Mandy Gonzalez, 'Hamilton' Star, Reveals Health Diagnosis
In a recent interview with PEOPLE, Mandy Gonzalez, Broadway star of Hamilton discusses her recent diagnosis. She plans to continue performing while she undergoes treatment for Cancer.
Because of an elective, proactive mammogram, she can start taking actions to better her outcome. At 41, she'd been singing in Hamilton since 2016, and because of previous advice from loved ones to be proactive about her health, she may be able to perform for many years to come.
"I don't have a family history of breast cancer, and I had the option of whether to get a mammogram or not because I was of the age," she continues,
"Because of the brave women that have surrounded me and shared their stories, and because breast cancer tends to impact Latina women at a younger age than the general population, I decided to get a mammogram."
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The first ultrasound didn't come back completely clean, her doctor told her to return in six months for a relook. During this appointment, the doctors discovered some more concerning signs. She tells PEOPLE,
"Everything happened very fast, I was very fortunate that they were able to catch it early,"
"It's important for women to know that early detection is key. As a community, as a society, we need to figure out a way so that everyone has access to a mammogram."
Perseverance and Strength
Her proactive approach and positive response show both strength and perseverance. She tells PEOPLE,
"I'm letting everyone know that this is one part of my life, and the other parts of my life continue,"
"I'm a mother, I have an eight-year-old daughter who's very busy, and I will continue to sing and perform as Angelica Schuyler in Hamilton. I had surgery last fall and am still currently going through treatment."
We can all learn a valuable lesson here. Being proactive about cancer is a must, and simple, yearly elective tests can save your life.
The positivity and support she is finding in her co-stars of this historically popular show are certainly help to her ongoing battle for her life.
"The entire cast has really rallied around me," she says. "If I need to sit for a minute off stage or little things like that, my HamFam is right there for me and with me. I'm really trying to do as much as humanly possible."
She wants fans, fellow humans, to be aware of her fight, "There are so many mothers and daughters and sisters, so many people out there who are going through this, and I want them to know that I stand with them. We need to be comfortable talking about this. There is no shame. There is strength in sharing our stories and learning from one another."
Gonzalez continues to be an inspiration; from pushing through the pain and sickness of cancer treatment to sing, to her motivational and uplifting Twitter posts.
