Samantha Harris unveils her plans to undergo double mastectomy after being diagnosed with breast cancer last year.
People Magazine reported that last fall the former "Dancing with the Stars" co-host found a lump on her right breast. She revealed that her mammogram came back clean, but after a visit with a breast cancer specialist months later along with a lumpectomy, Harris was later told that she had breast cancer.
Harris, 40, told People that she made the decision to get a double mastectomy after learning about her treatment options from three different specialists. People reported that Harris had the option of getting a "double mastectomy or a less-radical second lumpectomy with radiation."
Her double mastectomy is scheduled to take place in late April.
"It felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest," Harris told People. "I was sick of feeling the way that I did in the days after the diagnosis. I knew I needed to take control."
Harris, who is a wife to Michael Hess and mother of two young girls, Josselyn, 6, and Hillary, 3 said making the decision to have a double mastectomy meant educating herself about her options and making the right decision for herself and her family. Harris said making the decision made her feel "so much calmer."
"My daughters are three and six, you know. All they're concerned about is to have mommy active, be able to hold them, hug them, kiss them," Harris said in an interview with "Entertainment Tonight". "I want to still do and from what the doctors say, I will still be able to do, but no matter how positive of a diagnosis as I have, it doesn't keep the demons of fear from taking over your mind and your thought process."
