Cheri Oteri shared that she recently underwent breast cancer surgery.
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The Saturday Night Live alum and Scary Movie star shared the health update on the June 11 episode of Dear Chelsea, a podcast hosted by comedian Chelsea Handler.
Cheri Oteri Talked About Her Diagnosis
The actress was diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). It is an early form of the breast cancer. According to the Mayo Clinic, the cancer cells are in the breast's milk duct. They have yet to spread to the nearby breast tissue.
Oteri said she caught the disease "really early" and underwent a second lumpectomy. She told Handler that "everything looks normal and fine" after the procedure.
"So that's my message to everybody, too, is, you know, get your mammogram," Oteri said.
Oteri Had Someone Special in Her Corner
As we've noted in other stories, it takes a strong support system to get through a diagnosis like breast cancer. Oteri shared that former first lady Jill Biden often checked in on her.
The two women met at a dinner for the Milken Institute. The organization focuses on women's health issues. Biden also started the Biden Breast Health Initiative in 1993.
Oteri said that her invitation to the dinner was "so serendipitous" as she had just received her diagnosis.
"And then I'm sitting with all of these women, all of these accomplished, powerful women, in all these different occupations in women's healthcare, and there were investors there. And I'm just listening to everybody speak," said Oteri.
Biden and Oteri began talking about their love for Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Oteri was born and raised in Philadelphia. Biden is from nearby Hammonton, New Jersey.
"At the end, Jill came up to me, and we were saying goodbye, and I told her that I was just diagnosed, and she said, 'When is your surgery?'" said Oteri. "And I said, 'The 26th.' And she said, 'All right, you're gonna get tired of me. I'm going through this with you.'"
Oterid said that she was "blown away" by Biden's "huge heart."
"Just a beautiful human being," Oteri shared. "I never felt so supported by my friends, my girlfriends."
