Former ‘Real Housewives’ star just became third woman in her family to face the same terrifying diagnosis

D’Andra Simmons, who appeared in ‘The Real Housewives of Dallas’, has announced she has breast cancer. The 56-year-old reality TV star shared the news on social media as she prepared for surgery at the UTSW Simmons Cancer Center in Dallas, Texas.

According to CNN, the cancer center where Simmons is receiving treatment has a special connection to her family. It was established nearly 30 years ago by her uncle, Harold Simmons, and his Foundation, reflecting the substantial wealth that places D’Andra among the richest Real Housewives stars. Simmons expressed gratitude for having access to excellent medical care at the facility.

In her social media post, Simmons revealed that she is “the third woman on my mother’s side of the family to be diagnosed with breast cancer that we know about.” She remained positive, stating that after her treatment, she would add breast cancer survivor to her list of life experiences.

Her treatment journey begins with multiple procedures

On the day of her surgery, Simmons underwent three different procedures. She kept her followers updated through Instagram Stories, explaining each step of her treatment. Her husband, Jeremy Lock, stayed by her side throughout the process.

The first procedure involved seed localization, where doctors placed a marker in her breast to help identify the tumor’s location during surgery. Following this, Simmons was moved to another hospital for her second procedure, which involved highlighting lymph nodes to guide the surgeon during their removal.

Before her final procedure, Simmons shared a photo from her hospital bed, surrounded by her support system. This included her husband, her mother Dee Simmons, and her surgeon Deboroh Farr, whom she mentioned was a close friend.

This isn’t the first time Simmons has dealt with serious health issues. In 2021, she spoke about her experience with COVID-19 and its lasting effects, including fatigue, body aches, and concerns about cognitive problems. Simmons appeared in seasons 2 through 5 of ‘The Real Housewives of Dallas’ before the show ended in 2021, as part of the expansive Real Housewives universe.