Kathy Bates

I said, you know, just take both off because I had mainly it was in my left breast, but there were some troubling things in my right breast. And so I decided to have them both removed. I didn't opt for reconstruction. I don't know why. I think at the time I just, I didn't want to do it. And they put drains in and they're, they're very, thick, heavy, not heavy, but thick plastic drains.

Yeah. And for some reason on the left side, it must have hit a nerve. I don't know what it was, but it was so painful. And I realized when they removed it, that's what the extra pain was. There was the pain involved. And then I developed lymphedema after that, which my arms were very swollen. I could only wear men's shirts for a long time.

Yeah. And for some reason on the left side, it must have hit a nerve. I don't know what it was, but it was so painful. And I realized when they removed it, that's what the extra pain was. There was the pain involved. And then I developed lymphedema after that, which my arms were very swollen. I could only wear men's shirts for a long time.

Yeah. And for some reason on the left side, it must have hit a nerve. I don't know what it was, but it was so painful. And I realized when they removed it, that's what the extra pain was. There was the pain involved. And then I developed lymphedema after that, which my arms were very swollen. I could only wear men's shirts for a long time.

And through my doctor here, I met Bill Rapisi, who is the CEO of the Lymphatic Education and Research Network. He asked me to come aboard as a national spokesperson. And I said, Bill, I've never done this before. I don't know if I can do a good job, what's involved. But he told me a couple of really disturbing facts that nearly 10 million people in this country suffer from some kind of lymphedema.

And through my doctor here, I met Bill Rapisi, who is the CEO of the Lymphatic Education and Research Network. He asked me to come aboard as a national spokesperson. And I said, Bill, I've never done this before. I don't know if I can do a good job, what's involved. But he told me a couple of really disturbing facts that nearly 10 million people in this country suffer from some kind of lymphedema.

And through my doctor here, I met Bill Rapisi, who is the CEO of the Lymphatic Education and Research Network. He asked me to come aboard as a national spokesperson. And I said, Bill, I've never done this before. I don't know if I can do a good job, what's involved. But he told me a couple of really disturbing facts that nearly 10 million people in this country suffer from some kind of lymphedema.

And about 50,000 of those are congenitals. So it strikes kids. When we were lobbying in Congress, I met a man who lost three kids to pulmonary lymphedema. Doctors in medical school, in four years of medical school, spend 15 minutes on learning about the lymphatic system.

And about 50,000 of those are congenitals. So it strikes kids. When we were lobbying in Congress, I met a man who lost three kids to pulmonary lymphedema. Doctors in medical school, in four years of medical school, spend 15 minutes on learning about the lymphatic system.

And about 50,000 of those are congenitals. So it strikes kids. When we were lobbying in Congress, I met a man who lost three kids to pulmonary lymphedema. Doctors in medical school, in four years of medical school, spend 15 minutes on learning about the lymphatic system.

Well, I'm thrilled to hear you say all of that, because that means that the doctors have learned about it and are making patients aware. When I had breast cancer and I had my breast cancer done at a top notch place here. But the doctors didn't talk to me about that.

Well, I'm thrilled to hear you say all of that, because that means that the doctors have learned about it and are making patients aware. When I had breast cancer and I had my breast cancer done at a top notch place here. But the doctors didn't talk to me about that.

Well, I'm thrilled to hear you say all of that, because that means that the doctors have learned about it and are making patients aware. When I had breast cancer and I had my breast cancer done at a top notch place here. But the doctors didn't talk to me about that.

I kept talking to them about it because I had been dating a guy at the time who had it in his left arm and it's progressive and it's incurable. And he had gone through an experimental treatment to survive cancer and did not want to go to another doctor until, you know, ever in his life. And as a result, his arm became like wood. Oh, my gosh. And that was my fear.

I kept talking to them about it because I had been dating a guy at the time who had it in his left arm and it's progressive and it's incurable. And he had gone through an experimental treatment to survive cancer and did not want to go to another doctor until, you know, ever in his life. And as a result, his arm became like wood. Oh, my gosh. And that was my fear.

I kept talking to them about it because I had been dating a guy at the time who had it in his left arm and it's progressive and it's incurable. And he had gone through an experimental treatment to survive cancer and did not want to go to another doctor until, you know, ever in his life. And as a result, his arm became like wood. Oh, my gosh. And that was my fear.

And also that, you know, I was afraid that that was what lymphedema was. And I was full of rage because I had told the doctors, I'm worried about this. I'm worried about this. I'm worried about this. And they took so many lymph nodes. But I'm thrilled that they told you all of that. Because back then, my doctor had to go and look it up on the Internet. Wow.

And also that, you know, I was afraid that that was what lymphedema was. And I was full of rage because I had told the doctors, I'm worried about this. I'm worried about this. I'm worried about this. And they took so many lymph nodes. But I'm thrilled that they told you all of that. Because back then, my doctor had to go and look it up on the Internet. Wow.

And also that, you know, I was afraid that that was what lymphedema was. And I was full of rage because I had told the doctors, I'm worried about this. I'm worried about this. I'm worried about this. And they took so many lymph nodes. But I'm thrilled that they told you all of that. Because back then, my doctor had to go and look it up on the Internet. Wow.

He found this woman, wonderful Dr. Emily Iger, who was able to work with me and get my arms down over a period of time. And now that I've lost a lot of weight, that really helped. But trying to educate people over the last 10 years has been a real journey. We would get emails from people. I remember one guy, I'll never forget him, John Dayo.