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Usually on the morning talk shows to demonstrate her latest recipe, Sandra Lee sat down this morning as a guest witha more serious story. The celebrity chef and author revealed with Good Morning America on Thursday that she is battling breast cancer.
The 48-year-old told GMAco-anchor Robin Roberts, who is herself a breast cancersurvivor, about the moment she got the news while doing a photo shoot for theMost Beautiful issue of People magazine on March 27.
Sandra revealed that she was diagnosed with breast cancer Photo: Getty Images
"I walked off the set, and 20minutes later my doctor called and told me I had breast cancer," she said."I didn't even cry, I was stunned … You know, and that's just how fastlife turns. It turns on a dime."
The lifestyle mogul said she luckilycaught the cancer early, had a lumpectomy and is preparing for another surgery."When the lumpectomy was done, they did not have clean margins. And so Iwent back to my radiologist," she said.
Her doctors also recommended that she have a mastectomy."And so I said, 'OK. If I'm going to have a mastectomy, am I supposed tojust get one done?' Both the radiologist and the doctor said, 'You're a tickingtime bomb.' And they both said, 'You need — I would just get them bothdone,'" Sandra added.
Partner Andrew Cuomo said he is devastated by the news Photo: Getty Images
When asked whom she told the sad news tofirst, Sandra revealed it was her sister followed by her partner, New York GovernorAndrew Cuomo."After I called my sister, he was the next call. I thinkhe was as stunned as I was." She went on to say her beau has been"extremely supportive" adding, "he's going to be in theoperating room with me."
In a statement released Tuesday by thegovernor’s office, Andrew Cuomo said he was "devastated," butthankful the cancer was detected early.
"A situation like this quickly putslife in the proper perspective and reminds one of what’s truly important. Tothat end, I expect to take some personal time because I want to be with Sandyto support her in any way I can as she handles the trauma of her operation andthe pain of the recovery,” he said. “For those of you familiar with Sandy’slife story it will not surprise you that she has met this latest challenge withdetermination, resolve and grace."
Sandra is known for her lifestyle brand Photo: Getty Images
During the interview, Sandra encouragedwomen to get early screenings. "I'm 48 years old. I've got — I've got acouple years till 50 ... If I would have waited, I probably wouldn't even besitting here," she said. "Girls in their 20s and their 30s just have toknow. And I don't want women to wait. And that's why I'm talking … If it saves oneperson, and makes one more person go get a mammogram, and if they're sittingdown right now watching this, don't watch this TV. Go pick your phone up, andcall your doctor and get your rear end in there and get a mammogram right now."