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

Now an advocate for lymphedema, Bates – acting as the national spokesperson for the Lymphatic Education and Research Network (LE&RN) – uses her profile to bring awareness to the condition. “It’s estimated that 10 million people in this country suffer with it,” she told Clarkson. “That’s more than ALS, muscular dystrophy, MS, Parkinson’s, and AIDS combined.”

Bates also shared with Clarkson that it’s crucial for patients to push for a concrete diagnosis if they’re not feeling well. Mostly because lymphedema can go unnoticed by doctors. “Nobody knows about it and especially if we’re big girls and we go to a doctor and say, ‘I don’t feel right, my legs are swelling’ they say, ‘Oh, just go have a salad,’” she explained.

Bates, who most recently appeared in 2023’s The Miracle Club, added: “I didn’t want to have cancer…and I really don’t want to have lymphedema…I feel blessed [to have the condition] because if I didn’t, I wouldn’t be in a position to use my celebrity to do something that can maybe help people.”