Nearly three years after undergoing a double mastectomy, Clea Shearer, cohost of the ABC home renovation series “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” has faced an unexpected setback in her breast cancer recovery journey.
On Tuesday, the 43-year-old television personality—who had her breasts reconstructed in 2023—revealed in an Instagram post that she had developed “massive pain” in her right breast on Feb. 14.
Shearer was scheduled to appear on the “Live with Kelly and Mark” talk show on Sunday with her “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” cohost, Joanna Teplin. The two women cofounded the home and lifestyle company The Home Edit in 2015. However, Shearer was forced to cancel her trip to New York due to the pain.
“While we were at the airport, I had to admit that something was seriously wrong,” she penned. “It was definitely a lesson in listening to your body, and I’m so glad I did.”
Shearer said the pain had intensified the next day; her right breast appeared redder and felt very warm.
To pinpoint the cause of her pain, Shearer scheduled an ultrasound with her doctor, who told her to emotionally prepare for the possibility of having her implants removed.
“I immediately burst into tears at the thought of losing my breasts twice,” she wrote.
“I know a lot of women choose that path, but this wasn’t what I wanted. I’ve spent a year and a half in constant surgeries to make myself feel whole again and it was too much to process.”
However, the “Get Organized with The Home Edit” star assured her fans and followers that she felt much better when she woke up Tuesday morning.
“When I got examined, [the doctor] said I had substantially improved,” she wrote, noting that her ultrasound also came back clear.
“No fluid detected which means I (hopefully) can avoid surgery this time,” she added.
Breast Cancer Battle
The New York Times bestselling author is married to photographer John Shearer. The couple resides in Nashville with their two children, 13-year-old daughter Stella and 10-year-old son Sutton.The entrepreneur’s harrowing health journey began in March 2022, when she was diagnosed with stage two invasive mammary carcinoma.
Common symptoms may include lumps in the breast or armpit, fluctuations in breast skin color, nipple discharge, and changes to the shape or feel of the breast.
In April 2022, shortly after receiving her diagnosis, Shearer underwent a double mastectomy. She later had breast reconstruction surgery in the fall of 2023.
“I have been waiting for this day since my double mastectomy on April 8, 2022. There is no closure when it comes to cancer, but this is a big step forward in healing. Thank you for all your continued love every step of the way!”
To reduce the risk of her cancer returning, Shearer had her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed in June 2024, undergoing her seventh breast reconstruction surgery that November.
Earlier this year, Shearer was forced to undergo another procedure on her breasts after doctors discovered a wound at the site of her implant incision.
“I’m going to focus on getting through this surgery before I worry about needing the next one,” she added.
“Fingers crossed for a good outcome!”
