‘SNL' Legend Cheri Oteri Opens up About Recent Breast Cancer Removal
Saturday Night Live legend Cheri Oteri is opening up about her recent breast cancer removal.
Oteri, 63, who rose to fame on SNL with characters like Arianna of The Spartan Cheerleaders alongside Will Ferrell, Cass Van Rye on Morning Latte, and Nadeen, a disgruntled employee who told everyone to "Simmer down now," departed the iconic late-night series in 2000. In the years that followed, Oteri made endless TV and film appearances, but avoided the major spotlight that claimed many of her famous former co-stars. But in a new podcast interview, Oteri revealed she was recently diagnosed with Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) but is feeling "great" after having her second lumpectomy in recent weeks, Deadline reported. Oteri added that "everything looks normal and fine" after the operation. We're so happy to hear it!
Oteri Found a Friend in Dr. Jill Biden
In a new episode of the Dear Chelsea podcast with Chelsea Handler, Oteri shared that at a recent Milken Institute dinner, she connected with Dr. Jill Biden over her breast cancer journey.
"I'm sitting there quiet, and I'm like, this is so serendipitous," said Oteri. "And I'm listening to all these women, and then at the end, Jill came up to me and we were saying goodbye, and I told her that I was just diagnosed and she said, ‘When is your surgery?' And I said, ‘The 26th.' And she said, ‘All right, you're gonna get tired of me. … I'm going through this with you.' This woman, before my surgery, after my surgery, she just she goes, ‘I am with you on this.' I was blown away.
"That is a woman with a huge heart, and through everything, she's checking on me, and just a beautiful human being. So, I never felt so supported, by my friends, my girlfriends," she added.
Oteri is Encouraging Early Detection
Oteri went on to say that she "caught it early," emphasizing, "So, that's my message to everybody too, is get your mammogram. I caught it really early."
For more of Oteri on Dear Chelsea, check out this clip posted to her Instagram below.
Related: ‘Saturday Night Live' Legend Cheri Oteri Looks Better Than Ever at 63 on the Red Carpet
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This story was originally published June 14, 2026 at 6:59 PM.