Why Kathy Bates decided not to have reconstruction surgery after double mastectomy

Kathy Bates is opening up about her decision to forgo reconstruction surgery after undergoing a double mastectomy following a 2012 breast cancer diagnosis.

The “Matlock” star, 76, explained on the Nov. 12 episode of the “MeSsy with Christina Applegate & Jamie-Lynn Sigler” podcast that she is fine “not having breasts” now.

But the Oscar winner, who received the breast cancer diagnosis nearly a decade after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2003, recalled that a friend of hers was “concerned” about her decision to skip reconstruction surgery at the time.

In the end, explained Bates, it came down to her age.

“I decided not to have reconstruction because 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 said. 

“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?” she said.

Bates, who has lost 100 pounds over the past seven years, added that her breasts had always felt “heavy” to her.

“This is really weird maybe but I had really heavy breasts,” she shared. “They were like 10 pounds when they removed them. Really big, big breasts and I kind of enjoy not having breasts. It’s strange.”

Bates added that the costumers on “Matlock” created a “really cool” camisole for her that’s made a Spanx-like material.

“They put little falsie cups in it. They’re so comfortable and they give me a nice shape,” she said. “I feel so good when I go out like that.”

Bates noted that she considered at least one other cosmetic choice after undergoing an mastectomy. “For a while, I was thinking, ooh, I want to get a tattoo,” she said, noting that she changed her mind because she was diagnosed with lymphedema.

Bates announced her breast cancer diagnosis in September 2012 on Twitter, now called X.

“Hey All, sorry for the long silence,” she wrote at the time. “I was diagnosed with breast cancer 2 months ago & am recovering from a double mastectomy.”

Bates jokingly continued, “I don’t miss my breasts as much as I miss Harry’s Law,” referring to the NBC comedy-drama in which she starred that was canceled in 2012.

“Thanks for all the sweet tweets. Y’all kept me going,” she added.