Christina Applegate had a double mastectomy, wants to have a baby

Christina Applegate is shown in stills from her movie with Rainn Wilson, The Rocker
The National Enquirer broke the story of Christina Applegate’s double mastectomy two weeks ago, but I made the decision not to cover it at the time and to wait until the actress made the announcement herself. It just seems like a personal medical condition and one that I wouldn’t want to repeat unless she came out with the news on her own – not that we always take the high road on those type of stories.

Applegate, 36, spoke with fellow breast cancer survivor Robin Roberts on Good Morning America this morning and revealed that she did have a double mastectomy, saying that it was a very tough decision that she ultimately made for her health and to be rid of the disease. Her mother is a two-time breast cancer survivor and Applegate learned she had the breast cancer gene, which influenced her decision to undergo a mastectomy. She will have reconstructive surgery:

Having watched her mother, Nancy Priddy, battle breast cancer – and then suffer from a recurrence many years later – the Emmy-nominated star of Samantha Who?, 36, told interviewer Robin Roberts that she wasn’t taking any chances, especially since she has the breast cancer gene, BRCA1.

“My decision, after looking at all the treatment plans that were possibilities for me, the only one that seemed the most logical and the one that was going to work for me was to have a bilateral mastectomy,” said Applegate. “So basically I had a prophylactic double mastectomies.”

Explaining her rationale in taking that dramatic step, she said, “I didn’t want to go back to the doctors every four months for testing and squishing and everything. I just wanted to kind of be rid of this whole thing for me. This was the choice that I made, and it was a tough one.”

The surgery took place three weeks ago. She did not undergo radiation or chemotherapy.

Applegate, whose initial reaction when she received her diagnosis, was. “Oh my god. I was so pissed off, so mad … I was just shaking.” But then, she said, “Immediately I had to go into take-care-of-business mode.”

Asked her prognosis, Applegate told Roberts, also a cancer survivor, “I’m clear. Absolutely 100-percent clear and clean.”

Over the next eight months she will undergo reconstructive surgery. I’m gonna have cute boobs till I’m 90,” she quipped, as Roberts pointed out how Applegate’s sense of humor has helped the actress endure the ordeal.

[From People.com]

Now that Applegate has announced that she had a double mastectomy, I don’t feel bad about repeating other gossip about her. The Enquirer reports in their latest issue that she made the decision not to undergo chemotherapy in order to be able to have a baby. Chemotherapy can cause women to be infertile by stopping ovulation. Applegate is dating 39 year-old Martyn Lenoble, a bass player from Holland. He is said to have been incredibly supportive during her cancer diagnosis and treatment, accompanying to the hospital and being there for her. Applegate wants to have a baby as soon as possible, according to the Enquirer:

Christina decided to opt out of the chemotherapy regimen because it can permanently stop ovulation, leaving her infertile, according to an insider. However, another leading medical expert says Christina is making a smart decision.

Dr. Mary Jane Minkin, professor of gynecology and obstetrics at Yale University told The Enquirer she thinks Christina’s decision to refuse chemotherapy is “absolutely reasonable.”

“I think sometimes breast cancer patients are overtreated to make sure that the cancer is cured. I applaud this, but I think that oncologists should assess the needs of the patient as well.”

Christina now plans to conceive a baby with her boyfriend, musician Martyn Lenoble, 39, as soon as possible. If necessary, after giving birth, she may have to evaluate further treatment options.

“A baby is the most important thing in the world to her right now,” said the insider. Having a baby is her dream.”

[From The National Enquirer, print edition, August 25, 2008]

As JayBird reported earlier today, Applegate is cancer-free and doctors are confident that they removed all the cancer. Maybe she’ll be able to have a child soon if this news that she’s hoping for a baby is true. She deserves a lot of credit for making that very difficult choice to get a double mastectomy and for talking publicly about it. Her story will surely help other women battling cancer along with those who may be able to catch it early as she did.

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