Kathy Bates enjoys ‘not having breasts’ after undergoing a double mastectomy amid breast cancer battle

Kathy Bates shed light on her decision not to undergo reconstruction surgery after her double mastectomy in 2012 amid her battle with breast cancer. 

While appearing on Tuesday’s episode of the MeSsy with Christina Applegate & Jamie-Lynn Sigler podcast, the 76-year-old Academy Award winner, who is a a two-time cancer survivor, revealed that she enjoys ‘not having breasts.’

Although she recalled a friend initially expressing concern over her choice to  forgo breast reconstruction, the American Horror Story star explained that she came to the decision due to her age. 

‘At the age I was, I thought, you know, I really don’t wanna go through that. I just didn’t wanna go through it,’ she told listeners.

Bates continued: ‘You know, I wasn’t in a relationship, I was older and I didn’t think I would be in a relationship, and it’s always kind of like, why do I have to?’

The performer also pointed out that she had always had ‘really heavy breasts’ and ‘they were like 10 pounds when they removed them.’

‘This is really weird maybe but I had really heavy breasts,’ she noted. ‘Really big, big breasts and I kind of enjoy not having breasts … it’s strange.’

At the time, she was filming her TV series, Matlock, in which she portrayed Madeline Matlock.

The costume department made her a type of camisole, which she described as having as being made from a similar to Spanx, with ‘very thin straps’ and ‘false-y cups in it’ to give her breasts a ‘nice shape.’

‘I feel so good when I go out like that. For a while, I just didn’t go out with any prophylactics or at all, you know, or I went out with them and they’re hot and heavy and they made me unhappy,’ Bates said. 

The Titanic actress also reflected on choosing to get a mastectomy due to her family history with cancer.

Her aunt died from breast cancer and both her mother and niece had it. 

During her conversation with Applegate and Sigler, the Dead to Me star opened up about her own double mastectomy following her breast cancer diagnosis in 2008.

While appearing on Tuesday’s episode of the MeSsy with Christina Applegate & Jamie-Lynn Sigler podcast, the 76-year-old Academy Award winner, who is a a two-time cancer survivor, revealed that she enjoys ‘not having breasts’ (seen in 2003 ahead of her double mastectomy)

Although she recalled a friend initially expressing concern over her choice to forgo breast reconstruction, the American Horror Story star explained that she came to the decision due to her age; seen in 2016

‘I don’t have nipples and I don’t really care about that part. I don’t need them. I’m totally fine,’ Applegate said. ‘Like you could go out with a tank top without a bra and there’s no like pokey guys coming out.’

Prior to battling breast cancer, Bates was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2003. 

At the time, she underwent surgery and nine months of chemotherapy, before going public with her illness. 

‘I didn’t tell anybody,’ she told People that year. ‘I continued to work right after the operation, doing Little Black Book with Brittany Murphy. My agent at the time was very old-school and didn’t want me to be the poster child for ovarian cancer.’ 

Bates also said she just ‘didn’t want anyone to know’ and the ordeal ‘took a lot out of’ her. 

Bates was also diagnosed with lymphedema following her double mastectomy.

Lymphedema occurs due to ’tissue swelling caused by an accumulation of protein-rich fluid that’s usually drained through the body’s lymphatic system,’ per the Mayo Clinic. 

‘At the age I was, I thought, you know, I really don’t wanna go through that. I just didn’t wanna go through it,’ she told listeners; seen in 2005

‘I got something called lymphedema,’ she said on the The Kelly Clarkson Show in 2019. ‘I don’t know if you’ve heard of it, but for cancer, they remove lymph nodes. I don’t care anywhere in your body. If your lymph system is damaged, at often times the fluid will back up in the affected limb.’

After learning some of her lymph nodes were removed during surgery, Bates told SurvivorNet that she had an emotional reaction and got ‘bitter’ and ‘depressed.’ 

‘I thought my career was over, I thought, “There’s no way, I’m done, everything is done,”‘ she remembered. 

Despite her fears, she has continued to work in Hollywood on numerous shows, including the Matlock reboot and American Horror Story, as well as films like Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. (2023) and Richard Jewell (2019). 

During a recent interview with The New York Times in September, Bates revealed she’s ready to retire, after her new CBS series Matlock runs its course.

The performer also pointed out that she had always had ‘really heavy breasts’ and ‘they were like 10 pounds when they removed them’ (seen in 2018)

The star plays Madeline Matlock in a gender-flipped reboot of the original Matlock series that ran from 1986 to 1995 starring Andy Griffith.

Over her long-running career in entertainment, Bates has earned an Oscar, two Primetime Emmys and two Golden Globes.