
Wanda Sykes Emmys Headshot - P 2011
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images- Share this article on Facebook
- Share this article on Twitter
- Share this article on Email
- Show additional share options
- Share this article on Print
- Share this article on Comment
- Share this article on Whatsapp
- Share this article on Linkedin
- Share this article on Reddit
- Share this article on Pinit
- Share this article on Tumblr
Wanda Sykes taped an interview for the Ellen DeGeneres Show, set to air Monday. And, during the conversation, the comedian revealed some big news.
Sykes said she underwent a double mastectomy earlier this year after receiving a breast cancer diagnosis which followed a breast reduction in February.
VIDEO: NBC News’ Andrea Mitchell Reveals She Has Breast Cancer
“It wasn’t until after the reduction, in the lab work, the pathology, that they found that I had DCIS in my left breast,” The Muppets actress revealed.
DCIS or “zero stage cancer” is a noninvasive capsule of suspicious cells that has the possibility of transforming into a life-threatening tumor.
STORY: Chris Rock, Wanda Sykes React to Tracy Morgan Anti-Gay Comments
Rather than risk it, Sykes, whose mother’s side of the family has a history of breast cancer, opted to have them removed.
“I had the choice of, you can go back every three months and get it checked. Have a mammogram, MRI every three months just to see what it’s doing,” she told Ellen. “But, I’m not good on keeping on top of stuff. I mean, I’m sure I’m overdue for an oil change and a teeth cleaning already,” she joked.
She also said she didn’t want to become a cancer poster-child. “How many things could I have? Black, lesbian, and I’m like I can’t be the poster child for everything.”
See the video below
THR Newsletters
Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day