(Image source: Warner Bros.)
BY TRACY PFEIFFER
ANCHOR GARY COTTON
Actress and comedienne Wanda Sykes has revealed a not-so-funny aspect of her recent life.
ANCHOR, WABC: “Comic actress Wanda Sykes reveals that she has had a double mastectomy after doctors diagnosed her with breast cancer. Sykes says after she underwent breast reduction surgery in February, labwork showed she had early-stage breast cancer. Sykes says she has a family history of breast cancer, so to cut future risk the 47-year-old decided to have both breasts removed.”
Sykes sat down with fellow actress-slash-comedienne-slash talk show host Ellen DeGeneres for the big reveal. Here’s what she had to say.
WANDA SYKES: “They found that I had DCIS in my left breast. Now, I was very, very lucky because DCIS is basically stage zero cancer, so I was very lucky and you know, but cancer is cancer. And you know, I had the choice of, you know, you can go back every like three months and get it checked …But you know, I’m not good at keeping on top of stuff. I’m sure I’m overdue for an oil change and a teeth cleaning already.”
A writer on Gather says even though it might seem drastic to have removed both breasts when only one presented with cancer cells, it’s an understandable precaution.
“Oftentimes, women with breast cancer are not diagnosed until later stages. Even if discovery is earlier, some still face an uncertain future. ...What's more, she has a history of breast cancers on her mother's side of the family. As radical as it seems, removing them offers a weapon against developing deadly tumors.”
But a health blogger for the Boston Globe’s Daily Dose suggests-- women should take Sykes story as the comedienne’s own personal tale-- not a universal truth when it comes to breast cancer.
“The more-is-better approach to preventing breast cancer appears to be a growing trend... But they need to realize that it’s not 100 percent effective as Sykes was led to believe. Studies suggest prophylactic mastectomy reduces breast cancer risk by 90 percent in women of moderate to high risk, which still leaves that small possibility of breast cancer.”
A writer for the LA Times’ BoosterShots blog agrees with that cautionary sentiment, adding...
“Breast tissue is widely distributed on your chest wall. Sometimes breast tissue can be found in your armpit, above your collarbone or on the upper part of your abdominal wall, where it may not be detected at the time of your mastectomy. Breast tissue remaining in your body can still develop breast cancer, although the chances are slim.”
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