Real Housewives of Dallas star D’Andra Simmons has revealed she is battling breast cancer. 

Simmons, 56, who starred on the Bravo show from 2017 to 2021, revealed the heartbreaking health update on Monday as she prepared to undergo surgery.

Despite the scary situation, she struck an optimistic tone as she brought followers along at the hospital, declaring she can consider herself a ‘breast cancer survivor’ after the procedure.

Simmons posted a photo of herself standing at the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center at UT Southwestern’s Medical Center as she opened up about the diagnosis with fans.

‘Today is the day! I didn’t think I would be the recipient of care at the UTSW Simmons Cancer Center my uncle Harold Simmons and his Foundation established almost 30 years ago, but now I have breast cancer,’ the Texan, whose health issues previously made headlines, wrote on Instagram.

‘I am truly grateful to have such an excellent care team in place. I’m the 3rd woman on my mother’s side of the family to be diagnosed with breast cancer…that we know about.

Real Housewives of Dallas star D’Andra Simmons has revealed she is battling breast cancer

Simmons starred on the Texas incarnation of the Housewives franchise from 2017 to 2021

‘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. Thank you to everyone that has sent prayers and support to my family and me. We appreciate it so very much and love having your support.

In a series of videos posted to her Instagram Stories, Simmons appeared positive as she prepared to undergo two procedures followed by her actual surgery.

‘Good morning, Jeremy and I are on the way to UT South Western and today is the day that I have my breast cancer surgery. So thank you for all the prayers and love sent my way, I know I haven’t really been talking about it but today I will. Anyway, we appreciate you, and just ready to get this over with!’ she said during their drive to the hospital.

First up on the agenda was seed localization, ‘a procedure where a tiny metal seed, about the size of a small sesame seed, is placed into abnormal breast tissue to mark its location. It may be done if the abnormal tissue is too small to be seen or felt by hand. The seed contains a small amount of radiation,’ according to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

The outlet adds: ‘During your surgery, your surgeon will use a special tool to find the breast seed and the surrounding abnormal tissue. They will then take the seed and tissue out.’

Simmons explained to her followers in an Instagram Stories video: ‘So Jeremy and I are back in the private waiting area, and we are doing the first procedure in a few minutes, which is the seed localization where they go in there and they put a marker in my breast where the tumor is and that way when the surgeon goes in, they’ll know exactly where to take the tumor out.

‘So, that’s the first procedure, and then we’ll move onto the other hospital for the second procedure, which is the lymph node sentinel procedure where they light up the lymph node so the surgeon knows which ones to take out during surgery. So it’s three procedures today, it’s a very busy, packed morning.’

Once the seed localization was complete, Simmons headed to another hospital for a second procedure.

‘We’re finding your sentinel lymph node,’ a voice off camera told Simmons after the reality star asked exactly what procedure she was about to undergo.

Simmons posted a photo of herself standing at the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center at UT Southwestern’s Medical Center as she opened up about the diagnosis with fans

In a series of videos posted to her Instagram Stories, Simmons appeared positive as she prepared for the day of procedures

She headed to another hospital for her second procedure

‘Finding my sentinel lymph node. And then the next phase is the surgery,’ she said.

The health updates ended with a photo of her finally preparing to undergo surgery as she sat in a hospital bed, surrounded by her family with her doctor by her side.

‘Almost ready to get this surgery started! At least my good friend @debbfarrmd is doing my surgery today!’ she wrote in the snap.

Simmons’ health has previously made headlines.

In December 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic, she was hospitalized after contracting the virus.

The Texan, pictured left, chronicled her life for Bravo viewers

‘D’Andra Simmons has tested positive for COVID and has been admitted to the COVID ward at UT Southwestern Hospital in Texas,’ her rep told People. ‘Her oxygen levels were borderline and she will start remdesivir. At this time we ask you to respect her and her family’s privacy and to send your prayers for a speedy recovery.’

Simmons was placed in her hospital’s COVID ward and received oxygen.

‘I was actually in a COVID ward,’ she told Hollywood Life in 2021. ‘It was three nurses to one COVID patient, and I went from being the most severe to the middle to okay, it’s now time to go home. I was in a place where I was on oxygen,’ she said.

Once she returned home, she struggled with ‘lingering’ body aches and remained concerned about the possible side-effects of the disease.

‘I’m really scared about the fatigue because … I’m having a hard time sleeping,’ she told Page Six.  ‘So then if I don’t sleep, I can’t get the rest I need for healing. And also the body aches are lingering. As far as the memory loss, I haven’t had as much of that as my husband has, but that’s my biggest fear in the world, is losing my cognitive ability.’