Interview: Gossip Girl's Jessica Queller On Her Mother's Cancer and Her Own Double Mastectomy

NH: Where did you find hope during your mother's battle with cancer and after you learned the results of your genetic tests?

JQ: Through these trials I discovered that I do have some sort of spiritual faith. At first, my mother's death knocked me out and left me in a state of despair. Strangely, when I tested positive for the genetic mutation this changed -- I found a sense of purpose and meaning. I felt that my mother's death had served as a warning to me and my sister - and perhaps her death had even saved our lives. I felt that my mother would want me to spread the word and warn other women - try to prevent the terrible suffering she endured from happening to others. I continue to find hope and meaning in the wonderful letters I receive from women who have read the book, who have cried for my mother, and who have been inspired to protect themselves because of the story.

NH: In your opinion who's the hottest breast cancer survivor in Hollywood? Do you know any celebrities who support key breast cancer causes (detection, prevention, research, etc.) but are not getting significant media coverage for their work? Can you share who they are?

JQ: The most significant movie star in the BRCA world is Christina Applegate. She is the first celebrity to publicly state that she took the genetic test, received positive results, and chose mastectomy to safeguard herself against breast cancer recurrence. I am grateful to her for speaking so openly and gracefully about this difficult subject, and for being a role model to other women.

NH: At the beginning of the season for Gossip Girl, we learn that Serena's grandmother CeCe became more accepting of Dan and Serena's relationship after her bout with cancer. Will any other character on the show this season find themselves dealing with a debilitating or fatal disease?

JQ: I am often asked if Gossip Girl will have some story-lines about genetic tests, etc.... The answer is no! Gossip Girl is a frolic... It's an aspiration show that takes people out of their lives and transports them into a fantasy reality... One of the reasons I'm so happy to be writing on the show is that it's a relief for me to spend my days talking about Serena and Blair's silly boy problems. I've had enough pain in my real life - I love escaping into the fantasy.

NH: As we know, cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of women in this country. What it is about cancer, and breast cancer in particular, that instills such fear in people's minds?

JQ: Everyone has been touched by cancer - a mother, a sister, a wife, a best friend... Once you have seen someone fight cancer, undergo chemotherapy, it is hard to shake the horror from your mind. Also, cancer is associated with hair loss which is particularly traumatic for women. And the idea of losing breasts is, needless to say, traumatic for women - touches upon our base feelings about beauty, femininity and sexuality.