‘Ready to Get This Surgery Started’ – Housewives of Dallas Alum D’Andra Simmons, 56, Reveals Breast Cancer Diagnosis & Says She’s the ‘3rd Woman on Mom’s Side’ to Be Diagnosed
‘Ready to Get This Surgery Started’ – Housewives of Dallas Alum D’Andra Simmons, 56, Reveals Breast Cancer Diagnosis & Says She’s the ‘3rd Woman on Mom’s Side’ to Be Diagnosed
“Real Housewives of Dallas” reality TV star D’Andra Simmons, 56, revealed she’s waged a private battle with breast cancer and recently decided to share it publicly. Details on the exact type of breast cancer she has and how advanced it is have not been revealed, but she’s undergone surgery for treatment so far.
Simmons has a family history of breast cancer, a known risk factor for the disease. Other risk factors, including older age and having children later in life, increase a woman’s chance of getting breast cancer.
Simmons’ husband, Jeremy Lock, 55, says his wife’s diagnosis is the first time he’s experienced a close loved one being confronted with cancer. He plans to be a supportive spouse and caregiver for her while she recovers from surgery and continues her cancer journey.
Cancer caregivers can be spouses, family members, or close friends. They help the patient keep track of symptoms, any new reactions to treatment, and concerns they have for their doctors.
Examples of caregiver activities may include attending doctor visits, helping the patient take notes and ask questions, providing transportation to and from treatment, and helping with everyday activities such as preparing meals.
Former “Real Housewives of Dallas” star and skincare entrepreneur D’Andra Simmons, 56, has publicly shared that she is determined to be known as a breast cancer survivor—a title she plans to add to what she calls her “long list of life experiences.”
“After today, I will add breast cancer survivor to a long list of life experiences. I look forward to telling my story to inspire others in the future,” Simmons wrote in a heartfelt Instagram post.
Although her diagnosis came months ago, Simmons chose to face her treatment privately before announcing it to her followers. She revealed that she is the third woman on her mother’s side of the family to face the disease—a sobering reminder of the role family history plays in breast cancer risk.
“I’m the 3rd woman on my mother’s side of the family to be diagnosed with breast cancer,” she said.
Although breast cancer can happen to anyone, certain factors can increase a person’s risk of getting the disease. The known risk factors for breast cancer include:
Older age
Having a gene mutation such as the BRCA1 or BRCA2, which increases your cancer risk.
Added exposure to estrogen
Having children after the age of 30
Exposure to radiation early in life
Family history of the disease
Her husband, retired photojournalist Jeremy Lock, 55, shared his emotional experience as a first-time cancer caregiver.
“This is the first time I’ve had a loved one diagnosed with cancer. It takes a lot to watch someone you love go through it all, but she’s doing well, and hopefully, I can be a good nurse to her,” Lock posted.
Simmons’ decision to wait to share her story reflects a broader truth acknowledged by SurvivorNet experts: not everyone feels compelled to disclose a diagnosis immediately, and every approach is valid. While some draw strength from public support, others find peace in privacy.
Medical experts emphasize that breast cancer risk isn’t limited to maternal inheritance. According to SurvivorNet advisor and breast oncologist Dr. Elizabeth Comen.
“Some people think that breast cancer is only inherited through genes on the mom’s side, but it can also be related to a genetic mutation that can be found on the father’s side,” she explained.
Lock’s role highlights the often-overlooked journey of spouses and partners who support loved ones through cancer. From attending appointments and making treatment decisions to offering daily emotional care, caregivers embody resilience and compassion.
DALLAS, TEXAS – FEBRUARY 01: Jeremy Lock (L) and D’Andra Simmons at the 2nd Annual UNICEF Gala 2019 at The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas on February 01, 2019 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images for UNICEF USA)
Navigating breast cancer is never easy—but Simmons’ story is one of strength, love, and advocacy. As she continues to heal, she’s turning her personal battle into a future source of inspiration.
A cancer diagnosis can feel like a tidal wave—bringing grief, fear, and uncertainty into a relationship. But it doesn’t have to mark the end of connection or hope. Couples who face cancer together often discover new layers of resilience, tenderness, and strength.
Building emotional stability begins with intentional choices:
Speaking with a therapist to unpack feelings
Creating space for open, honest dialogue with your partner
Learning about the diagnosis and treatment side by side
Joining support communities to share and hear lived experiences
The Caregiver’s Role: Love in Action
Becoming a caregiver isn’t just practical—it’s deeply personal. Whether you’re a partner, sibling, parent, friend, or even a child, stepping into this role means embracing both emotional and logistical support. Caregivers often serve as a steady presence through treatment, appointments, and everyday life.
What Caregivers Often Do
Attend appointments and ask key questions
Offer transportation and companionship during treatments
Track side effects, monitor symptoms, and communicate with care teams
Connect with social workers and patient navigators
Help manage daily routines and provide reassurance in difficult moments
Don’t Forget the Caregiver’s Well-being
Caregivers are the backbone of many cancer journeys, but they need care, too. Mental health support, financial guidance, and peer resources are critical. Engaging with social workers or patient advocates can ensure caregivers get the tools they need to stay strong—for their loved one and for themselves.
Help Coping With a Breast Cancer Diagnosis
If you are facing a breast cancer diagnosis, your emotions are likely to run high, which is completely normal. Psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik says emotions are often fluid when coping with a diagnosis.
“The patient or person going through the stressful event should accept that emotions will be fluid. You may feel fine one day and then feel a massive wave of stress the next. It’s also important for those you look to for support, whether that’s a therapist, friends, and family, or both, to understand the fluidity of stress-related emotions,” Dr. Plutchik said.
WATCH: How to cope with complex and changing emotions.
If a stressful event affects how you think and feel, it may be time to seek mental health treatment. This could mean traditional talk therapy, medication, changing lifestyle habits (like exercise and diet), seeking a support group, or many other approaches.
SurvivorNet experts suggest that women who need a little extra help coping with a breast cancer diagnosis.
Let your family and close friends know, and let them help. So many cancer survivors tell us they want and need support, but are often too preoccupied to make specific requests. Urge those close to you to jump in with whatever practical help they can offer.
Keep a journal. It can be extremely cathartic to let those feelings loose on paper. Grab a pen and a nice journal and chronicle your thoughts throughout the day.
Join a cancer support group. Groups in nearly every community offer opportunities to connect with others going through a similar journey. You’ll learn constructive insight from others who can tell you what to expect and how to stay strong on tough days.
Consider seeing a therapist. Ask your doctor to refer you to a therapist so you can discuss your fears and concerns in a safe space. Often, vocalizing your thoughts and feelings rather than internalizing them can provide relief.
Breast Cancer Symptoms & Self-Exams
Women are encouraged to do regular self-exams to become familiar with how their breasts feel normally, so when something unusual, like a lump, does form, it can be easily detected. A self-exam includes pressing your fingertips along your breast in a circular motion.
For some women, that means going to their doctor and walking through what a self-breast exam looks like, so they know what normal breast tissue feels like, so if they do feel something abnormal, whether it’s a lump or discharge from the nipple, they know what to ask and what to look for.
Below are common symptoms to look out for:
New lump in the breast or underarm (armpit)
Any change in the size or shape of the breast
Swelling of all or part of the breast
Skin dimpling or peeling
Breast or nipple pain
Nipple turning inward
Redness or scaliness of the breast or nipple skin
Nipple discharge (not associated with breastfeeding)
Sharing a Cancer Diagnosis: A Personal Decision
When D’Andra Simmons chose to reveal her cancer diagnosis, it wasn’t just an act of bravery—it was a hope-filled gesture meant to encourage others. Her journey reminds us that sharing a health battle is deeply personal, and there’s no single “right” way to do it.
To Share or Not to Share?
Some individuals feel empowered to speak openly about their diagnosis, using their experience to raise awareness or build community. Others find comfort in privacy, leaning on close loved ones rather than public platforms. According to mental health professionals, every choice on this spectrum is valid.
WATCH: Sharing a Diagnosis
Dr. Plutchik explains that patients often wrestle with social questions following a diagnosis:
Who should I tell?
How much should I share?
Will people understand?
Her advice is simple yet powerful: “There is no one right way to handle this diagnosis. People should do what feels right to them.”
The path through cancer is rarely linear. For many, the uncertainty around prognosis and treatment outcomes means timing their disclosure with caution and care. Whether someone shares early or waits to process it internally, both approaches deserve respect.
Respecting Boundaries
For those supporting a cancer patient, honoring their decisions around communication is crucial. Disclosure isn’t just about information—it’s about emotional safety. Be present, be empathetic, and above all, follow their lead.
ANSWER QUESTIONS
