Actress Sharon Stone opens up about having to surgically remove tumors bigger than her breast

After receiving a Courage Award from the Women's Cancer Research Fund earlier this month, actress Sharon Stone revisited having had "gigantic [tumors] bigger than my breasts" removed in 2001. 

A recent story by Anthony Dominic on the ET (Entertainment Tonight) website indicates that the 65-year-old actor insisted women shouldn't "ever feel compelled not to get a mammogram, not to get a blood test, not to get surgery because it doesn't matter. I'm standing here telling you I had a one and a half and more tissue of my breasts removed and none of you knew it."

Stone had opted to half one breast removed, and half of the second, ending with reconstruction that resulted in an unauthorized breast enlargement, before learning that her massive tumors had been benign.

Sharon Stone

The Basic Instinct star, speaking at the fundraising event at the Four Seasons Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills, admitted that "those mammograms are not fun," but also said that the "mammogram machines that your taxpayer dollars pay for don't work if you don't walk up and put your breast up in that machine and let them slam that thing down."

She recalled that she'd gone into the hospital saying, "'If you open me up and it's cancer, please take both breasts,' because I am not a person defined by my breasts. You know, that might seem funny coming from me since you've all seen 'em."

During her plea for donations, she wiped tears from her eyes and noted that she'd just lost "half my money" via "this banking thing," an apparent reference to the Silicon Valley Bank collapse. It's been a tough time in the world for everyone, she added, specifying her own difficulties — including the death of her brother Patrick to a heart attack last month at age 57. 

Stone, who'd received an Oscar nomination in 1996 for Casino, had originally revealed in her memoir, The Beauty of Living Twice, that not only had she had the breast surgery but that she'd suffered a stroke in 2001.

Multiple sources reported that Stone was being honored for raising awareness about breast cancer. At one pint, she honored survivors in the audience by asking them to stand up and be recognized.

For more information on diagnoses and reconstruction, check out Rollercoaster: How a man can survive his partner's breast cancer, a VitalityPress book that I, Woody Weingarten, aimed at male caregivers.

TV star has 'no idea how to react' to good news

Remission! Two-year battle with breast cancer being won by actress Shannen Doherty

Actress Shannen Doherty's breast cancer apparently has gone into remission.

After a two-year public battle with the disease.

According to an article by Umberto Gonzales in The Wrap over the weekend, Doherty wrote on Instagram that she has "no idea how to react," and added that "for now, I'm going to just breathe."

Shannen Doherty

But the "Beverly Hills, 90210" television star is realistic.

She noted that "as every single one of my fellow cancer family knows, the next five years is crucial. Recurrences happen all the time."

Meanwhile, she said, "Decisions. Reconstruction, which is several surgeries. Decision on taking a pill for the next five years comes with its own set of problems and side effects."

Her over-all feeling, however, was that "I am blessed."

Her battle became public when, according to Gonzales, "she sued her former management firm after her health insurances lapsed," which led to a delay in having her breast cancer diagnosed.

The star has undergone chemotherapy and a mastectomy.

Details about the disease, reconstruction, side effects and follow-up treatments can be found in "Rollercoaster: How a man can survive his partner's breast cancer," a VitalityPress book I, Woody Weingarten, aimed at male caregivers.