New York — Thighmaster queen and former "Three's Company" star Suzanne Somers has been undergoing treatment for breast cancer for a year.
"I just never thought it would happen to me," the fitness and diet expert said Wednesday night on CNN's "Larry King Live."
Somers, 54, said she is shunning traditional chemotherapy in favor of a little-tested homeopathic drug without any recognizable side effects. She will continue get a mammogram every three months.
"I really feel that I am licking this," the star, who became famous in the 1970s as Chrissy, the ditsy blond roommate in the "Three's Company" sitcom.
In addition to a long acting career, the sexy Somers has been the picture of perfect health, making millions selling exercise equipment and diet books.
Her breast-cancer disclosure came on the heels of a report in the National Enquirer that she underwent liposuction to prepare for an upcoming tour promoting her latest diet book.
Somers was ridiculed this week by former co-star John Ritter and radio shock jock Howard Stern, in what comics have taken to calling "Thighgate."
"Each day it's like a stab in my heart," an emotional Somers told King.
Somers confirmed that she had some liposuction done "to even things out" but denied portions of the tabloid report that she didn't specify.
"I felt disfigured " she said, declining to elaborate on her reasons for the procedure.
The supermarket tabloid, which had photos of Somers leaving a Beverly Hills plastic-surgery clinic bundled a dark overcoat and a knit cap, reported that she had fat removed from her thighs, abdomen, hips and upper back.
The liposuction report prompted her to announce her illness sooner than she had planned, she said. She does not have plans to cancel her book tour.
Somers said she expected to be back after five years of treatment to announce she has discovered a better cancer treatment for women and would continue to promote her weight-loss programs.
"I've worked hard to have a nice body at this age," she told King.
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