‘Guiding Light’ Soap Opera Actress Beth Chamberlin, 62, Says She Received a Hysterectomy After Endometrial Cancer Diagnosis – ‘I Didn’t Tell Anyone, Not Even My Family’ Until Now
‘Guiding Light’ Soap Opera Actress Beth Chamberlin, 62, Says She Received a Hysterectomy After Endometrial Cancer Diagnosis – ‘I Didn’t Tell Anyone, Not Even My Family’ Until Now
Veteran soap opera actress Beth Chamberlin, 62, revealed she kept her endometrial cancer diagnosis private, sharing it only with her husband and son.
She was diagnosed in October with early-stage cancer and underwent a complete hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) in November; her pathology confirmed stage 1A with no spread and no further treatment needed.
SurvivorNet experts say that stage 1 endometrial cancers are those where the cancer is only found in the uterus and ovaries. Subtypes include 1A1, with cancer in less than half the endometrium, and 1A2, with cancer in more than half but not the full thickness. Prognosis is usually good, especially for 1A1 tumors, which often have high survival rates.
“Doctors usually treat early-stage endometrial cancer with surgery as the main approach,” explains Dr. B.J. Rimel, a gynecologic oncologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. “During the surgery, doctors may also perform staging to see how far the cancer has spread. This involves taking out and examining nearby lymph nodes and tissues.”
Chemotherapy and radiation are options, particularly when the cancer is in more advanced stages.
“Guiding Light” soap opera actress Beth Chamberlin, 62, is known for her resilience on screen. Now, she’s sharing the story of her resilience off-screen—revealing why she chose to keep her endometrial cancer diagnosis private and how she fought through it.
“This is something I hadn’t shared with anyone except for my son and my husband,” Chamberlin admitted in an Instagram video post.
In mid-October, she received the life-altering news that she had early-stage endometrial cancer.
Endometrial cancer begins when cancerous cells form in the tissues of the endometrium, or lining of the uterus. Symptoms typically associated with this type of cancer include vaginal bleeding and pelvic pain.
After a woman has been diagnosed with endometrial cancer, her doctor will stage the cancer based on its spread within the body. A pelvic exam and imaging tests help your doctor learn if the cancer has spread or metastasized.
LAS VEGAS – JUNE 27: Actress Beth Chamberlin arrives at the 37th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Awards held at the Las Vegas Hilton on June 27, 2010, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Just weeks later, on November 21, she underwent a complete hysterectomy.
A hysterectomy is a procedure that removes part or all of the uterus (or womb), often along with the cervix, according to the National Cancer Institute. Women who receive a diagnosis of uterine, ovarian, and cervical cancer may have their cancer treated with a hysterectomy.
Women may need a hysterectomy for a variety of reasons, and she and her doctor carefully review. Some examples may include endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer, endometriosis, chronic pelvic pain or vaginal bleeding, and uterine fibroids.
In a previous interview with SurvivorNet, Dr. Heidi Gray, a gynecologic oncologist, discussed open versus robotic surgery and how the two can be used to perform a hysterectomy.
“The most common procedure that we do robotically would be a hysterectomy, removal of the tubes and ovaries, you can also do more complicated omentectomy, removing the omentum [a fatty apron surrounding abdominal organs],” Dr. Gray explained.
The National Cancer Institute explains that there are different types of hysterectomy procedures.
Total hysterectomy: Removal of the uterus and cervix, but the ovaries and fallopian tubes may also be removed.
Supracervical hysterectomy: Removal of just the upper part of the uterus, but keeping the cervix. This may also be called a partial hysterectomy.
Radical hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy: Removing the uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes, ovaries, the upper portion of the vagina, and some surrounding tissue and lymph nodes. This hysterectomy is done when cancer is involved.
Chamberlin says when her final pathology report returned from the lab, she was diagnosed with stage 1A.
Stage 1 endometrial cancers are those where the cancer is only found in the uterus and ovaries. Subtypes include 1A1, with cancer in less than half the endometrium, and 1A2, with cancer in more than half but not the full thickness. Prognosis is usually good, especially for 1A1 tumors, which often have high survival rates.
WATCH: Staging Endometrial Cancer
As endometrial cancer patients are staged, Dr. BJ Rimel, a gynecologic oncologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, says the oncologist will explain the next steps.
“We’re going to talk about what that pathology shows and what the next steps in treatment would be. If the diagnosis has been made after a hysterectomy, then we’re going to talk a little bit about what that diagnosis shows and what the stage, grade, or extent of disease might be and how we proceed for treatment from there,” Dr. Rimel explained.
Rimel adds that there are treatment options for every stage of the disease, with new options approved all the time.
“[I had] no spread, no further treatment necessary. I am lucky,” Chamberlin said.
Choosing Privacy
Chamberlin explained her decision to keep her diagnosis and treatment quiet.
“I know some of you might be thinking, ‘Why didn’t you say anything?’ First, I didn’t want people worrying about me, and I also didn’t want a lot of noise in my ears while I was processing this.”
Everyone navigates illness differently—some individuals facing cancer or chronic disease choose to openly share their stories, while others confide only in those closest to them. According to SurvivorNet experts, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach—every way of coping, from public to private, is entirely valid.
WATCH: Figuring Out If You’re Ready to Share Your Diagnosis
“Patients who have just been diagnosed with cancer sometimes wonder how they are going to handle the diagnosis in social situations,” explains psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik.
She says many wrestle with questions like, “How much information should they share, and with whom should they share it?”
“There is no one right way to handle this diagnosis,” Dr. Plutchik emphasizes. “People should do what feels right to them.”
Because a cancer journey can last months—even years—patients often face ongoing uncertainty about their health, and this lack of clarity can greatly influence when, and how, someone chooses to share their diagnosis, she adds.
Dr. Plutchik also underscores the importance of respecting boundaries: loved ones and friends should honor the patient’s preferences about what they’re ready to disclose and when they’re ready to seek support.
Cancer’s No Respecter of Profiles
Chamberlin believed her clean and healthy lifestyle would shield her from cancer. But she says her surgeon reminded her otherwise: “‘You know, you’re not the typical profile for this type of cancer.’ It turns out that cancer is not a respecter of profiles.”
Chamberlin emphasized that while cancer doesn’t discriminate, early detection does.
“I noticed when something was off with my body, and as much as I hate doctors, I went. Being fit and strong helped me get through the surgery.”
LAS VEGAS – JUNE 27: Actress Beth Chamberlin arrives at the 37th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Awards held at the Las Vegas Hilton on June 27, 2010, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Looking Ahead
Now in recovery, Chamberlin says she plans to share more about the tools she used to protect her mental health during treatment. She also intends to detail her journey navigating health insurance and even highlight some humorous moments to give supporters a chuckle.
Endometrial cancer begins when cancerous cells form in the tissues of the endometrium, the inner lining of the uterus.
After a woman has been diagnosed with endometrial cancer, her doctor will stage the cancer based on its spread within the body. A pelvic exam and imaging tests help your doctor learn if the cancer has spread or metastasized.
WATCH: Different Types of Endometrial Cancer
Some common risk factors for endometrial cancer include:
Obesity
Taking estrogen-only hormone replacement therapy after menopause
Having never given birth or started menstruation at an early age
Having a family history of endometrial cancer
Common symptoms of endometrial cancer may include:
Pelvic pain: Some women may experience pain or discomfort in the pelvic area.
Pain during intercourse: This symptom is less common but can occur in some cases.
Unusual vaginal discharge: Watery or blood-tinged discharge may be a sign of endometrial cancer.
Weight loss: Unexplained weight loss can sometimes be associated with cancer.
Urinary problems: Difficulty or pain when urinating.
Endometrial Cancer Treatment Options
Treatment for endometrial cancer includes surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and targeted therapy. Surgery is the most common treatment method.
“There are a lot of new exciting treatments for advanced endometrial cancer that we’ve just discovered over the last couple of years,” Dr. Dana Chase, gynecologic oncologist at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, says.
“So even if you’re diagnosed with an advanced stage, ask your treating doctor what the latest treatments are, or even potentially, is there a clinical trial I can participate in for my endometrial cancer? … There’s a lot of research on new treatments for endometrial cancer, which is very exciting,” Dr. Chase continued.
The most common procedure is a hysterectomy, where the surgeon removes the uterus. They often also remove both ovaries and fallopian tubes in bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. This helps lower the risk of the cancer spreading or coming back.
WATCH: What to Know About Endometrial Cancer-Related Surgery
“Doctors usually treat early-stage endometrial cancer with surgery as the main approach,” explains Dr. B.J. Rimel, a gynecologic oncologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. “During the surgery, doctors may also perform staging to see how far the cancer has spread. This involves taking out and examining nearby lymph nodes and tissues.”
Chemotherapy and radiation are options, particularly when the cancer is in more advanced stages.
Treating endometrial cancer with hormone therapy involves removing hormones or blocking their ability to help cancer cells grow. Targeted therapy treatment uses drugs designed to target specific cancer cells.
“Hormonal therapy commonly works because most endometrial cancers are estrogen receptor-positive,” Dr. Michael Toboni, an assistant professor in the division of gynecologic oncology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, tells SurvivorNet.
“So if you give progesterone, it can counteract the estrogen feeding the cancer. This is commonly given with multiple anti-estrogen medications or an anti-estrogen medication in combination with another medication that inhibits a common pathway in endometrial cancer.”
Each treatment method can have side effects, and the impact on the body may vary depending on the type of treatment. If you are undergoing treatment for endometrial cancer, discussing potential side effects with your doctor and strategies to minimize their impact is crucial.
Additional Endometrial Cancer Treatment Options
In recent years, endometrial cancer patients have seen an increasing number of treatment options emerge to make battling the disease more manageable.
WATCH: New Combination Therapy for Advanced Endometrial Cancer Patients
The impact of new combination therapies on advanced endometrial cancer – a type of cancer that affects the lining of the uterus – is a significant advance for treating the disease. Patients are living longer, healthier lives.
Durvalumab (brand name IMFINZI) is an immunotherapy drug that’s often used alongside chemotherapy.
Olaparib (brand name LYNPARZA) is a PARP inhibitor, a type of drug that helps treat some cancers by blocking an enzyme called PARP that helps repair damaged DNA in cells. Olaparib destroys cancer cells, especially cells that already have trouble repairing their DNA. Sometimes, it’s used as an add-on to durvalumab.
“For a long time, patients with early-stage endometrial cancer generally do very well with a combination of surgery, maybe some radiotherapy,” says Dr. Shannon Westin, a professor in the Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine at the University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX.
“However, there’s a population of patients who are diagnosed at a later stage, stage three or four, or who have their cancer come back after initial therapy. And those patients have had a really hard time,” she adds.
According to Westin, the latest treatments combine immunotherapy with standard chemotherapy plus a drug that prevents cancer cells from fixing their own DNA.
The results are encouraging, especially for patients who have late-stage endometrial cancer or whose disease has come back.
Some known side effects of durvalumab and Olaparib include:
Durvalumab can cause inflammation in various parts of the body, which can lead to:
Skin rashes
Diarrhea
Liver inflammation
Olaparib may lead to side effects such as:
Fatigue
Nausea
Blood-related issues such as anemia
Increased risk of developing certain other cancers due to the DNA repair inhibition.
Another U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved combination therapy for advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer to be used with traditional chemotherapy is dostarlimab-gxly (brand name Jemperli). It is an immune checkpoint inhibitor, a type of immunotherapy that helps reinvigorate the body’s immune system to fight cancer.
WATCH: Treatment for Advanced or Recurrent Endometrial Cancer
Dostarlimab-gxly was already approved for metastatic and recurrent endometrial cancer in cases where chemotherapy did not work. Now, dostarlimab-gxly is approved as part of the first treatment for patients who have a specific set of genetic mutations called mismatch repair deficiency (dMMR) or microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H). These genetic factors are associated with a much greater response to the checkpoint inhibitor class of drugs.
Questions for Your Doctor
If you have been diagnosed with endometrial cancer, you may want to ask your doctor a few questions to ensure you are well informed about your diagnosis and the treatment journey that awaits.
What stage is my endometrial cancer?
What are the treatment options available for my specific type and stage of endometrial cancer?
What are the potential side effects of each treatment option, and how can they be managed?
What is the expected prognosis for my condition?
Are there any clinical trials or experimental treatments that I may be eligible for?
How often will I need follow-up appointments and tests to monitor my condition?
Are there any lifestyle changes or dietary recommendations that can help improve my prognosis or manage side effects?
What support services are available to help me cope emotionally?
