it’s time to take the tests you put on hold before the pandemic
roberts hopes people who hear about laign’s experience will follow her lead and start getting regular physicals, as well as any recommended other routine tests. (women aged 40 and above should get regular mammograms, for instance, and pap smears are recommended for adult women every three years. most people should start getting colonoscopies in their 50s, especially men, and people with a family history of colon or rectal cancer.)
“like many people, [laign] had put off going to the doctor during the pandemic,” roberts told degeneres. “at the end of last year, she followed through with a regular exam, and [the breast cancer] was discovered. and so the message is: get those regular exams. it can save your life.”
roberts and laign have been together since
meeting on a blind date
in 2005. they kept their relationship a secret for several years because roberts, who’s been a public figure for decades, wasn’t out as a lesbian
until 2013
. they generally keep a fairly low profile: “not everybody wants to be in the spotlight,” roberts told degeneres
in a 2014 interview
.
but they made the choice to share their experiences with cancer as a way to connect with people.
“someone once said that when you share so much of yourself, it’s really universal, that people really could relate — it helps them so much,”
roberts told people magazine
in 2016. “i didn’t plan on doing this, i didn’t plan on sharing as much as i have. but i kept finding there was a way.”