Sandra Lee Undergoes Double Mastectomy
"Governor Cuomo stayed by her side until she fell asleep," her team wrote.
— -- Lifestyle guru Sandra Lee underwent a double mastectomy for her breast cancer, her partner, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, said this afternoon.
"Around 8 a.m. this morning, Sandy underwent surgery that concluded just before 1 p.m. I am happy to report that she is doing as well as can be expected and has begun the post-surgery recovery process," Cuomo said in a statement to ABC News. "On behalf of Sandy and myself, I want to thank everyone for their kind thoughts and prayers over the last few days. Your support has meant the world to us."
A photo was also posted to Twitter.
The news was also posted to Lee's Facebook page, which shared a story of Lee's bravery heading into the operating room.
"Governor Andrew Cuomo drove Sandra and her sister Kimber to the hospital. ... When the medical staff rolled a gurney in to wheel Sandra to the O.R., she said she'd rather walk. And so she did, with the governor by her side down the long hospital corridors," the post read. "Once Sandra was in the O.R., Governor Cuomo stayed by her side until she fell asleep, and the surgeons got to work."
This is Lee's second surgery for the cancer. Lee, 48, told "Good Morning America's" Robin Roberts last week that she had already had a lumpectomy.
"When the lumpectomy was done, they did not have clean margins. And so I went back to my radiologist," who told her radiation for six to eight weeks and a mastectomy was recommended.
"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 added.
Lee's mastectomy was supposed to happen last week, but the TV star suffered an upper respiratory infection, and it was delayed until today, she shared on Twitter.
Lee said she found the cancer after "a normal mammogram."
Lee said she was opening up about her cancer battle, so that younger women would get regular check ups.
"Girls in 20s and their 30s just have to know. And I don't want women to wait. And that's why I'm talking," she told "GMA."