Heartwarming stories like this remind us that Hollywood celebrities are just regular people who face challenges and hardships like anyone else.
In a recent interview with Dr. Phil, Academy Award winner Kathy Bates opened up about her health struggles and the challenges she faced, many of which she kept private.
Kathy found herself in one of the toughest roles of her life—not as an actress, but as a real-life warrior battling cancer twice. In 2012, she revealed to US Weekly that she had survived ovarian cancer for nine years.
But few knew that just weeks before that interview, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Reflecting on the experience, she said, “You think American Horror Story is scary? You should’ve joined me in that room.”
Her fight began in 2003 when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She endured nine months of chemotherapy and several difficult surgeries, but she chose to keep it private. She told PEOPLE that she pushed through with sheer determination, staying cancer-free for years—until the disease returned.
Breast cancer was not a surprise to Kathy. “It runs like a river in my family,” she explained. To prevent the cancer from spreading, she made the brave decision to undergo a double mastectomy. This time, she used her experience to inspire other women. Through it all, Kathy kept her humor, once joking, “I don’t miss my breasts as much as I miss Harry’s Law,” while also thanking her fans for their unwavering support.
Despite being cancer-free today, Kathy lives with lymphedema, a condition affecting about 30% of breast cancer survivors. It causes swelling and discomfort due to the removal of lymph nodes. Though it’s incurable, she hasn’t let it dampen her spirit.
Kathy’s journey inspired her to speak publicly about her experiences, encouraging women to get regular checkups and reminding them they’re not alone. She also became an ambassador for the Lymphatic Education & Research Network (LE&RN), saying, “I’m grateful that my struggles have given me a purpose. It’s funny how life works like that.”
