Kathy Bates shed light on her decision not to undergo reconstruction surgery after her double mastectomy in 2012 amid her battle with breast cancer.
While appearing on Tuesday’s episode of MeSsy with Christina Applegate and Jamie-Lynn Sigler On the podcast, the 76-year-old Academy Award winner, a two-time cancer survivor, revealed that she enjoys “not having breasts.”
Although she recalled that a friend initially expressed concern about her decision to forego breast reconstruction, the American Horror Story star explained that she made the decision because of her age.
‘At the age I was, I thought, you know, I really don’t want to go through that. I just didn’t want to go through that,” he told listeners.
Bates continued: ‘You know, I wasn’t in a relationship, I was older and I didn’t think I’d be in a relationship, and it’s always like, why do I have to?’
Kathy Bates shed light on her decision not to undergo reconstruction surgery following her double mastectomy in 2012 amid her battle with breast cancer; seen in 2024
The interpreter also noted that she had always had ‘very heavy breasts’ and ‘they weighed like 10 pounds when they were removed.’
“Maybe this is really strange, but my breasts were very heavy,” he noted. “Really big, big breasts and I enjoy not having breasts… it’s weird.”
At the time, she was filming her television series, Matlock, in which she played Madeline Matlock.
The wardrobe department made her a type of camisole, which she described as made of a Spanx-like material, with “very thin straps” and “fake cups” to give her breasts a “nice shape.”
‘I feel so good when I go out like this. For a while, I just didn’t go out with any prophylactics or anything, you know, or I went out with them and they were hot and heavy and made me unhappy,” Bates said.
The Titanic actress also reflected on choosing to have a mastectomy due to her family history of cancer.
Her aunt died of breast cancer and both her mother and niece suffered from it.
During her conversation with Applegate and Sigler, the Dead to Me star opened up about her own double mastectomy following her 2008 breast cancer diagnosis.
While appearing on Tuesday’s episode of the MeSsy podcast with Christina Applegate and Jamie-Lynn Sigler, the 76-year-old Academy Award winner, a two-time cancer survivor, revealed that she likes “not having breasts” (seen in 2003). before her double mastectomy)
Although she recalled that a friend initially expressed concern about her decision to forgo breast reconstruction, the American Horror Story star explained that she made the decision because of her age; seen in 2016
‘I don’t have nipples and I don’t really care about that part. I don’t need them. “I’m totally fine,” Applegate said. “Like you can go out in a T-shirt without a bra and there are no tiny guys coming out.”
Before battling breast cancer, Bates was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2003.
At that time, he underwent surgery and nine months of chemotherapy, before going public with his illness.
“I didn’t tell anyone,” he told People that year. ‘I continued working immediately after the operation, making Little Black Book with Brittany Murphy. My agent at the time was very old school and didn’t want me to be the poster boy for ovarian cancer.’
Bates also said he just “didn’t want anyone to know” and that the ordeal “took a lot out of him.”
Bates was also diagnosed with lymphedema after her double mastectomy.
Lymphedema occurs due to “tissue swelling caused by a buildup of protein-rich fluid that typically drains through the body’s lymphatic system,” according to the Mayo Clinic.
‘At the age I was, I thought, you know, I really don’t want to go through that. I just didn’t want to go through that,” he told listeners; seen in 2005
“I have something called lymphedema,” she said on The Kelly Clarkson Show in 2019. “I don’t know if you’ve heard of it, but for cancer, they remove the lymph nodes. I don’t care about any part of your body. If your lymph system is damaged, fluid will often accumulate in the affected limb.
After learning that some of her lymph nodes were removed during surgery, Bates told SurvivorNet that she had an emotional reaction and became “bitter” and “depressed.”
“I thought my career was over, I thought, ‘There’s no way, I’m done, it’s all done,'” he recalled.
Despite his fears, he continued to work in Hollywood on numerous shows, including the reboot of Matlock and American Horror Story, as well as films such as Are You There God? It’s me, Margaret. (2023) and Richard Jewell (2019).
During a recent interview with The New York Times in September, Bates revealed that she is ready to retire, after her new CBS series Matlock runs its course.
The performer also noted that she had always had ‘very heavy breasts’ and ‘they weighed like 10 pounds when they were removed’ (seen in 2018).
The star plays Madeline Matlock in a gender-swapped reboot of the original Matlock series that ran from 1986 to 1995 starring Andy Griffith.
Throughout his long career in entertainment, Bates has won an Oscar, two Primetime Emmy Awards and two Golden Globes.
