Jaclyn Smith has opened up about her 2002 breast cancer diagnosis following a routine mammogram, detailing how the sudden health crisis shifted her entire world and prompted immediate concern for her children, per ew.com.
The Charlie’s Angels star shares the intimate details of her diagnosis in her new memoir, I Once Knew a Guy Named Charlie. During a routine mammogram in June 2002, doctors discovered suspicious spots, prompting back-to-back biopsies over a 48-hour period.
Smith recalled being taken aback when a medical assistant asked if she had come to her results appointment alone. Her physician, Dr. Giuliano, delivered the diagnosis that she had a small, early-stage tumor, which led to an immediate wave of fear and her first question regarding whether she would survive for her children.
Initially considering a radical approach due to panic, Smith ultimately opted for a lumpectomy after consulting with her doctor and her husband, cardiothoracic surgeon Brad Allen. The procedure took place four days later, supported by her children, Spencer-Margaret and Gaston. A subsequent surgery was required to secure clear margins, but her lymph nodes tested negative, classifying her cancer as Stage 1.
Following the surgeries, Smith underwent six weeks of radiation therapy five days a week while simultaneously filming the CBS crime drama The District. While her physical scar faded quickly, she noted that the emotional memory of the diagnosis remained. Her memoir, I Once Knew a Guy Named Charlie, is available now.
•Featured image: Jaclyn Smith in New York City on Sept. 9, 2026/Manny Carabel/Getty