LOS ANGELES - Christina Applegate is undergoing treatment for breast cancer, but the disease was caught early and the actress is expected to fully recover, her publicist said.

The Emmy winner's cancer was detected through an MRI ordered by a doctor and is not life-threatening, publicist Ame Van Iden said in a statement Saturday.

Applegate is scheduled to appear on a one-hour television special, "Stand Up To Cancer," to be aired on ABC, CBS and NBC on Sept. 5 to raise funds for cancer research.

The 36-year-old actress has been nominated for an Emmy and a Golden Globe for the show "Samantha Who?", in which she plays a woman who wakes from a coma with no memory of who she is.

The show, which debuted last October, marked a return to series television for Applegate, who helped establish the Fox network in 1987 as ditzy teenager Kelly Bundy on "Married ... With Children." The raunchy comedy ran 11 seasons and has been airing in syndication since.

"I'm really grateful that acting is the job that was chosen for me," Applegate told The Associated Press in April. "I get really lost when I'm not working. I don't know what I'm supposed to do with myself. Thank God for dance class and the New York Times crossword puzzle and 'American Idol.' But acting is what I really have to do."

Applegate won an Emmy as outstanding guest actress in a comedy series in 2003 for her role as one of Jennifer Aniston's younger sisters in "Friends." She was nominated for a Tony in 2005 for the Broadway musical "Sweet Charity."

Applegate began acting in films and television as a child and has appeared in such shows as "Quincy," "Family Ties," "21 Jump Street," "Charles in Charge" and Steven Spielberg's "Amazing Stories."

Soon after "Married ... With Children," she starred in "Jesse," playing a single mother raising a young son. The show lasted two seasons.

Her films include "Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead," "Wild Bill, "Wonderland" and "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgandy."

Curtesy of Yahoo News

I heard about this on the news. :( She is so young.

I was sad to hear this. I know women can get breast cancer at any age, but it seems that lately, women are getting it younger. Sheryl Crow, Melissa Etheridge, Kylie Minogue, and a few others than I can't remember.

When Linda McCartney died of breast cancer, I was confused. I asked my gyn why Linda, who I know was very diligent about her health care, had a mammogram done annually, was in great shape, a vegetarian....and her cancer was detected early, and she surely had the best cancer treatment on the planet....I asked why she died. My gyn told me that there are different forms of breast cancer. She said Linda McCartney obviously had an aggresive form, and that there are some breast cancers that are unbeatable, for the most part.

It seems that Christina Applegate has a less aggressive form, and I wish her well. I've always liked her.

I didn't know there were different forms of breast cancer. It's a shame that some forms can't be beaten. Hopefully one day all forms of it can be cured. I know someone who has breast cancer. I don't know what form of it though.
I know. Cancer is a monster that claimed both of my parent's lives, and as I mentioned recently, my husband's best friend is dying from pacreatic cancer. I'm not entirely sure if the gyn meant different forms of breast cancer, as in different kinds. I may have misspoke. What I took away from the conversation is that all breast cancer is not equal, in terms of curing it if caught early. In fact, I recall the gyn said that they could have found Linda's cancer immediately, and she still wouldn't have a fighting change. She said that with breast cancer, there are more aggressive forms than others. I never understand doctors when they talk. If it's important and concerns me or someone I love, I actually ask them to explain it as they would to a 14-year old, lol.

I hope she will be ok.

I think her mom had Brest Cancer

^ She did. I feel bad for her but I have all the faith in the world that she will be all right.

Oh Gosh! I wish her all the best.

So sorry to hear about Christina's cancer, but I'm glad to know that the disease was caught early enough. Best of luck to her! :)

Glad to hear that they caught it early.

Prayers for her

wow. that's great that they caught it so early & that she is going to make a full recovery.