Cobie Smulders: I Was Diagnosed With Ovarian Cancer at 25 Years Old

Actress reveals she got the diagnosis while filming the third season of How I Met Your Mother

By Bruna Nessif Apr 23, 2015 11:49 PMTags
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Celebs may constantly be in the public eye, but you really never know what they're going through behind closed doors.

Actress Cobie Smulders dropped a bombshell during her interview with Women's Health's May issue (you know, the one where she's posing topless and flaunting her insane post-baby bod) when the How I Met Your Mother star revealed that she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer while shooting season three of the show.

"I had tumors on both ovaries," Smulders, who was 25 years old when she received the diagnosis, tells the mag, "and the cancer had spread into my lymph nodes and surrounding tissues." She adds that it took multiple surgeries over the course of two years to remove the cancerous tissue.

"I don't think I'll ever feel like I'm cancer-free," she confesses. "Now that I'm five years out, I'm trying to think of it as a positive thing and what can I learn from it. And if I can create more awareness, I'll do it."

The Avengers: Age of Ultron star also discussed a number of other topics during her in-depth and candid interview with the mag, including her piece of advice to her younger self.

"Just chill the F out," the actress stated. "When you're young, you're so worried. I think I was in such a rush to grow up. I think it's also the film industry; you're always trying to be established and trying get to the next level. I feel like I should've just chilled out, gone back to college for four years and just hung out. Or traveled around the world or something. Just not work so hard.

"But then, it also got me to where I am today, so it's a double-edged sword. But I think I could've probably mellowed out more."

Cobie's issue of Women's Health is available on newsstands now.