No one is as equally scary and funny as Kathy Bates, who has won awards for her parts in comedies, dramas, and thrillers.
Her current role as a two-time cancer survivor dealing with lymphedema – her hardest challenge yet – might not win a Hollywood award but she’s gained worldwide recognition as an inspiration.
The 75-year-old actress, who after having her uterus, breasts, and lymph nodes taken out was told she had an incurable lymphatic disease, said she feels “blessed” to use her “fame to do something that can maybe help others.” Keep reading to discover this amazing actress’s health journey!
Born in Tennessee, Kathy Bates is a performer on stage and screen. She is best known for her award-winning roles in Misery, Primary Colors, Clint Eastwood’s Richard Jewell, and American Horror Story: Coven.
Since starting her career in the early 1970s, the actress has received many nominations for her scary dramatic and comedic performances.
In 2003, just one year after shocking viewers by appearing fully nude alongside Jack Nicholson in About Schmidt, Bates found out she had ovarian cancer.
Then in 2012 came the diagnosis of breast cancer which led to a double mastectomy.
Bates’ health troubles didn’t seem like they would get better.
‘I went crazy’
“Then I got something called lymphedema,” she shared with Kelly Clarkson during an appearance on her show back in 2019. “I don’t know if you’ve heard of it but when treating cancer they take away lymph nodes. It doesn’t matter where it is on your body. If your lymph system gets damaged often fluid backs up into the affected limb.”
When treating cancers doctors usually remove lymph nodes because the aggressive disease can spread through the lymphatic system. Once those nodes are gone extra fluid can build up causing swelling typically seen in arms or hands.
Speaking with SurvivorNet about this tough time of hers ,the star from Dolores Claiborne says that dealing with lymphedema was harder than facing cancer itself.
“I went berserk,” she explained. “I left my check-up room running out of there while still having my drains attached; I was holding a pillow against my chest thinking ‘What am I doing? It’s July! It’s hot outside; I’m still healing; I don’t want anything bad happening.’”
The star from Fried Green Tomatoes added: “I felt bitter and depressed thinking my career was over; everything seemed done.”
Even though this condition cannot be cured or reversed The National Health Service (NHS) says that major symptoms of lymphedema can be treated by taking steps to reduce fluid buildup.
‘Light inside’
But then Kathy found an expert who helped manage it all.
“I went to see her feeling angry telling all my stories,” Bates recalled. “She said ‘That’s all behind you now; let’s start fresh.’” Speaking about this doctor Bates added: “Some people just have light inside them.”
Alongside treatments & compression sleeves for pain relief & swelling management both arms ,the star from The Blind Side also discovered healing through helping others.
Now advocating for lymphedema awareness ,Bates serves as national spokesperson for Lymphatic Education & Research Network (LE&RN). “It’s estimated around ten million people suffer from it,”she mentioned during Clarkson’s show.”That number exceeds ALS,muscular dystrophy ,MS,Parkinson’s,and AIDS combined.”
Bates also emphasized how important it is for patients needing help pushing doctors towards proper diagnoses since sometimes conditions like lymphedema go unnoticed.”Nobody knows about it especially if we’re bigger girls going into appointments saying ‘My legs feel swollen’ only get told ‘Just eat healthier.'”
Luckily,the star from Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret found support systems allowing management without letting health issues slow down progress .
Most recently appearing within 2023’s film titled The Miracle Club Bates concluded:”I never wanted any type of cancer…and definitely not wanting lymphedema…but feeling blessed [to have faced these challenges] because otherwise wouldn’t be able utilize fame towards helping others.”
Kathy Bates truly inspires us showing how fame can create positive change!
Please share your thoughts regarding this story below so we hear what everyone thinks!
