All over the nation, Kathy Bates is well-known. The actress, who is also well-known for her work in theater and film, made her feature film debut in the Oscar-nominated horror movie Misery.
The star’s personal medical history isn’t as perfect as it seems. She won two Primetime Emmys and two Golden Globes for her performances in the NBC comedies Harry’s Law and Two and a Half Men’s ninth season, for which she is best known.
But Bates learned in 2003 that she had ovarian cancer.
She battled the illness for nine chemotherapy sessions and underwent a hysterectomy (the removal of the womb). Two years after Bates’ diagnosis of cancer-free, her breast cancer returned.
Following the discovery that her mother and aunt had breast cancer as well, the actress underwent a double mastectomy.
I explained, “When the doctor informed me that I had a tumor in my left breast, I yelled, “Make mine a double.”. Fire both of them. In a previous conversation with Practical Pain Management, she stated, “I wasn’t going to take any chances.”.
Breast cancer has spread throughout my family.
It caused the deaths of my mother, aunt, and niece.
”.
Even though a test for the BRCA breast cancer gene came back negative, the actress underwent a risky procedure to reduce the likelihood of a cancer relapse. How beautifully she handled her illness.
The American Horror Story actress lost both of her breasts and her uterus to cancer, but her problems weren’t over yet because she also got lymphedema.
According to SurvivorNet, lymphedema is a condition that results in abnormal accumulations of lymph fluid, a clear fluid that travels through the lymphatic system and aids in the body’s defense against disease and infection. Lymphedema is characterized by swelling of the arm and hand.
On The Kelly Clarkson Show in 2019, Bates stated, “Then I had lymphedema.”.
“I don’t know if you know, but they remove lymph nodes to treat cancer. Usually, fluid builds up in the affected leg when your lymph system is compromised. ”.
Bates voiced her anger over receiving a lymphedema diagnosis so soon after having breast surgery.
She said, “As soon as I woke up, I felt a strange sensation, almost like a tingling, in my left arm.”.
“I lost it. I hurried out the door and out of the examination room. I hugged a pillow to my chest, still wearing my drains, and wondered what exactly I was doing. In the middle of July, I’m outside. I don’t want to hurt anyone, it’s hot, and I’m still recovering.
I felt unimaginable outrage. I think it came from having twice battled cancer and realizing that I would always have this ailment. ”.
“I experienced resentment and depression. My professional career was over, I thought, and everything was done. ”.
The National Health Service advises treating lymphoedema as soon as possible to stop it from worsening.
It is estimated that 10 million Americans are affected, which is more than are affected by AIDS, MS, Parkinson’s, ALS, and muscular dystrophy combined.
When we complain to our doctors about our swollen legs because we are overweight, they don’t tell us to “just go eat a salad,” she said, and nobody seems to be aware of the issue.
This illness progresses and cannot be cured in addition to getting worse. There are about 50,000 adults who were born with congenital infections, so you can be admitted to the hospital.
The National Health Service (NHS) continues to emphasize that using strategies that limit fluid accumulation, the main symptoms of lymphoedema are treatable.
