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- Kathy Bates chose not to have breast reconstruction surgery after her double mastectomy in 2012.
- The actor said on a podcast that she didn't see a point in the surgery and enjoys "not having breasts."
- Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer death among women in the US, with rising cases in women below 50.
Kathy Bates, 76, is speaking out about the reason she chose to forgo reconstruction surgery after getting a double mastectomy in 2012 due to breast cancer.
On Tuesday's episode of the "Messy with Christina Applegate & Jamie-Lynn Sigler" podcast, Bates spoke about how a friend of hers was "concerned" when she decided against getting breast reconstruction surgery.
"I decided not to have reconstruction because, at the age I was, I thought, you know, I really don't want to go through that," Bates told podcast hosts Christina Applegate and Jamie-Lynn Sigler.
The "Titanic" actor said that she didn't see a point in getting reconstructive surgery back then.
"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?" Bates said.
Moreover, not getting reconstructive surgery meant that there was a literal load off her chest.
"This is really weird, maybe, but I had really heavy breasts. They were like 10 pounds when they removed them. Really big, big breasts, and I kind of enjoy not having breasts. It's strange," she said.
During the filming of her TV drama "Matlock," in which she plays the titular character, Bates said that the production crew designed a special camisole for her.
"Very thin straps, and they put little, you know, false cups in it, and they're so comfortable, and they give me a nice shape," Bates said. "I feel so good when I go out like that."
According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women in the US.
Each year in the US, about 270,000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in women, and about 42,000 women die from the disease, per the CDC.
Although breast cancer mainly occurs in middle-aged and older women, the disease is on the rise among those who are 50 and below.
Some common symptoms of breast cancer include a hard, painless lump around the breast area, nipple discharge, and dimpling on the breast in a way that's similar to an orange peel.
As of September, mammograms in the US will screen for breast density. Those who have a higher breast density have an increased risk of developing breast cancer, but having dense breasts can also make it harder for doctors to spot cancer in a mammogram.
A representative for Bates did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by Business Insider outside regular hours.