Sandra Lee To Return To Surgery Amid Double Mastectomy Complications

ALBANY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Food Network star Sandra Lee, the longtime girlfriend of Gov. Andrew Cuomo, will return to surgery on Tuesday following complications from a recent double mastectomy.

"Andrew and I have decided that tomorrow I will go back into surgery," Lee said in a Facebook post. "I did my very best to avoid this (when I tell you I did everything, I mean everything – modern, Eastern and holistic) but infection is an incredible monster. I am a long way from where I was and a long way from where I need to be, but at this point I understand that right now I just need to complete this unexpected phase of a tough journey."

Lee, 49 – the star of "Semi-Homemade Cooking" – had announced on Friday that she would be out of the hospital and home over the weekend. But a representative had said she might need additional surgery afterward.

Lee expressed optimism in her Facebook post.

"Right now the ball is in my court and it's time for a mean backhand- and I am taking that shot (And just so you know I DO, in fact, have one mean backhand on the tennis court! It's actually stronger than my forehand - solid, swift and accurate). So my plan for tomorrow is game, set, match!" she wrote.

Cuomo has stayed close to Lee following her hospitalization. He left a Billy Joel concert at Nassau Coliseum early to be with Lee when he learned of her hospitalization. Cuomo, who is friends with Joel, introduced the musician at the concert.

Lee was rushed to the hospital on Tuesday of last week in the latest complication since she had breast cancer surgery in May.

She was diagnosed with breast cancer in March during a photo shoot for People magazine's "Most Beautiful" issue.

Lee said she initially had a lumpectomy, but it wasn't enough. Her doctor described her as a "ticking time bomb" and recommended the double mastectomy.

Lee wanted to go public with her diagnosis to help raise awareness about early detection.

Lee said she initially had a lumpectomy, but it wasn't enough. Her doctor described her as a "ticking time bomb" and recommended the double mastectomy.

Lee wanted to go public with her diagnosis to help raise awareness about early detection.

(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)