09/23/2011 – by Cynthia Wright
In a yet-to-be-aired show of Ellen DeGeneres, LGBT comedian Wanda Sykes discussed her choice to undergo a double mastectomy earlier this year after going in to have a breast reduction.
Excerpt from CBS News:
“I had breast cancer,” Sykes, 47, said, according to reports. “Yeah, I know it’s scary.”
Wanda Sykes
The cancer was found after Sykes had a breast reduction in February.
“I had real big boobs and I just got tired of knocking over stuff. Every time I eat – Oh Lord,” she explained. “I’d carry a Tide stick everywhere I go. My back was sore so it was time to have a reduction.”
Sykes continued, “It wasn’t until after the reduction that in the lab work, the pathology, that they found that I had DCIS [ductal carcinoma in situ] in my left breast. I was very, very lucky because DCIS is basically stage-zero cancer. So I was very lucky.”
But, she added, “Cancer is still cancer. I had the choice of, ‘You can go back every three months and get it checked. Have a mammogram, MRI every three months just to see what it’s doing.’ But, 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.”
Because she has a history of breast cancer on her mother’s side of the family, Sykes explained she opted to have a bilateral mastectomy.
Sykes was reluctant to discuss her condition as she jokingly stated, “I’m black. then lesbian. I can’t be the poster child for everything.”
Sykes interview will be air on Monday.
