By Sohaib Shams
Former Baywatch star Nicole Eggert has disclosed the severe financial strain she endured while undergoing breast cancer treatment, describing herself as financially "underwater" as a single mother supporting two daughters.
Diagnosis and treatment timeline
Eggert, 54, was diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2023. She underwent a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery, followed by a full hysterectomy earlier this year.
Single parent facing income loss
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Eggert explained that her treatment schedule — three to five days a week — made it impossible to commit to any production work. As a 100 percent single parent to daughters Dilyn, 28, and Keegan, 15, she shouldered all household responsibilities while medical bills mounted and income stopped.
"You have to be able to say hey, I'm underwater here. I don't know how I'm gonna do this," she said, describing the pressure of ongoing expenses such as car payments and her teenager's needs.
Perspective shift amid crisis
Eggert said her cancer journey put money troubles into perspective. "It's sort of like, well, 'Ah, I'm alive.' Then, you know, if you have any kind of financial strain, it's like: 'Well, at least you're alive to deal with it,'" she reflected, adding that the outlook becomes an ebb and flow.
Baywatch career and past regrets
Eggert rose to fame in the 1990s as lifeguard Summer Quinn on Baywatch, a global phenomenon that ran from 1989 to 2001. She left after two seasons, later expressing regret on the Still Here Hollywood podcast about departing for a promised spin-off that never materialized. The network ultimately shelved the planned "Beverly Hills, 90210-esque" beach series, leading her to bow out.
