Cancer Survivor Waits 36 Hours to Meet Houston Astros Player, Armie Hammer’s Father Dies of Cancer and More

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From a uterine cancer survivor camping out in front of a store to meet the Astros’ Jose Altuve to Michael Armand Hammer’s death from cancer, here’s what’s happening in the cancer space this week.

Actress Blythe Danner is in remission from the same cancer that her husband died from.

Blythe Danner, the actress known for her role in “Meet the Parents” and mother of actress Gwenyth Paltrow, recently revealed that she had been diagnosed with oral cancer in 2018. After years of treatment for the disease, the 79-year-old announced that she is now in remission.

Danner’s husband, Bruce Paltrow, died of the disease in 2002.

"Everyone is touched by cancer in some way, but it's unusual for a couple to have the same cancer," the 79-year-old told “People.” "I remember I looked up at heaven and said to Bruce, 'Are you lonely up there?'" she said. "It's a sneaky disease. But I'm fine and dandy now. And I'm lucky to be alive."

Actor Armie Hammer’s father, Michael Armand Hammer, died of cancer.

Michael Armand Hammer, a businessman who was the father of actor Armie Hammer, died of cancer this Sunday at the age of 67.

Michael Hammer started his career in an investment banking firm in New York City before moving on to work at his family’s chemical industry company, Occidental Petroleum, which was started by his grandfather, Armand.

The Hammer family was recently featured in the docuseries, “The House of Hammer,” which outlined allegations of sexual assault committed by Armie, as well as the toxic environment of their family life. The Hammer family — and their lawyers — disputed these claims.

Uterine cancer survivor waits 36 hours to meet the Houston Astros’s second baseman.

After completing treatment for uterine cancer on Nov. 9, Texas native Liza Valverde raced over to a local sporting goods store to meet Jose Altuve, the second baseman of the World Series-winning Houston Astros. Valverde was first in line and waited 36 hours before meeting the baseball star.

“It was well worth it,” Valverde said. “That was way better than ringing a bell (to signify the end of cancer treatment).”

“I’m happy for (Valverde) that she’s supposed to ring the bell. That’s a good thing, obviously, in her life,” Altuve said. “The fact that she came here (instead) makes me feel so good. I was a little emotional when she told me that. What can I say? I’m really happy we can make people happy like the whole team did this year.”

A woman is suing the manufacturers of chemical hair straighteners, claiming they led to her cancer diagnosis.

Rhonda Terrell is filing a federal lawsuit against L’Oreal and other companies that make chemical hair straighteners — a type of beauty product popular in the Black community — claiming that use of the styling agents led to her metastatic uterine cancer diagnosis.

The lawsuit is coming after research published from the National Institutes of Health showing that 4.05% of women who frequently use chemical hair straighteners would end up being diagnosed with uterine cancer by the age of 70, compared to 1.64% of women who did not.

“If I had known all those years ago, if they had a warning on the box to say this could cause cancer, I wouldn’t have used it,” Terrel told NBC News said. “And I want to hold them accountable because I have granddaughters.”

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