Kathy Bates Kept Cancer Secret, Beat It by Herself
An Oscar-winning actress has come out and stated that she battled ovarian cancer several years ago, but is coming out now to shed light on her ordeal.
Kathy Bates explained that she had not disclosed her ovarian cancer diagnosis in 2003 because the Hollywood actress was told by those around not to do so.
Bates, in an interview with CNN's Anderson Cooper, said that during that time in her life she was under contract for an upcoming movie.
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"I was contracted to go into a movie at that time, 'Little Black Book' with Brittany Murphy, who I miss very much, but my doctors at the time, they had to get insurance approval and all of that, so I was very quiet about it," Bates said.
When asked why she was so quiet about revealing her condition, Bates replied: "I was advised to."
"I had to go back to work right away and I guess part of it was just, I don't know how to explain it, nobody else really knows what you're going through except another cancer patient," Bates said.
Bates admitted that her friends and family were very supportive but that she felt as if she needed to face it by herself.
"Even though your family is supportive and surrounds you, I just got to the point where I would go to chemo by myself and just really go through it on my own. I guess it's something I felt I had to face on my own," Bates said.
Bates is known for her roles in films such as; "Titanic," "Misery," "Fried Green Tomatoes" and "Primary Colors." She currently stars in the TV drama "Harry's Law."
Bates is staying positive and is spreading her story encouraging women to get checked regularly.
"Pay attention to what's going on in [your] body ... Whatever it is, something that's bothering you – so what if they think you're crazy for going to the doctor? Go to the doctor."
