TV food star Sandra Lee recovering at home after breast cancer surgery

ALBANY, N.Y. (KABC) -- Food Network television star Sandra Lee was released from the hospital Monday following breast cancer surgery.

She returned to the Mount Kisco home she shares with New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Lee posted photos to her Facebook page Monday showing her smiling and sitting with Cuomo in the backyard of their suburban NYC home.

Lee underwent a double mastectomy last week.

Saturday morning seemed to be the toughest for Lee, with her pain "at its peak." Later in the day, she spoke about her recovery from her hospital bed in a video message posted on Facebook.

"I didn't expect to be here still on Saturday, but I am glad I am here because the medication is just throwing me for a loop," Lee said.

The celebrity chef says she's lost about 15 pounds in just the last five days. She says she's determined to get better and is encouraging all women to get checked.

Cuomo, her boyfriend, said that Lee's double mastectomy concluded early Tuesday afternoon and that she is doing "as well as can be expected."

The 48-year-old lifestyle personality revealed her diagnosis on ABC's "Good Morning America" on May 12. Her surgery was initially scheduled for later that week but was delayed after Lee came down with an upper respiratory infection.

In her message posted to Facebook before the operation, Lee thanked those who offered prayers and messages of support. Cuomo accompanied Lee to the hospital and is taking some personal time to be with her following her operation.

Lee says she found out she had cancer in late April just after she finished a photo shoot for People magazine. She said she decided to talk about her illness to encourage other women to get screened.

"If it saves one person, and makes one more person go get a mammogram, and if they're sitting down right now watching this, don't watch this TV," she said during her interview on "GMA". "Go pick your phone up, and call your doctor and get your rear end in there and get a mammogram right now."

Lee is a cookbook author, magazine publisher and television chef. Lee and Cuomo have dated for several years and share a home in Westchester County.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.