Christina Applegate opens up to ET about how she's coping with life after her double mastectomy as well as how she's helping other at-risk women.
Christina Applegate was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008, overcoming the disease by having a double mastectomy later the same year. Now, she's opening up to ET about how she's coping with life after the procedure as well as how she's helping other at-risk women.
"I lost my mind," said Christina, 42, when asked how she reacted to her diagnosis. "I still sometimes lose my mind six years later. You look down and you have a daily reminder of everything that you've gone through."
The double mastectomy saved her life at age 36 after her breast cancer was detected by an MRI. Applegate is a huge advocate for early detection, saying she started getting mammograms at age 30, while it's usually suggested not to start that procedure until 40. "People always say early detection. ...We're seeing that happening to 18-year-old girls getting breast cancer."
She added of her journey, "My doctor said, 'The mammograms are not working for you, because you're too dense. So, we're gonna do an MRI, and it was with the MRI that I found cancer, years before a mammogram would have."
The Married with Children star finds that as a mother to Sadie Grace, she worries that it might be the foods we eat that have something to do with women getting cancer so early on in life. "We have her on a completely plant-based diet," she told ET's Brooke Anderson. "It's because I want her to have the best chance possible."
Today, Christina's foundation Right Action for Women offers free MRIs for high-risk women. "Were into almost 500 now," said Applegate. "We've spent over half a million dollars on MRIs, which is really incredible, which is a lot of money."
The actress admits that the cost of those MRIs has taken its toll. "Now we need to replenish, please," she said with a chuckle.
Next Saturday, you can help by joining us in the EIF Revlon Run/Walk for Women in Los Angeles.
Watch the video for more.
