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    Giuliana Rancic Says Double Mastectomy Was 'Hell'

    Access Hollywood – Sat, Dec 31, 2011 9:54 AM PST
    Giuliana Rancic arrives at the 17th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards held at The Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, January 30, 2011 -- Getty Images

    Two and a half weeks after undergoing a double mastectomy, Giuliana Rancic is opening up about the excruciating operation and its complications.

    "I knew this was going to be a tough surgery, but I in no way want to minimize it," Giuliana told Matt Lauer during an interview on NBC's the "Today" show on Friday. "Yes, I'm two and a half weeks out, but up until a week and a half ago it was hell. It was horrible."

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    The 37-year-old E! TV host also revealed she suffered from an unforeseen complication that made the recovery process even more difficult - she was unable to tolerate morphine, the pain medication used to manage her post-surgery pain.

    "I went into surgery at 4 PM and got out around 9:30 PM," she told Matt. "By 4 AM I had to get off the morphine because I was so sick and I thought to myself, '[If you throw up] you have to engage all of your chest muscles,' and I just had my chest operated on."

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    Though she's "feeling great" now, Giuliana still relies on husband Bill Rancic to help her accomplish everyday tasks while she continues to recover.

    "I can't really turn much to put my seatbelt on," she said. "He has to help me get in and out of bed, get dressed...it's a lot of limited mobility and pain."

    The couple -- who was given Giuliana's breast cancer diagnosis while undergoing fertility treatments in an effort to expand their family - is looking forward to putting the pain of this year behind them and starting fresh.

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    "As soon as 2012 comes in, we're not looking back," Bill told Matt.

    Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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    159 comments

    • CindyL
      CindyL  •  Indianapolis, Indiana  •  4 months ago
      You are a brave woman and thank you for sharing. My best to you and your husband. Happy New Year and may it shower you with an abundance of blessings.
    • Kandee43
      Kandee43  •  4 months ago
      Giuliana, good health a Blessings to you and your family this coming New Year. This is going to be your best year yet, I just know it !!!
      • Kandee43
        Kandee43 4 months ago
        Sorry I mean good health AND blessings.
    • sara
      sara  •  Orlando, Florida  •  4 months ago
      Don't say anything unless you have lived it. They have used up all their bad luck, and now rest and get back on the horse. Love you G & B.
    • frankie
      frankie  •  Meriden, Connecticut  •  4 months ago
      G, you got a good guy there. He will be at your side and he loves you deeply, Thank God you have him, he will help you threw this and next year this time you'll be with child...love you and Bill. You are good down to earth people...
      • Ms D
        Ms D 4 months ago
        Sadly, Frankie, after that surgery a woman is unable to bear children. Perhaps adoption will work for them.
      • Jeanne
        Jeanne 4 months ago
        Ms D- What makes you think a woman can not have children after a double mastectomy?
      • Lestat
        Lestat 4 months ago
        Yes, Christina Applegate had a double mastectomy a few years ago and had a successful pregnancy last year I believe.
    • QueenTina
      QueenTina  •  Richmond, Virginia  •  4 months ago
      Now that is a story worth posting....wish them all the best.
    • Linda
      Linda  •  4 months ago
      Speedy recovery, you are a brave lady, thanks for sharing, as we all know it could be us at anytime, certainly hope you and bill will be able to start the family I know you want, you will be great parents, you have a fantastic husband, you are a very fortunate and beautiful lady, best wishes for the New Year.
    • S
      S  •  4 months ago
      I had a double mastectomy some years ago. Not cancer, but a lot of pain in both breasts for many years. Plus breast cancer on both sides of the family, so it was an easy decision to make. I would say pain is relative. If you get a pretty good cut on your finger that can hurt like heck. And it was that type of pain I had after the operation, like a Jurassic dinosaur type of a cut finger. I remember walking up and down through the house holding my chest and moaning it hurts, it hurts. But I would also do the same for a badly cut finger :) I am a total wimp when it comes to pain. But as pain medications can have serious health risks, I don't even take an aspirin unless I seriously need it. So I must have not have been hurting too badly as I didn't take anything for pain.

      If I had to make the same decision again I would in a minute. The freedom from worry is worth it. And if I ever had a boyfriend that wanted to shy away I would tell him "by breasts are in this hospital in that town, feel free to visit them anytime you want."
    • MaryU
      MaryU  •  Toledo, Ohio  •  4 months ago
      God Bless the two of them for the love and support they have given one another. Nothing about breast cancer and certainly about a double mastectomy is anything ANYONE would want to go through. It's the tough things that either make you stronger or run you over. Attitude is 99 and 44/100% of the game!
      • MaryJane
        MaryJane 4 months ago
        Demanding that someone who is suffering from cancer and trying to recover from drastic surgery have a "good attitude" is stupid and self-serving. Sorry, but luck is probably far more instrumental in survival and recovery. At any rate, I wish Giuliana the very best.
      • someonesomewhere
        someonesomewhere 4 months ago
        that was maryu's way of sending well wishes, everyone does it differently, remember when mom said if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all, MaryJane? nice show of class...not! and she didn't "demand" anything and medical science says attitude has a LOT to do with recovery, do some research!
      • MaryJane
        MaryJane 4 months ago
        Actually, Someonesomewhere, you need to do some research. What medical science are you talking about? What you hear on Fox News or read in the Reader's Digest? An equal number of studies have been done showing that a "good attitude" has no bearing on survival rates. I would suggest that you read some reviewed and respected scientific publications, rather than relying on junk science. On a more important note, I again extend my best wishes to Giuliana.
    • Dreday1951
      Dreday1951  •  Owensboro, Kentucky  •  4 months ago
      Love you. Get well soon. The fashion police need you.
    • angie
      angie  •  Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia  •  4 months ago
      G.....get well soon....
    • KVL
      KVL  •  Denver, Colorado  •  4 months ago
      Wish her a speedy recovery!
    • M
      M  •  4 months ago
      G, you're an amazing inspiration to everyone. Blessings to you and Bill for 2012!!
    • Valerie
      Valerie  •  Milwaukee, Wisconsin  •  4 months ago
      Such a sad story, but yet I always see the strong support that you and your husband share. My wishes for a great future and a continued strength that will help get both of you through your momentary turmoils. You are a great example of true love.
    • featherwoodangel
      featherwoodangel  •  Merlin, Oregon  •  4 months ago
      It was stories like this about how painful a mastectomy is that made me put mine off until my cancer spread. I finally had my surgery a year ago. While not a breeze, I was sent home the next day with vicodin, most of which I didn't end up taking. A week later walked a couple miles back to the hospital to see my new granddaughter. My daughter just had a double mastectomy a few months ago at the age of 29 and she was back to her regular routine within a week as soon as her drains were removed. Not minimizing Ms. Rancic's pain, but considering how much support she has, medical and otherwise she should concentrate on what she can do and how she is probably now cancer-free and stop dwelling on not being able to have morphine.
    • tandi ketelslegers
      tandi ketelslegers  •  4 months ago
      Get well soon. I am female and girl I tip my hat off to you - you are in an environment that celebrates boobs and #$%$ and you chopped them off because you want to live. I have seen a number of women who debate live of looking "good". I love your husband as well
      • Happy Mom
        Happy Mom 4 months ago
        she had reconstructive surgery also
      • Cat M
        Cat M 4 months ago
        Like her new boob won't be better. Courage is the elderly ladies that LIVED with their boobs cut oof.
    • Carmella
      Carmella  •  Corning, New York  •  4 months ago
      Hope you have a successful recovery. My heart goes out to you
    • MissLB
      MissLB  •  Laplace, Louisiana  •  4 months ago
      I am so glad she is doing better...and thank you for telling the truth...this procedure is very painful...I cant stand "stars" who down play the pain of what they went though..like it was no big deal...all the best to you!
    • Linda
      Linda  •  Sterling, Michigan  •  4 months ago
      Have a better 2012!!!!!!
    • cindy
      cindy  •  South Bend, Indiana  •  4 months ago
      good luck and may God bless you.
    • Mathilda
      Mathilda  •  Minnetonka, Minnesota  •  4 months ago
      I had a bilateral mastectomy in May.. the worst part for me was dealing with the tubes that were left in place for two weeks afterward.. and being unable to drive for 5 weeks! I didn't really have a lot of pain from the surgery.. and I now have a perfectly matched set of C cups where I hadn't been able to see my feet for years!
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