Rita Wilson is opening up in a deeply personal way about how breast cancer changed her relationship with her body — and how she learned to move forward after undergoing a double mastectomy.
In a recent PEOPLE story on Saturday, May 9, the actress and singer reflected on the emotional aftermath of her 2015 breast cancer diagnosis and the physical changes that followed treatment.
Wilson Opened Uo About Undergoing Surgery
Wilson, 69, candidly explained that recovery wasn’t just about healing physically, but also about adjusting emotionally to a body that suddenly felt unfamiliar.
Following her diagnosis, Wilson underwent a double mastectomy and reconstruction surgery, a process she says reshaped the way she viewed herself.
“These parts of your body that had been there for you in such a beautiful way were gone,” she recalled. “I’m very grateful that there are things nowadays in modern medicine like reconstruction and implants, because in my mom’s generation, if you had breast cancer, that was it. There was nothing. You were left with sort of a shadow.”
Wilson said navigating life after surgery required her to rethink how she connected with her body.
Rather than focusing only on what had changed, she found herself appreciating what her body continued to do for her during recovery.
“It was interesting to look at my body in that way and see it, understand what is missing, but also [see] what my body could do to keep me healing and healthy and have that appreciation,” she said.
Despite the difficult road, Wilson has also found moments of humor in the experience.
Reflecting on reconstruction surgery, she joked, “I like to say that I’ve finally gone Hollywood now and I have some in place.”
Wilson and Hanks Had a Conversation After She Was Diagnosed
Wilson has previously spoken candidly about the emotional toll her diagnosis took — including conversations she had with husband Tom Hanks about mortality.
During an appearance in April, Wilson shared the heartfelt discussion she had with Hanks shortly after learning she had cancer.
“But I said to Tom, I’m like, ‘Okay, if, if something happens and I go first, I just have two requests. And one is that you should be sad for a very, very long time,’ ” she shared.
Wilson continued, “The second one was throw me a party. I want it to be a celebration of life. I want it to be about people telling stories and joy and, remembering me in that way. And I think people, a lot of people want that, you know? I think there’s room for that.”
Wilson Is 10 Years Cancer Free
Now, a decade after her diagnosis, Wilson is celebrating a milestone she once may not have imagined.
On March 31, 2025, she marked 10 years cancer-free with an emotional Instagram video reflecting on the journey.
“It’s a celebration for me. March 31st marks 10 years of being cancer-free,” she said. “10 years. And I am so deeply grateful.”
She added, “I’m so thankful to my doctors. To my friends, to my family. The gratitude is overwhelming. Didn’t always feel this way. And you know that, anybody who’s going through [it, or] who’s survived knows that it’s an up and down, like, hamster wheel. But then you get to this point.”
Though Wilson admitted she doesn’t often revisit her health journey publicly, she said she wanted to acknowledge the milestone and encourage others facing difficult times.
“I think it’s important to celebrate good news,” she noted, before adding, “I am thinking of anybody out there who might be going through some difficulties. You’re in my thoughts and prayers. Anyways, God bless you all.”
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Glad that she fought cancer and won. I have always loved Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks. They seem like the nicest and most genuine people. I would love to meet them in person.