Kathy Bates went ‘berserk’ after being diagnosed with incurable condition

In treating cancers, lymph nodes are often removed because the invasive disease often travels through the lymphatic system. Once the nodes are gone, extra lymph fluid can build up in tissues and cause swelling, usually in the arm and hand.

Speaking with survivors Net, the Dolores Claiborne star shares that the hardest part of her health journey wasn’t cancer, but lymphedema, a side effect of her surgery.

“I went berserk,” she said. “I left the examining room and ran out of the building. I still had my drains in, I was holding a pillow to my t*ts, and I thought, ‘What am I doing? It’s July, I’m standing out here, it’s hot, I’m still healing, I don’t want to hurt anything.’”

The Fried Green Tomatoes star added: “I was bitter, I was depressed. I thought my career was over, I thought, ‘There’s no way, I’m done, everything is done.’”

Though the condition is incurable and progressive, The National Health Service (NHS) reports that lymphedema’s major symptoms are treatable by using measures that limit fluid accumulation.

‘Light inside’
But then she found a lymphedema expert who helped her cope.

“I went to her, still angry, and told her all of my tales. And she said, ‘Well, that’s all in the past, and now you’re going to begin the rest of your life.’” Speaking of her doctor, Bates continued: “Some people just have light inside.”

In addition to her treatments and compression sleeves to manage the pain and swelling in both of her arms, the Blind Side star also found healing in helping others.