Editing Ruth Handler (section)

==Later years==
Handler was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1970. She had a [[modified radical mastectomy]], which was often done at the time to combat the disease. She spent less time at Mattel to focus on improving her health. Her loss of self-esteem affected her leadership and she lost control of her business. In a 1980 interview, she said: "When I conceived Barbie, I believed it was important to a little girl’s self-esteem to play with a doll that [had] breasts. Now I find it even more important to return that self-esteem to women who have lost theirs.”<ref name="JWA" />

Due to difficulties in finding a good breast prosthesis, Handler decided to make her own. With the help of new business partner Peyton Massey and under her new company, Ruthton Corp., she manufactured a more realistic version of a woman's breast called Nearly Me, aiming to boost women's confidence regardless of their health. The invention became quite popular; [[first lady]] [[Betty Ford]] was fitted for one after a mastectomy.<ref>{{cite news | newspaper=Honolulu Star-Bulletin | date=April 29, 2002 | page=9 | last=Pollock | first=Danny | title=Barbie creator wanted doll to stand for women's choices | url=https://www.newspapers.com./article/honolulu-star-bulletin-handler-ford/137813478/}}</ref>

Handler received various awards for her philanthropy and business activities. She was chosen Woman of the Year in Business by the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', inducted into the [[Toy Industry Hall of Fame]] by the Toy Manufacturers of America, received the Volunteer Achievement Award from the [[American Cancer Society]] and was the inaugural Woman of Distinction of the [[United Jewish Appeal]].<ref name="JWA" />

Following several investigations into fraudulent financial reports, Handler resigned from Mattel in 1975. Investigations continued and she was charged with fraud and false reporting by the [[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission]]. She pleaded [[no contest]] and was fined $57,000 ({{Inflation|US|57000|1978|fmt=eq|r=-4}}{{Inflation/fn|US}}) and sentenced to 2,500 hours of community service. She blamed her illness for making her "unfocused" on her business.

Handler died on April 27, 2002 in California from complications during surgery for [[colon cancer]]. She was 85.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/2002/2002-04-28-barbie.htm |title=Creator of Barbie dies at 85 |newspaper=USA Today |agency=Associated Press |date=April 28, 2002 |access-date=January 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221002204821/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/2002/2002-04-28-barbie.htm|archive-date=October 2, 2022}}</ref>