Sandra Lee Opens Up About Breast Cancer Diagnosis

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Sandra Lee wants women to get screened, too (Getty Images)

Chef and television personality Sandra Lee opened up to Robin Roberts on Good Morning America about some very personal news: she has been battling breast cancer

Her words reflected the emotional tumult that comes with receiving such a frightening diagnosis — as well as the strength that comes from the decision to conquer the disease. "There's two different ways cancer beats you up: It beats up your body, and it beats you up emotionally," she said. "I wasn't going to let it rob me from one day of happiness."

Lee has already begun her fight. She told Roberts — a very appropriate interviewer for the occasion, as she also survived breast cancer — she has already had a lumpectomy and that she's getting ready for a double masectomy. She explained why she is choosing to have both breasts removed. "And so I said, 'Okay. If I'm going to have a mastectomy, am I supposed to just get one done?' Both the radiologist and the doctor said, 'You're a ticking time bomb.' And they both said, 'You need — I would just get them both done.'"

Lee tearfully remembered how she learned she had breast cancer. "It was March 27th, and I was shooting People's Most Beautiful ... And I walked off the set. And 20 minutes later, my doctor called and told me I had breast cancer."

However, had she not received a regular mammogram, she would not have found out about her diagosis.

"I'm 48 years old. I've got a couple years till 50 ... If I would have waited, I probably wouldn't even be sitting here. And if you [referring to Roberts] would have waited..." she said.

Fortunately, she'll have plenty of support as begins to fight her battle. Her partner, Governor Andrew Cuomo, will be beside her. "This is about her feeling secured and loved," he told People.

But perhaps most importantly, Lee is making it a point to urge women to get screened regularly — regardless of age. "I don't care if my niece is only 23," she said. In fact, that's why she's sharing her news. 

"Girls in their 20s and their 30s just have to know," Lee said. "And I don't want women to wait. And that's why I'm talking … If it saves one person, and makes one more person go get a mammogram, and if they're sitting down right now watching this, don't watch this TV. Go pick your phone up, and call your doctor and get your rear end in there and get a mammogram right now  ... You hear about it and it is always someone else, it's a friend that you sent flowers to and you wish well and that you watch every single day like I watched you [to Roberts]. And you were my hero. But I never thought I would be dealing with this."

She's right. Many women think it could never happen to them, but as Lee said to People, "Life can turn on a dime."