Former Dancing with the Stars co-host Samantha Harris recently revealed she has breast cancer and will undergo a double mastectomy in the near future.
After getting the all clear following a routine mammogram last year, the 40-year-old said she still didn’t feel right, so she went to see a specialist who found a lump in her right breast.
“It felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest,” Samantha said of hearing the news.
Harris with former Dancing with the Stars co-host Tom BergeronThe mother-of-two underwent one lumpectomy followed by visits to three specialists to determine her next move. She decided on a double mastectomy.
“I was sick of feeling the way that I did in the days after the diagnosis,” expressed the former Entertainment Tonight correspondent. “I knew I needed to take control.”
Samantha said she “feels so much calmer” since making the difficult decision and is determined to get well for her daughters.
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“My daughters are three and six. All they’re concerned about is to have mommy active, [to] be able to hold them, hug them, kiss them, be there, be present for everything,” said the star.
“Having lost my dad when he was just 50 [years old,] I was lucky because I was 22 and I’d had him through my whole adolescence…I will be here to plan my daughters weddings and they better like the dress I pick,” she joked.
After announcing the news on ET, Samantha thanked fans for their encouragement via Twitter:
Thks for the well wishes, kindness & support. It means so much to me & my family! It’s a tough road but I’m here to stand up & fight cancer.
— Samantha Harris (@SamanthaHarris) April 9, 2014
The brunette beauty’s former co-host Tom Bergeron also sent his best wishes, tweeting: “Join me in sending positive thoughts and prayers to my former @DancingABC co-host @SamanthaHarris as she kicks cancer’s ass #standuptocancer.”
As did pro dancer Maksim Chmerkovskiy:
Couldn’t be more proud of my girl @SamanthaHarris in her fight with cancer! Please send her all of your love and support!
— Maksim Chmerkovskiy (@MaksimC) April 9, 2014
Watch Samantha’s emotional announcement below:
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