NEED TO KNOW
Real Housewives of Dallas alum D’Andra Simmons revealed she has breast cancer
Simmons, 56, said she’s the third woman on her mother’s side of the family to be diagnosed with breast cancer “that we know about’
Simmons said she was getting a tumor and some lymph nodes removed, adding, “After today, I will add breast cancer survivor to a long list of life experiences”
Real Housewives of Dallas alum D’andra Simmons underwent three procedures for breast cancer at the medical center founded by her uncle, saying, “After today, I will add breast cancer survivor to a long list of life experiences.”
Simmons, 56, shared on Instagram in a July 29 post that “I didn’t think I would be the recipient of care at the UTSW Simmons Cancer Center my uncle Harold Simmons and his Foundation established almost 30 years ago, but now I have breast cancer.”
Dandra Simmons/Instagram
(From left) Jeremy Lock, Dr. Deborah Farr, D’Andra Simmons, Dee Simmons
Although she didn’t elaborate on the stage of her cancer, Simmons did explain in her Instagram stories that she had a tumor — and offered details about the series of procedures she needed to undergo during a “very busy, packed morning.”
First, she said, comes seed localization, which is where a small, radioactive seed is placed exactly on the tumor. “That way when the surgeon goes in, they’ll know exactly where to take the tumor out,” Simmons explained. The second procedure is identifying which lymph nodes to remove during surgery.
“The next phase is the surgery,” she said. “I told you it’s going to be kind of a long day.”
Simmons was accompanied by her mother, Dee Simmons, whom she showed on camera waiting with her in the hospital, and her husband Jeremy Lock, who drove her to the hospital and quipped that they were ready to “get that s—t out of there”, prompting her to joke, “What did you say? You said a bad word.”
On a more serious note, Simmons shared that she’s “truly grateful to have such an excellent care team in place. I’m the 3rd woman on my mother’s side of the family to be diagnosed with breast cancer…that we know about. After today, I will add breast cancer survivor to a long list of life experiences.”
She concluded: “I look forward to telling my story to inspire others in the future. Thank you to everyone that has sent prayers and support to my family and me. We appreciate it so very much and love having your support. ❤️🙏”
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