Some celebrities choose to speak openly about cancer, while others keep their illness private.
Here are several celebrities who, for various reasons, chose not to share their diagnosis with the public, according to Health Digest.
Dolly Parton kept her diagnosis private
Dolly Parton's representatives announced on August 25, 2026, that the country singer had died at the age of 80 following a short battle with cancer.
She had not previously told the public about her cancer diagnosis.
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She did not want her loved ones to worry
According to her cousin Richie Owens, Parton kept her health problems private because she wanted to maintain a positive atmosphere around her.
Her niece Jada Star similarly explained that Parton did not want others to worry.
Chadwick Boseman worked during his treatment
Chadwick Boseman was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer in 2016.
While undergoing chemotherapy and several surgeries, he continued his acting career, appearing in films including "Marshall" and "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom."
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Only a few people knew about Boseman's illness
Boseman's diagnosis was known only to a few of those closest to him and some professional associates.
Even Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige reportedly learned of his illness only shortly before the actor's death in 2020, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
David Bowie wanted as little attention as possible
David Bowie died at the age of 69 in January 2016 after being diagnosed with cancer 18 months earlier.
The musician did not want his illness to attract significant attention.
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Bowie wanted to protect his family
According to theater producer Robert Fox, Bowie wanted both to protect his family and to prevent his illness from affecting his work.
As a result, many people around him were unaware of his health condition until the information emerged in the media.
Jackie Collins only told her daughters about the diagnosis
Author Jackie Collins received treatment for breast cancer for more than six years.
She kept the diagnosis out of the public eye and, among those closest to her, told only her three daughters about the illness.
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Collins did not want sympathy
Jackie Collins wanted to remain in control of the situation and did not want sympathy from others.
She was also concerned about how her illness would be portrayed in the media.
Her sister did not know about the illness either
Jackie Collins did not tell her sister Joan Collins about her cancer diagnosis. According to Joan, Jackie did not want to burden her with additional problems.
She revealed her illness shortly before her death
Six days before her death in September 2015, Jackie Collins publicly revealed that she had breast cancer.
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She did so to encourage other women to contact their doctor if they discovered lumps on their bodies.
Nora Ephron feared the consequences for her career
Nora Ephron was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome after experiencing symptoms including fever, infections, and fatigue.
She chose to keep her illness private because she believed that disclosing it could affect her professional opportunities.
Ephron did not want a constant focus on her illness
On a personal level, Nora Ephron did not want her conversations with others to revolve constantly around her health.
Professionally, she feared that insurance companies would not approve her film projects because of the uncertainty surrounding her illness.
Privacy played an important role
According to Nora Ephron's sister Delia Ephron, the decision to keep the illness secret was closely connected to her private nature.
She did not want to be perceived as a famous person with an illness or receive constant attention because of her condition.
A cancer diagnosis can be deeply personal
The stories illustrate the different reasons someone may choose to keep a cancer diagnosis private.
Some wanted to protect their families, while others sought to avoid sympathy, questions, or consequences for their professional lives.
According to Health Digest, the desire for a sense of normality can also be an important reason for not telling others about an illness.
This article is made and published by Ida-Marie Palm Varbæk, who may have used AI in the preparation.