AceShowbiz -

Kathy Bates has finally revealed the real reason why she battled cancer in secret over eight years ago. The Gertrude Stein of "Midnight in Paris" sat down with Anderson Cooper on Tuesday, March 20 for the Thursday episode of "Anderson", and opened up that she had to keep the health scare private because she was advised to.

"I was contracted to go into a movie at that time, 'Little Black Book', with Brittany Murphy, who I miss very much," the 63-year-old Oscar winner further explained her situation. "My doctors at the time, they had to get insurance approval and all of that, so I was very quiet about it. I had to go back to work right away."

The actress, who stars on "Harry's Law", went on to dish that she underwent chemotherapy treatments by herself. "I guess it's something I felt I had to face on my own," she elaborated. "Nobody else really knows what you're going through except another cancer patient. Even though your family is supportive and surrounds you."

Bates, however, confessed, "If I go through it again, I think I would be a lot more open about it." The "Primary Colors" star added, "I admire people who have been open like Melissa Etheridge and women I see walking around facing it with out wigs and all of that stuff. I think I would be more courageous next time."