She was used to the fast pace of Hollywood — until one morning, her body simply gave out. A deep exhaustion told her something was wrong. That moment would uncover a private, five-year battle that would test everything: her strength, friendships, and identity.

The actress, known to millions for her beloved role on The Facts of Life, had quietly built a long career in TV and voice acting, including voicing Velma in What’s New, Scooby-Doo? But in 2012, her life took a sharp turn. During a walk, an overwhelming fatigue forced her to stop mid-route. She texted friend Helen Hunt: “Something’s wrong with me.”

Tests soon revealed breast cancer. It was shocking — and then came worse news: it was metastatic. She underwent a double mastectomy, chemo, radiation. The treatments were brutal. She stepped away from Hollywood without fanfare and retreated to a friend’s farm in upstate New York to heal in peace.

Even in that quiet, the disease was relentless. The cancer kept returning. “I was frustrated and enraged,” she later said. “I couldn’t fix it.”

But she fought through it. By 2017, cancer-free, she emerged with a new perspective. No longer chasing roles for fame, she sought meaning and truth in her work. Her friendships deepened, her priorities shifted, and she began sharing her journey more openly.

She survived what many fear most — and returned stronger, focused not on reclaiming the past, but embracing what comes next.