The former ‘Dancing with the Stars’ co-host was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014
Ten years after her first battle with breast cancer, former ‘Dancing with the Stars’ co-host Samantha Harris has been diagnosed with the disease once again.
On Wednesday, Harris shared a heartfelt video on Instagram, where she opened up about her diagnosis and expressed gratitude for the love and support she has received.
In the video, Harris, who is 50 years old, shared, “I have some health news that I need to share that I never thought I would be sharing again in my lifetime, but I have a recurrence of breast cancer. I feel so fortunate to have been able to guide, support, and lead so many of you in ‘Your Healthiest Healthy’ community. I will continue to do so and will fight on. I will be okay.”
Samantha Harris had her first diagnosis of breast cancer in 2014. Harris continued, “I’m so grateful for my family and my close friends. As I lean on them, I also reach out to lean on you during this time, and I will continue to share more as my treatment plan unravels. I’ll see you soon.”
In another video posted on Saturday, Harris shared the steps she was taking leading up to her surgery day.
She explained: “It is surgery day, so stop number one is I have to get a surgical clip put into the breast to show the surgeon where the cancerous tumor is when he goes in, the cancerous tissue so that he knows what to take out.” Harris was preparing for partial mastectomy surgery.
In 2014, Harris told People magazine that she found a lump on her right breast. Tests confirmed it was breast cancer, leading her to undergo a double mastectomy.
She said at the time, “It felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest. I was sick of feeling the way that I did in the days after the diagnosis. I knew I needed to take control.”
Harris co-hosted ‘Dancing with the Stars’ alongside Tom Bergeron for two seasons, from 2010 to 2012.
Harris isn’t the only former ‘DWTS’ alum affected by cancer. In 2022, former professional dancer Witney Carson opened up about being diagnosed with melanoma, a type of skin cancer, weeks before she was set to move to Los Angeles in 2014.
Carson shared with People magazine, “I finally got this call that was going to just skyrocket my career. It was my dream.” But her diagnosis came at a crucial time, and she recounted, “All of a sudden I get diagnosed with melanoma and, of course, being myself, I’m like, ‘It’s fine. I can still go on the show.’”
Carson noted she felt embarrassed to reveal her diagnosis because she wanted to maintain the image of being healthy and fit. She said, “I think I was embarrassed only in the fact that I was an athlete, and I was supposed to be encompassing everything healthy and fit. It was embarrassing for me to be like, ‘Yes, I was sick. I was literally sick.’”
Carson, who was diagnosed with skin cancer at 19, hinted that her use of tanning beds during high school might have contributed to her diagnosis. Both of her parents are melanoma cancer survivors, indicating a genetic component as well.
Samantha Harris and Witney Carson’s courage to share their journeys provides valuable awareness and support to many dealing with similar health challenges. Their stories remind us of the importance of early detection and the strength required to face such battles head-on.
