamancer Movement teaches us which substances should be
avoided and how to find the alternative solutions, healthier both for us
and for the environment.
- The policy change – Fran Drescher is also
a lobbyist on Capitol Hill. She was a supporter of the law Carcinogen-FREE
Label ACT which was introduced in
It is amazing that scarcely 256
pages of the memories turned out to be really important for many people. You may
not like the distinctive voice of the actress and not watch the films where she
appeared, but it is worth appreciating how she could forge her own experience
to make aware others. For many patients her story is a source of hope and proof
that you can defeat cancer. Perhaps the fact that just now you are reading
these words is not accidental, so stop for a moment and think when you have
done your checkups recently. Maybe it is the right time to think about your
health and take care of yourself?
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