When Sex in the City star Cynthia Nixon was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006, she kept very quiet about it, even going so far as to schedule her surgeries for Sundays so she didn't miss any work time.  

She recalls, "I didn't want to make it public while I was going through it. I didn't want paparazzi at the hospital."
Nixon's mother had also suffered from the disease, so when she herself was diagnosed, she admits she wasn't surprised.

She admits, "I always sort of thought I was going to get breast cancer. (That) there's a really good chance."

Partner Christine Marioni and her two children, Samantha, 12, and Charles, 5, helped her through the ordeal.

Nixon is the spokesperson for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation, encouraging women to get tested.