Wanda Sykes reveals double mastectomy, cancer, dislike of walking

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Wanda Sykes had a double mastectomy earlier this year, sparked by a breast cancer diagnosis that came after a breast reduction back in February.

Sykes’ original equipment was ‘real big,’ the actress and comic told Ellen DeGeneres in an interview set to air Monday, ‘and I just got tired of knocking over stuff. Every time I eat -- oh Lord, I’d carry a Tide stick everywhere I go. My back was sore so it was time to have a reduction.’

Funny stuff, until her pathology reports came back revealing what she called a ‘stage zero’ cancer in her left breast. With a history of cancer on her mother’s side of the family and faced with a future of having to stay on top of the situation with exams every three months, she opted for the double mastectomy.

‘I had both breasts removed,’ Sykes said, ‘because now I have zero chance of having breast cancer.’

Gossip Cop first reported the news Thursday. Sykes said she had DCIS, or ductal cancer in situ.

Months later, she was still uncertain about going public with her experience, she said. ‘I was like, I don’t know, should I talk about it or what? How many things could I have? I’m black, then lesbian. I can’t be the poster child for everything,’ she joked

Now the problem is too many cancer-charity walks. ‘I hate walking,’ she said.

Sykes, who came out in 2008, is a parent of twins with wife Alex, whom she married in California that same year. Olivia and Lucas were born in May 2009.

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-- Christie D’Zurilla
Twitter.com/dzurillaville