Sandra Lee, celebrity chef and longtime girlfriend of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, is afraid a preexisting autoimmune disorder could complicate her recovery from breast cancer surgery.
The New York Daily News reported that Lee, 49, was rushed to the hospital Tuesday night.
"There was a setback due to what may be an infection post-mastectomy," a rep for Lee
told ABC News. "But Sandra is her ever-fighting self."
"She left work and was going home when she felt this wave of enormous pressure and heat and it was like she could see fluid building up in her chest," an unnamed source told the Daily News. "She called her surgeon and he said you have to go to the hospital."
"She's a very upbeat person, but she was definitely thrown by this. She's very upset, but she is trying to stay positive," the source added.
Cuomo has reportedly cleared his schedule Wednesday and Thursday, and plans to spend time with Lee at the hospital.
"He's very confident and just tells her everything is going to work out," the source said. "She feels affected by him in a way I don't see her affected by anyone else."
Lee underwent a double mastectomy on May 19 after being diagnosed with early stage breast cancer in March. Her preexisting condition, lupus anticoagulant, puts her at risk of blood clots, and has prompted her to take blood thinners on long flights.
"With cancer, it's not always the cancer, it's the side issue that can kill you," the source said.
"That's why you can't assume it’s the mastectomy. Fluid buildup and feeling hot indicates infection. Because she has this autoimmune disease, it could be blood clotting."
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