She’s known for making people laugh, but what Wanda Sykes revealed during a recent appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show was no laughing matter.

Sykes admitted for the first time that earlier this year, she had breast cancer and to get rid of the condition, she had both of her breasts removed.

“I had breast cancer,” says Sykes, 47. “Yeah, I know it’s scary.”

The cancer was found after she had undergone what was essentially a cosmetic procedure, to have a breast reduction.

“This was in February. I went for the reduction. I had real big boobs and I just got tired of knocking over stuff. Every time I eat … Oh lord. I’d carry a Tide stick everywhere I go,” she quips. “My back was sore so it was time to have a reduction.”

She continues, “It wasn’t until after the reduction that in the lab work, the pathology, that they found that I had DCIS [ductal carcinoma in situ] in my left breast. I was very, very lucky because DCIS is basically stage-zero cancer. So I was very lucky.”

As she is quick to point out, “But cancer is cancer. I had the choice of, you can go back every three months and get it checked. Have a mammogram, MRI every three months just to see what it’s doing. But, I’m not good at keeping on top of stuff. I’m sure I’m overdue for an oil change and a teeth cleaning already.”

On top of which, “I have a lot of breast cancer history on my mother’s side of the family.”

This latter fact prompted Sykes to reach a dramatic decision, “to have a bilateral mastectomy,” she says. “I had both breasts removed … because now I have zero chance of having breast cancer.”

Explaining her choice, she says, “It sounds scary up front, but what do you want? Do you want to wait and not be as fortunate when it comes back and it’s too late?”

When it came to speaking out about her past few months, Sykes, the mother of nearly 2½-year-old twins with her wife, Alex, tells the talk-show host, “I was like, I don’t know, should I talk about it or what? How many things could I have? I’m Black, then Lesbian. I can’t be the poster child for everything.”

With a laugh, she notes, “At least with the LGBT issues we get a parade, we get a float, it’s a party. [But] I was real hesitant about doing this, because I hate walking. I got a lot of [cancer] walks coming up.”

As DeGeneres states, “I just admire the hell out of you.”

PEOPLE

You gotta love Wanda Sykes for still being able to laugh and crack jokes after all she’s gone through this year.

Here Diddy can be seen exiting Deluxe nightclub early Friday (May 29) morning in Beverly Hills. You wouldn’t believe who was spotted trailing right behind! Well you probably would and you probably already know. Just continue reading to see more.

Diddy’s cut buddy Cassie was also spotted leaving Deluxe right after her man Friday (May 29) morning in Beverly Hills. We wonder how often she gets her hair “shaped up.” Things that make you go “hmm…”

Former NBA baller Rick Fox was spotted by the paps as he left the Staples Center Thursday (May 28) night after the Fleetwood Mac & Friends concert in Los Angeles, CA.

R&B crooner John Legend was spotted walking the streets of Manhattan Thursday (May 28) afternoon. Here he can be seen as he leaves Mary’s Fish Camp.

Rapper/actress/fashion designer Eve was spotted as she left My House nightclub Thursday (May 28) morning in Hollywood. She recently took to her twitter to announce her disdain for Chris Brown announcing that he “ain’t a monster.”

UPDATE: Apparently Eve isn’t even on Twitter and it was a fake. So no beef between her and Chris Brown. These people who create these fake Twitter accounts and pose as celebrities have serious issues. We all need to band together and create a fund so we can buy these losers some lives…

# hold on hold on!! im just gonna reach out to some of ya’ll out there and say this bluntly, why do ppl keep tryin to protect chris browns ass

# hes guilty until proven innocent, and no man should ever raise a hand to a woman, im so sick of people kissin his ass..yeh i did just watch

# a clip of him saying he isnt a monster…yeh motherfucker u are. let him or any other man come to me with power fists..id fuck him up..

# and a message to rihanna…girl your beautiful and talented and u dont need a nigga like that around u…ur special and deserve better…

# &finally,no we dont no wat happened that night, all i no, is seein rihannas beautiful face bruised and upset..thats enuff 4 me.

# im glad yall agree with me…im so sick of the media trying to sugar coat a serious issue. thanks for your responses, keep them coming tho

# i know what im talkin about no one can tell me different…in other news lol i need a day off…

Here stand-up comedienne/actress Wanda Sykes can be seen as she exits a medical building Wednesday (May 27) in Beverly Hills. Her wife Alex gave birth to twins (Olivia Lou & Lucas Claude) just one month ago (Apr 27).

Rapper Ice Cube was seen arriving at the Staples Center Wednesday (May 27) in Los Angeles to see the Lakers/Nuggets playoff game.

Actress Taraji P. Henson was also seen arriving at the Staples Center Wednesday (May 27) to see the Lakers/Nuggets playoff game in LA.

Sri Lankan singer M.I.A. was spotted arriving at the Staples Center Wednesday (May 27) as well.

Here actor/model Djimon Honsou can be seen exiting one of many shops in the SoHo area of New York City Tuesday (May 26) while his pregnant fiancee Kimora Lee patiently waited in the car.

Rapper Kanye West was seen out and about doing some shopping in SoHo Monday (May 25) in New York City.

PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES // FILM MAGIC // WENN

Michael Strahan and girlfriend Nicole Murphy attended Fox Broadcasting’s 2009 UpFront Programming Presentation Monday in New York City. Other celebrities who rolled through were Wanda Sykes, Jane Lynch, Reagan Gomez and more.

Michael Strahan, who is currently a Fox football analyst and former New York Giants player, will co-star along with Daryl Mitchell in a Sony-produced comedy about two brothers. Carl Weathers & CCH Pounder play their parents in the series titled “Brothers.” What an original name! The show will air Friday nights at 8/7c.

The Cleveland show (created by Seth MacFarlane as a spin-off series from Family Guy), which features the voices of Sanaa Lathan, Reagan Gomez and Kevin Michael Richardson will debut this Fall and will air Sunday nights at 8:30/7:30c.

Here are some photos from the after party, which was held directly after the UpFront presenation at Wollman Rink at Central Park in NYC.

PHOTOS: WIRE IMAGE

Wanda Sykes and her wife Alex welcomed twins April 27th, her rep exclusive revealed to People. The couple named the fraternal twins Olivia Lou and Lucas Claude, both weighing n at 6 pounds 7 ounces and 7 pounds 9 ounces respectively. Their son Lucas was 20 inches long. Wanda’s wife Alex, whom she married back in October 2008, gave birth to the babies, who are the couples first children.

“All are happy and healthy and at home,” says Sykes’s rep Danica Smith.

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