If you think Hollywood celebrities live in a world completely different from ours, stories like this one remind us that they are just ordinary people who experience pain and face challenges just like we do.
In a heartfelt interview with Dr. Phil, Academy Award winner Kathy Bates opened up about her battle with illness and what she endured in private.
Life suddenly handed her the toughest role she ever had to play – that of a real-life fighter and warrior who had to beat cancer for the second time.
Back in 2012, she found the courage to share her story, saying, “It’s no secret that I am an ovarian cancer survivor, nine years and counting. But few know that several weeks ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer.” Describing her diagnosis, she said, “You think American Horror Story is scary? You should’ve been in that room with me.”
Her ordeal began in 2003 when she was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She underwent multiple painful surgeries and nine months of chemotherapy but chose to keep it private. “I didn’t tell anybody. I continued to work right after the operation, doing Little Black Book with Brittany Murphy.
My agent at the time was very old-school and didn’t want me to be the poster child for ovarian cancer. I didn’t want anyone to know, but it really took a lot out of me,” she revealed.
Her determination helped her stay cancer-free until she faced another diagnosis. She wondered if she would have to endure the same pain and suffering again.
When she learned she had breast cancer, she wasn’t completely surprised. “Breast cancer runs like a river in my family,” she shared. She chose to have a double mastectomy to prevent the cancer from spreading further.
This time, she decided to turn her tragedy into inspiration for other women. Kathy didn’t lose her vibrant personality and even joked, “I don’t miss my breasts as much as I miss Harry’s Law,” while thanking her fans for their support.
Kathy Bates transformed the challenges life threw at her into a source of strength, and we are fortunate she did.
Today, Kathy Bates is cancer-free, but she lives with lymphedema, a condition affecting about 30 percent of breast cancer survivors due to the removal of lymph nodes. It causes her pain and swelling, making her feel uncomfortable.
“It’s a souvenir you definitely don’t want. I really felt that life was over for me. I probably wouldn’t work again, and I was angry for a long time,” she admitted.
This experience motivated her to speak publicly about her condition, hoping to inspire other women to get regular check-ups and to remind them that they are not alone in their battles. Kathy also became an ambassador for the Lymphatic Education & Research Network (LE&RN).
“I’m grateful my hardships have given me a purpose. Funny how that happens,” she reflected.
Below is her interview where she gets brutally honest about what it feels like to face the battles she fought.
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