Cynthia Bailey is hopeful about her mother’s battle with stage 1 breast cancer.
The 55-year-old ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’ recently told Vidak For Congress exclusively that Barbara Ford Morris is expected to make a full recovery after undergoing a lumpectomy on Monday.
“They found it through her mammogram. She felt nothing. That was the only way they found it,” Bailey said.
“The good news is that we were there early. Early discovery saved my mother’s life.”
The “Terror Lake Drive” actress is extremely relieved that, as of now, Morris’ treatment plan does not include chemotherapy.
“She doesn’t need chemo,” she said. “They’re going to delete” [the cancer], and then they’re going to give her radiation afterwards. So she should be good.”
In an Instagram post on Monday, Bailey thanked her friends, family and fans for “all the love, phone calls, texts and prayers” as Morris was “a little anxious and nervous” before the surgery.
Despite all the jitters, the former Bravolebrity noted that Morris also appeared to be “mentally and emotionally in a good mood” under the care of medical staff at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta.
“Her blood pressure was too high for surgery when they prepared her, but luckily they were able to get it down before surgery,” she wrote. “Now we pray and wait.”
Bailey told us that waiting was grueling at the start of Morris’s battle with breast cancer.
“They don’t tell you anything other than that they found cancer. Then you have to wait a week and a half before going inside. And of course we went in an hour early to make sure we could get in. We couldn’t get in fast enough,” she explained.
“It was painful. But knowing she was going to be okay was the biggest blessing and put us both at ease.”
Bailey’s husband, Mike Hill, is optimistic Morris’s story will inspire others to prioritize their health.
“I’m so thankful they found it early. Cynthia’s mom is so happy to go to the doctor,” the sports reporter told us Saturday at his 52nd birthday party at Seventy7 North in Studio City, California.
“I hope it inspires women — and everyone else for that matter — to go through those checkups and take care of their health,” he explained, applauding his wife and mother-in-law for getting through a tough time together.
“Cynthia and her mom have been so strong through it all, and I couldn’t be more proud of both of them,” Hill added. “The day of the operation is Monday and everything will be fine. I believe that.”