Kathy Bates health: Actress ‘went berserk’ after diagnosis of ‘incurable’ condition

If you assume that Hollywood superstars are vastly different from us, stories like this one serve as a reminder that they, too, are ordinary people who suffer and go through trials.

Life threw her the most difficult role she’d ever had to play: that of a real-life fighter and warrior battling cancer for the second time.

She mustered the courage to tell US Weekly in 2012, “It’s no secret that I am an ovarian cancer survivor, nine years and counting.” Few people are aware that I was diagnosed with breast cancer a few weeks ago.” “You think American Horror Story is scary?” she says, describing what it’s like to be diagnosed with this sickness. You should’ve been there with me.”

Her battle began in 2003, when she was given the dreadful news that she has ovarian cancer. She had undergone several painful procedures and nine months of chemotherapy but chose not to tell anyone. PEOPLE quoted her as saying:

“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.”

Her strong will helped her survive the predicament and remain cancer-free until her doctor told her she had to start afresh. She had cancer once more. She wondered if that meant going down the same road of anguish and misery again.

She wasn’t surprised to find she had breast cancer since, as she puts it, “breast cancer runs like a river in my family.” She chose a double mastectomy after sharing this with her followers in the hopes of preventing it from spreading further.

This time, she resolved to use her sorrow to inspire other women. This courageous woman did not lose her colorful personality along the road, and on one occasion she even joked, “I don’t miss my breasts as much as I miss Harry’s Law,” and thanked her admirers for all of their support throughout her difficult moments.
She tried her hardest to replace the dish of sour green tomatoes her life had served her with one of Fried Green Tomatoes, and we’re glad she did.

Kathy Bates is currently cancer-free, but the disease has left her with a condition known as lymphedema, which is incurable and affects approximately 30% of breast cancer survivors. It is the outcome of her lymph nodes being removed. Unfortunately, she is in discomfort and swelling, which makes her feel uneasy.

“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.”

This entire experience inspired her to speak out about her issue in the hopes of influencing other women to have regular check-ups and to know they are not alone in their battle. Bates also joined the Lymphatic Education & Research Network (LE&RN) as an ambassador.

“I’m grateful that my trials have given me a purpose.” It’s strange how that happens.”

Below is her interview, in which she is brutally honest about what it is like to endure the challenges she has faced.