Kathy Bates reflects on not missing her breasts following cancer fight double mastectomy

Kathy Bates has stated she does not miss her breasts after having them removed in order to fight cancer.

has battled various cancers over the years - previously revealing she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2003 and revealing in 2012 that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. In order to fight the breast cancer, the star had both breasts removed and she subsequently developed lymphedema - a painful swelling condition - in both arms after this surgery.

Following her double mastectomy in 2012, Kathy opted not to undergo reconstructive surgery - and says she does not regret this choice. She explained that she didn't think her new appearance would impact either her career or her relationships and has not looked back since saying goodbye to her breasts.

Opening up on the winning star explained: "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... 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?"

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Highlighting that she had "really heavy breasts", the star shared the sense of relief she experienced once they were removed. She told the hosts: "They were like 10 pounds when they removed them. This is really maybe but I had really heavy breasts. Really big, big breasts and I kind of enjoy not having breasts ... it's strange."

Kathy went on to explain that the costume department of the TV show she was working on at the time were supportive over her changing figure. She details that they created a device out of Spanx-esque material with false cups to give her chest some shape in scenes after her surgery. She said: "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."

Christina, 52, discussed her own double mastectomy journey following her breast cancer diagnosis in 2008. She said: "I don't have nipples and I don't really care about that part. I don't need them. I'm totally fine. Like you could go out with a tank top without a bra and there's no like pokey guys coming out."

Kathy has previously discussed the ovarian cancer that she battled over 20 years ago. She told People previously: "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."

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