Christina Applegate is opening up about the painful realities behind some of the most difficult moments of her life. In her new memoir, “You With The Sad Eyes,” the actress reflects on her breast cancer battle and ongoing health struggles while sharing a more honest perspective on what she experienced privately.
The 54-year-old star reveals that when she previously described her 2008 double mastectomy as a “blessing,” it was not how she truly felt. Looking back, Applegate admits she regrets saying it and believes she was trying to put a positive spin on a deeply emotional loss.
According to the Daily Mail, Applegate writes that she felt “disgusted” with herself for making the comment publicly during an interview at the time. She now says it was her way of coping with the heartbreak she felt after losing her breasts following an early-stage breast cancer diagnosis.
Reflecting on Her Breast Cancer Experience
Applegate was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008 after an MRI detected the disease in one of her breasts. Doctors caught the cancer early, but the diagnosis still forced her to make life-changing decisions.
She had also tested positive for the BRCA1 gene mutation, which significantly increases the risk of developing breast cancer. Because of that genetic risk, Applegate ultimately chose to undergo a preventative double mastectomy.
In her memoir, she explains that the emotional toll of the surgery was far greater than she allowed people to see publicly. Per the Daily Mail, Applegate writes that calling the procedure a blessing was her attempt to appear strong even though she was privately grieving the loss.
The actress now believes that response may have unintentionally minimized the emotional pain others experience during similar health battles. She recalls feeling “alone and sad” while coping with what she described as an extremely personal loss.
Opening Up About Life With Multiple Sclerosis
Applegate also uses the memoir to speak candidly about living with multiple sclerosis, which she publicly revealed in 2021.
According to the New York Post, the actress writes that the disease has brought severe physical challenges and often “excruciating” pain that has worsened over time.
She explains that everyday tasks have become more difficult, including reaching for items near her bed because her arms sometimes lack the strength to move. She also experiences intense fatigue that leaves her feeling as if she has gone days without sleep.
The memoir also details symptoms including nerve pain, burning sensations on her skin and numbness in her feet that can make walking painful.
Applegate also addresses some of the more difficult realities of living with MS, including incontinence that has required her to wear adult diapers.
Despite the health challenges, Applegate says she continues to focus on her family and spending time with her teenage daughter, Sadie.
Reflecting on her journey today, Applegate makes it clear she no longer feels the need to hide the truth about her condition.
“I’m not going to lie anymore. MS sucks.”
