Food Network's Sandra Lee Has Breast Cancer

Will undergo double mastectomy; urges women to get screened
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted May 12, 2015 10:58 AM CDT
Updated May 12, 2015 11:17 AM CDT
Food Network's Sandra Lee Has Breast Cancer
In this 2014 file photo, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks to media as his partner, Sandra Lee, looks on after casting his ballot, in Mount Kisco, NY.   (Julie Jacobson)

Food Network star Sandra Lee announced today that she has been diagnosed with breast cancer and will soon undergo a double mastectomy. The popular lifestyle personality and live-in girlfriend of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo divulged the news on ABC's Good Morning America. The 48-year-old Lee says she found out she had cancer late last month in a phone call from her doctor and that she decided to talk about her illness to encourage other women to get screened. "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," she said. "Go pick your phone up, and call your doctor and get your rear end in there and get a mammogram right now."

Lee said she has had a lumpectomy and will have surgery this week. Cuomo said he expects to take some personal time to support Lee "as she handles the trauma of her operation and the pain of the recovery." "Sandy is young for her diagnosis, she has no family history, she is healthy and had no symptoms or signals that she was in danger," Cuomo said. "Sandy has bravely decided to speak openly about her illness in order to remind women of the potentially lifesaving power of early detection." Lee is a cookbook author, magazine publisher, and television chef. Lee and Cuomo have dated for several years and share a home in Westchester County. (More Sandra Lee stories.)

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