Published Nov 12, 2024

Actress & Cancer Survivor Kathy Bates, 76, Admits She’s Happy ‘Not Having Breasts’ After Double Mastectomy— Decisions On Reconstruction & The Importance of Body Positivity

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Deciding On Whether To Have Breast Reconstruction

Two-time cancer survivor Kathy Bates, 76, has admitted she enjoys having no breasts after undergoing a double mastectomy amid her battle with cancer years ago.
Speaking on the “MeSsy with Christina Applegate & Jamie-Lynn Sigler” podcast this week, she revealed she “just didn’t want to go through” a breast reconstruction and that she “kind of enjoys” not having breasts.
Bates, who battled ovarian and breast cancers, had a double mastectomy to remove both breasts, as well as the surgical removal of 19 lymph nodes removed.
She also developed the swelling condition lymphedema after having lymph nodes removed during her breast cancer surgery.Lymphedema usually happens gradually, but some people experience it coming on suddenly. If you have sudden, severe swelling, get in to see your doctor immediately. It could be an infection, a blood clot, or a cancer recurrence, but don’t assume the worst before you are evaluated by your medical team.
Breast reconstruction surgery is a very personal decision that women may consider after going through a mastectomy for breast cancer treatment.

Oscar-winning actress Kathy Bates, who previously battled both breast and ovarian cancer, has admitted she’s happy without breasts while offering insight into her decision on not getting her breasts reconstructed after a double mastectomy.

Bates, 76, who is starring in the revival of CBS’ “Matlock” series, spoke about her decision to not get breast reconstruction on a recent podcast episode of “MeSsy with Christina Applegate & Jamie-Lynn Sigler, recounting, “There was a friend of mine that was concerned when I decided not to have reconstruction.

“Because at the age I was, I thought, you know, I really don’t wanna go through that. I just didn’t wanna go through it.”

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Bates, who battled breast cancer in 2012, continued, “You know, I wasn’t in a relationship, I was older and I didn’t think I would be in a relationship, and it’s always kind of like, why do I have to?

“But also the other thing … this is really weird maybe but I had really heavy breasts. They were like 10 pounds when they removed them. Really big, big breasts and I kind of enjoy not having breasts … it’s strange.”

The beloved actress, known for her roles in “Titanic” and “Fried Green Tomatoes,” then spoke about the shape wear she puts on while playing attorney Madeline Matlock in the “Matlock” reboot.

Recalling the “really cool camisole” top she was given to wear under her wardrobe on the show, Bates explained, “Very thin straps, and they put little, you know, false-y cups in it, and they’re so comfortable.

“They give me a nice shape. I feel so good when I go out like that. For a while, I just didn’t go out with any prophylactics or at all, you know, or I went out with them and they’re hot and heavy and they made me unhappy.”

Kathy Bates Health Journey — Battling Ovarian Cancer, Then Breast Cancer

Before Bates was diagnosed with stage 1 ovarian cancer 21 years ago in 2003. In a prior interview with SurvivorNet, the “Misery” star said the diagnosis “knocked the stuffing out of me,” but she was lucky to have caught it early, as it was just about to spread.

She underwent surgery and chemotherapy — all while working on the 2004 film “Little Black Book.” That’s something Bates said she struggled with.

“I lost patience with people when things would be draggy. You really can’t do that on a movie set because things are going to go at the pace they’re going to go and yelling about it isn’t going to help.”

Mind Over Cancer How to Gain Greater Control Over Ovarian Cancer

The Memphis native described the extremely difficult experience she had after having chemotherapy, saying, “You come off of the steroids, and I just found that the hardest part. It was like detoxing. I was shaking, I couldn’t talk, and I remember I had to go do a voiceover and it was just so, so difficult.”

Despite what she was going through, Bates didn’t want to tell anyone, telling Yahoo Lifestyle, “I’m very open and direct so it was hard for me not to talk to people about it. But at the same time I withdrew from all of the activities that I had in my life.”

Kathy Bates’ Breast Cancer Journey

After her private health journey, Bates decided it was time to start opening up and try to help others going through the same thing. “I don’t think I really came out about being a cancer survivor until I developed breast cancer in 2012.”

When Bates was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer, she had a double mastectomy to remove both breasts, and she had 19 lymph nodes removed as well, a common treatment method when the cancer has spread beyond the breasts. The lingering pain this all caused her left her feeling worse than when she faced ovarian cancer.

Kathy Bates in the 1991 film ‘Fried Green Tomatoes.’

Then Bates developed a condition that breast cancer patients are at higher risk for if they have lymph nodes removed from under the arm. She developed lymphedema, a swelling condition that can affect the arms, legs or other areas of the body near the lymph nodes removed.

Understanding and Treating Lymphedema

“I was bitter, I was depressed,” she shared. “I thought my career was over, I thought, ‘There’s no way, I’m done, everything is done.’”

Bates, who remains cancer-free, recognized her emotional response to her two diagnoses and lymphedema, and decided to take action, get vocal about her story, and not only raise awareness for early detection, but also help others who were going through similar challenges.

Lymphedema, or chronic swelling, can occur after surgery and radiation treatment for breast cancer. It occurs when the lymph vessels that carry fluid throughout the body are affected and cannot properly dispose of the fluid. This causes fluid build-up and swelling, usually in the arm and hand on the same side as the treated breast.

All About Double Mastectomies

A double mastectomy is a procedure in which both breasts are removed to get rid of cancer. The procedure may also be performed as a preventative measure for women who are at a very high risk of developing breast cancer.

The procedure typically only takes a few hours, but may take longer depending on what type of reconstruction a woman has opted to get. Some women decide to have their breasts reconstructed and have implants put in right after the mastectomy, while others don’t have reconstruction at all.

“A double mastectomy typically takes about two hours for the cancer part of the operation, the removing of the tissue,” Dr. Elisa Port, a surgical oncologist at Mount Sinai, told SurvivorNet. “The real length, the total length of the surgery, can often depend on what type of reconstruction [a patient] has.”

What Happens During a Double Mastectomy?

Dr. Port notes that these days, most women do opt to have some sort of reconstruction. The length of these surgeries can vary a great deal. When implants are used, the procedure can take two to three hours (so the total surgery time would be around five hours). There is also the option to take one’s own tissue (usually from the belly area) and transfer it into the breast area, but this is a much longer procedure.

“When you take tissue from another part of the body and transfer it to fill in the empty space where the breasts are, this is a very long operation,” Dr. Port says. “It can take anywhere from six to 12 hours because it’s really like having a tummy tuck and then transferring the tissue and grafting the tissue, connecting the vessels, so those tissues have blood flow to live in.”

The Last Frontier: The Promise of Restoring Sensation After Mastectomy

Considering Breast Reconstruction After a Mastectomy

If you’ve had a mastectomy, breast reconstruction is one of the major issues to consider. There are several options available.

The reconstruction process can happen at the time of the surgery to remove the breast, or later on in the case of implants. Some women opt for no reconstruction, like Kathy Bates, but decide later on that they want reconstruction to restore a sense of self, or simply get back to they way they used to look.

Dr. Andrea Pusic Explains How Reconstruction Can Help Some Women Feel Whole Again

Breast reconstruction surgery is a decision that women may consider after going through a mastectomy for breast cancer treatment. The reconstruction process can happen at the time of the surgery to remove the breast, or later on in the case of implants.

It’s a very personal choice for women to make, and many actually don’t go through reconstruction. However, for the women who do, they’ve said that it’s a way for them to feel more like themselves after going through the difficult experience of a breast cancer battle.

“It’s a very private thing,” Dr. Andrea Pusic, chief of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Brigham Health, said in a previous interview for SurvivorNet.

“Breast reconstruction is a restoration of a woman’s form and her sense of self. A lot of breast reconstruction is trying to erase the trauma of the mastectomy surgery, putting the cancer behind a patient, saying this is in the rear view mirror, and putting her back on track.”

Breast cancer survivor Caitlin Kiernam shares life after reconstruction surgery

As for breast cancer options:

The first option of using your own tissue is performed at the same time as the mastectomy. This involves taking tissue from your lower abdomen and implanting it into the chest. New connections for blood flow are devised and the end result is quite natural. The lower abdomen will have a scar from hip to hip, it’s much like a tummy tuck only the fat removed has now been formed into a mound to create the new breast. This is a long (eight hour) surgery, and the hospital stay is three to five days. You will leave the hospital with drains and will need at-home care until the drains are removed. If you are having radiation, this surgery is probably not available as the skin has to be in good condition. It would be done after you have healed.

The second option is breast implants. This too can be done at the time of the breast surgery or completed later on. It involves implanting an expander that will be filled over several months with fluid, which will expand the chest tissue. Once the correct size is attained, a final implant of either saline or silicone is implanted.

Getting Comfortable With Body Image

We’re delighted to see Kathy Bates maintaining post-surgery confidence in her body. Remember, struggling with body image is not uncommon, especially for so many people dealing with health challenges, including cancer or the aftermath of a preventative mastectomy.

And it’s important you try to work on how you view your body because it can positively impact your emotional and physical wellbeing as a whole.

My Confidence Was Destroyed: Dealing With Body Image During Cancer Treatment

Dr. Marianna Strongin, a New York-based licensed clinical psychologist, says spending time in front of the mirror can help with body image.

Although “research has found that when looking in the mirror we are more likely to focus on the parts of our body we are dissatisfied with” which can cause “a negative self-view and lower self- esteem,” it’s important to look at the parts of your body that you love and the parts of your body that you don’t.

Eventually, Dr. Strongin says, doing so can help you create a more accepting relationship with yourself.

“Body image is both the mental picture that you have of your body and the way you feel about your body when you look in a mirror,” she said. “As you allow yourself to spend more time looking at all of you, you will begin having a new relationship with your body.”

Celebrity Stylist Ann Caruso on Beauty and Femininity After Cancer

Whether you’ve undergone mastectomy, or not, it’s important to know you’re not alone if you’re having a hard time with how you view your body after receiving a diagnosis or going through treatment.

Celebrity stylist Ann Caruso, for instance, previously opened up to SurvivorNet about how she was never the same after her 12 breast cancer surgeries.

“You’re not the same carefree person that you once were, and it was very hard for me to look at myself every day,” Caruso said. “It was like I was a totally different person and didn’t fit into any of my clothes for so long.”

But as time went on, Caruso said the experience helped her redefine femininity and body image as she knew it, adding, “Femininity is a state of mind,” Caruso said. “And I think that’s something that we have to remind ourselves.”

Meanwhile, Dr. William Breitbart, the chair of the Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, previously told SurvivorNet, “Every day of our lives is really filled with uncertainty” but those facing a cancer diagnosis tend to feel that uncertainty at a more extreme level.”

Dr. Breitbart also said that learning to embrace that uncertainty is a part of living, not just for those fighting cancer, but for everyone.

“What the task becomes is having the courage to live in the face of uncertainty, realizing that you cannot necessarily control the uncertainty in life, like the suffering that occurs, challenges both good and bad,” Dr. Breitbart says. “You may not be able to control those but you have control over how you choose to respond.”