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Mastectomy

Food celeb Sandra Lee reveals cancer battle

Ann Oldenburg
USA TODAY
Sandra Lee attends the 2015 Housing Works Groundbreaker Awards at Metropolitan Pavilion  on April 22 in New York City.

On March 27, lifestyle guru and TV chef Sandra Lee got the call from her doctor with those two horrible words — breast cancer.

Lee, 48, whose partner is New York's Gov. Andrew Cuomo, revealed her "personal struggle" this morning on Good Morning America in a segment taped Friday with Robin Roberts.

The star of Semi-Homemade Cooking With Sandra Lee says doctors caught the cancer early. She has had a lumpectomy and is gearing up for a second surgery.

"When the lumpectomy was done, they did not have clean margins."

Her radiologist told her she would need daily radiation for six to eight weeks, so she suggested she have a mastectomy.

"And so I said, 'OK. If I'm going to have a mastectomy, am I supposed to just get one done?' Both the radiologist and the doctor said, 'You're a ticking time bomb.' And they both said, 'You need — I would just get them both done.' "

Lee says Cuomo was "stunned" by the news. But he has been "extremely supportive." She says, "He's going to be in the operating room with me."

Said Lee, "Life turns on a dime." But she vowed she's "not going to let it rob me of happiness."

Soon after the news hit, Cuomo issued a statement supporting his girlfriend and saying he plans to take some time off.

"A few weeks ago we received terrible news. Sandy shared with me that she was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was devastated. ... A situation like this quickly puts life in the proper perspective and reminds one of what's truly important. To that end, I expect to take some personal time because I want to be with Sandy to support her in any way I can as she handles the trauma of her operation and the pain of the recovery. ... With heartfelt gratitude for your kind wishes and support, Sandy and I hope and pray to bring you good news of her strong recovery soon."

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