Samantha Harris Cancer: TV Host May Need Chemo
Samantha Harris' cancer has spread.
In late May, Harris underwent a double mastectomy for breast cancer, and during the surgery, it was discovered that her cancer had spread beyond her breasts.
"When I came to in recovery, my surgeon was standing over me with a look of sadness and told me that he had to take out all of my lymph nodes," Harris told PEOPLE Magazine on June 19. "A few days later I got some good news. Thankfully, only one node was positive. Unfortunately, that usually means chemo."
During a routine self-exam last fall, Harris detected a lump in her right breast, but because she had a clean mammogram shortly before, she didn't do anything about it at the time. However, after a couple of months went by, Harris still wasn't feeling right and decided to get checked by a specialist, who diagnosed her with breast cancer. One month after the diagnosis, Harris underwent a double mastectomy.
Now, faced with another grim diagnosis, Harris is doing her best to stay positive, but admits that the thought of chemotherapy is a bit scary.
"I am scared by the prospect of chemo, but I know so many inspiring women who have gone through it and, as they told me, 'rocked it,' " Harris said. "If I need it, I will take a deep breath and readjust my focus."
After her initial diagnosis, Harris was given two options: A double mastectomy or a less-radical second lumpectomy with radiation. She chose the double mastectomy because she knew, at the time, that she "needed to take control."