TV personality Samantha Harris has
revealed that she will undergo surgery for a double mastectomy later this month
to treat breast cancer.
The 40-year-old mom of two found a lump in her breast during
a self-examination, despite getting clean results from a mammogram a few months
earlier.
The former Dancing with the Stars co-host opened up about first learning her diagnosis to ET’s
Brooke Anderson:
“I went back for the results of the pathology and I was
by myself because there was nothing to worry about or so I thought,” she
said.
“The realization sort of overtook me, my eyes started
to well up from tears when I was trying to keep myself calm because I thought
the most important thing — was that I needed to focus and listen to what they
were saying.”
Harris and her husband of nearly 10 years, Michael Hess, have
two young daughters together. She said that soon after being diagnosed, she
realized she needed to take control of the situation for her family’s sake.
“My daughters are 3 and 6 [years old.] All they’re
concerned about is to have mommy active, [to] be able to hold them, hug them,
kiss them, be there, be present for everything.”
We’re sending thoughts and prayers to Samantha as she faces
her battle with cancer – and her story also serves as a reminder of the
importance of regular mammograms and self-exams.
Please, don’t wait until it’s too late. Experts agree that
early detection is the best defense against breast cancer. Love yourself, love
your health and do regular checks. There’s no excuse for skipping out on
something that could save your life.
Here is a step-by-step guide for breast self-exams: How to Do a Breast Self Exam
What to expect when you go for your
mammogram: Everything You Need to Know About Getting a Mammogram
