‘CSI’ STAR ON DIET, DATING AND BREAST CANCER
By Linda Childers, Special to Lifescript, Healthy Living for Women
Published October 12, 2009
As Catherine Willows on “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” Marg Helgenberger uses forensic science to identify killers. In real life, the actress confronts a different enemy: breast cancer, the disease that almost killed her mother. In this Lifescript exclusive, the newly single star talks about her mother’s survival, her own health secrets and dating after divorce…
Breast cancer isn’t limited to the women it attacks – it’s a family disease too.
For Marg Helgenberger, 51, breast cancer hit home a long time ago. She was a junior at Northwestern University when she learned that her mom, Kay Snyder, had just been diagnosed. “My mom was only 46 when she felt a lump in her breast,” Helgenberger says. “She was a nurse and instinctively knew something was wrong — only to have two doctors dismiss her symptoms as fibrocystic breasts.”
A third physician diagnosed her disease and scheduled a lumpectomy. Snyder had one breast removed, followed by the second one a few days later because the cancer had spread. Her mom went through very radical chemotherapy and radiation for more than a year, Helgenberger says.
“I was so worried that I took a leave of absence from school and moved back home to North Bend [Nebraska].” She didn’t return to school until the cancer was in remission.
Staying Positive
Helgenberger says her mother’s determination helped her beat breast cancer. “My mom was so sick from chemotherapy, but she never gave up hope,” Helgenberger says. “She showed me the importance of being your own health advocate and getting a second opinion. We know our bodies better than anyone else.”
As the daughter of a breast cancer survivor, Helgenberger is diligent about preventive care. Annual mammograms are a top priority.
“I had my first mammogram when I was in my 30s and continued to have one every three years,” she says. “Now that I’m older, I have one every year and also perform breast self-exams in the shower.”
Taking Charge, Spreading the Word
Today, Helgenberger’s mom is celebrating being cancer free for almost 30 years. Both women are involved in raising breast cancer awareness and they regularly walk together in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. “It’s important to spread the message of early detection,” Helgenberger says.
She also performs in the annual “What a Pair!” fundraiser, a concert of live singing duets that benefits breast cancer research. Plus, she travels to Nebraska every year to host events that benefit her hometown cancer center.
In many rural areas, like the Midwest where I grew up, women have limited access to health care. Yet research shows that screening exams can save thousands of lives each year.”
Facing Down Multiple Sclerosis
Her mother’s breast cancer diagnosis wasn’t the only family health crisis. As her mother’s fight with the disease was winding down, her father Hugh’s battle with progressive multiple sclerosis was just beginning.
The diagnosis came two months after Kay’s breast cancer went into remission. His condition quickly deteriorated and soon he was struggling to walk upstairs. Sadly, he died five years later. “People tend to get very insular in small towns, but my dad was always a progressive and forward thinker,” Helgenberger says. “Both my parents taught me how much happier you can be if you don’t make judgments about other people.”
Her father also taught her how to deflect critics when Helgenberger became the target of school bullies at age 10, when she went “through a chubby phase.”
“I was devastated when some kids at school began calling me hurtful names,” she says. “But my dad convinced me that it wasn’t the end of the world.”
Looking Good, Staying Fit
Helgenberger’s chubby phase is definitely behind her. These days, the Emmy-winning actress is known for her killer physique and youthful good looks, which she credits to healthy living and self-care.
To stay fit, she exercises four to five times a week, including workouts with her personal trainer, hikes with her dog and yoga classes.
Skin care is also a priority.
“For the last 15 years, I’ve taken very good care of my skin,” she says. “When I was in my 20s, not so much. Now if I’m out in the sun, I wear sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses.” Helgenberger also swears by regular facials and electronic toning procedures, in which microcurrent impulses tighten and tone facial muscles.
“These skin toning facials stimulate collagen growth and give immediate results,” she says. “The treatment takes about 45 minutes and I go every six weeks.”
Healthy eating is part of the plan too.
“Since my mom was a nurse, I was raised eating a pretty healthy diet with lots of fruits and vegetables,” she says. “I also take a daily calcium supplement, a multivitamin, a B vitamin and fish oil.”
Adjusting to the Single Life
Her healthy lifestyle has helped Helgenberger cope with relationship challenges and life as a single mother. She’s legally separated from actor Alan Rosenberg, her husband of two decades, but they have an amicable relationship. (They have a teenage son, Hugh, named for her father.)
“Alan and I are good friends,” she says. “We still see a lot of each other and will always be there for Hugh.” In fact, the two recently celebrated their 20th anniversary together.
“We saw a musical and had dinner and told our waiter that we were celebrating our wedding anniversary, despite the fact that we’re getting divorced,” Helgenberger says. “It’s a good thing we can still laugh together.”
In her spare time, Helgenberger is busy restoring the 1925 Spanish Moroccan-style home in Los Angeles that she moved into a year ago.
Dating is on the radar, but right now her main “man” is her dog, Henry, an Akita-German shepherd mix. Finding the right guy will be a challenge because many men are intimidated by successful women, she says. She has been asked out, but Helgenberger isn’t quite ready to dive into the dating pool.
“Dating now is very different than it was in my carefree 20s,” she says. “The available pool of men has shrunk and many in my age group have some baggage.”
Her perfect guy? Someone “who likes to travel, is outdoorsy, intelligent, sensitive and fun. Having a good sense of humor is huge, as is someone who respects my independence.”
She hopes the dating scene will be brighter for her alter ego, Catherine Willows, as “CSI” returns for its 10th season.
“I think it’s way overdue for Catherine to have a love interest.”
Looking Ahead
Many actresses moan about the lack of quality roles for women over 40 in Hollywood. Not Helgenberger, who started on the soap opera “Ryan’s Hope” and rose to fame on “China Beach” (for which she won an Emmy).
Her 40s were some of the busiest years of her career, she says. Besides starring in “CSI,” she has played notable characters in the film “Erin Brockovich,” the TV-movie “Perfect Murder, Perfect Town” as Patty Ramsey, the mother of JonBenét Ramsey. She also played one of George Clooney’s love interests in the hit show, “ER.”
As she looks toward the future, Helgenberger says she’s open to new challenges, such as performing live theater, which wasn’t possible when her son was young. “Theater is a huge time commitment, but I would love the opportunity to develop a character and perform in front of a live audience,” she says. “It would also be great to see a musical episode of ‘CSI.’ The cast has talked about that for years!”
Where Have You Seen Marg Helgenberger?
Even if you don’t watch “CSI,” Marg Helgenberger probably looks familiar. That’s because she’s been acting for more than 30 years.
Here are some highlights:
“Mr. Brooks”
“In Good Company”
“Erin Brockovich”
“ER”
“Species”
“Bad Boys”
“Always”
“China Beach”
Linda Childers writes about health and celebrities for Lifescript.