Years ago, women avoided the topic of breast cancer. Unfortunately, their silence proved to be deadly. That's why breast cancer awareness is so important. Hollywood has given its two cents by using some of TV's most-beloved characters in our war on the disease.

Edith Bunker -- All in the Family

Norman Lear sitcoms are known for being revolutionary. It's no surprise that in 1973, he used All in the Family to break the breast cancer barrier. In a special Christmas-themed episode, Edith Bunker was hiding a dark secret. After going through the motions of denial and fear, she blurted out to her daughter: "I got a lump in my breast!" It was one of the first times the topic was ever discussed on national television.