Former Dancing With The Stars Host Talks Surviving Breast Cancer

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Former co-host of ABC TV’s "Dancing With The Stars" and "Entertainment Tonight," Samantha Harris will headline Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset’s 11th annual Breast Cancer Awareness Month Event on Tuesday, Oct. 16 at the Bridgewater Manor.

Harris will share her inspirational story of surviving stage 2 breast cancer and how it “ignited” her change in her entire lifestyle. She will also talk about her book “Your Healthiest Healthy: 8 Easy Ways to Take Control, Help Prevent and Fight Cancer, and Live a Longer, Cleaner, Happier Life.”

“I was 40 and more fit and healthier than I had ever been or so I thought,” Harris told Patch. “I went for a mammogram and 11 days after receiving the all clear, I found a lump after changing clothes. I went to two doctors who said it was nothing. But I had to listen to my inner gut and had a specialist look at it.”

That’s when a lumpectomy was performed and the stage 2 breast cancer was found.

“Even when I had a breast specialist take a look at it and had two ultrasounds and an MRI and a needle biopsy — none of that detected cancer,” Harris said.

Harris found that listening to her gut instinct helped save her own life and changed her outlook on life.

“I was blindsided by the cancer diagnosis but even though it sidelined me, it didn’t devour me,” Harris said. “Instead it ignited a passion to want to find answers.”

Harris touches on this in her book where she tackles nutrition, exercise, body IQ, a guide for cancer patients, survivors and those caring for a loved one.

“My message is for others to be their own best health advocate,” Harris said. “You need to be able to tell your doctor if you do not feel right, to pursue it. Part of that is to know your own body and to build a body IQ. Understand all the different mechanisms that should be running and know what is normal so that you can hopefully notice when something is not right.”

She also talks about toxins not just in your body but on or around your body in relation to beauty products, toxic friendships and more.

“I talk about how to deliver a health crisis to children broken down in ages; how to ask for help especially for moms who are usually the doers in the family," Harris said. "And I have a passage written by my husband about how to help when you are the caregiver or you have someone you love going through this.”

The event is being held on Tuesday, Oct. 16 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at Bridgewater Manor, 1251 Route 202/206 in Bridgewater.

Cost is $25 and includes dinner. Registration is required by calling 888-MD-RWJUH.

For more information on the event visit www.rwjbh.org/somerset. For more information on Harris and her book visit Amazon or Facebook or Twitter or samantha-harris.com.

(Image via RWJ: Samantha Harris)

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