Kathy Bates emphasizes importance of cancer screenings for women

TORRANCE, Calif. (KABC) -- Actress Kathy Bates is an Oscar, Emmy and Golden Globe winner, but she's also a two-time cancer survivor.

Breast cancer is a serious topic, but on Friday Bates greeted a South Bay audience with a little levity.

At Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center Torrance's Power of Pink Wellness Conference, Bates shared how she discovered early-stage ovarian cancer in 2003. A uterine cyst tipped off doctors.

"It was just about to attach itself to my colon, so I was incredibly lucky," she said.

The doctors were able to find the tumor early. A decade later, she was starring in a hit series and put her regular mammogram on hold. When her schedule opened up, the scan revealed breast cancer that had spread to her lymph nodes.

"I should have been more vigilant myself," she said.

Doctors tested her for breast cancer gene mutations, but tested negative, she said.

Breast cancer will kill 40,000 people this year. Just because you don't think you're at risk, Bates' message is no matter how busy you are, you should make time to take care of yourself.

Dr. Gylnis Albone said money raised from Friday's event will fund new breast cancer screening technology. But survivors like Anne Lemaire said it won't save lives if women are not getting screened.

Besides acting in another hit series, Bates is using her spotlight to get other women passionate about their own health, which is healing for her.

"Life just turns on a dime and so I really want to stay in the present moment," she said.