Christina Applegate diagnosed with Breast Cancer

VERY sad news and we wish her well and a full recovery.

Christina Applegate, the 36-year-old Emmy-nominated star and producer of "Samantha Who?," is reportedly undergoing treatment for breast cancer.

An announcement confirming the diagnosis was delivered by a representative of the actress late Saturday on "Extra," the celebrity news show:

"Christina Applegate was diagnosed with an early form of breast cancer. Benefiting from early detection through a doctor ordered MRI, the cancer is not life threatening. Christina is following the recommended treatment of her doctors and will have a full recovery."

Applegate's rep confirmed to E! News that the actress intends to maintain her planned shooting schedule on "Samantha Who?" while undergoing treatment.

Perhaps best known for her long run as Kelly Bundy in "Married With Children," it would be an understatement to suggest that Applegate has had a challenging summer. Last month, Applegate's on-again, off-again ex-boyfriend Lee Grivas was found dead in his apartment by a neighbor.

Applegate is booked to appear with Jennifer Aniston, Scarlett Johansson, Charlize Theron and others on the Stand Up to Cancer telethon scheduled to air concurrently on ABC, CBS and NBC on Sept. 5 at 8PM.

The Envelope talked with Applegate about her work on "Samantha Who?" and "Anchorman" and her turn on Broadway in "Sweet Charity" earlier this year. At the time, the actress stressed the importance of maintaining a sense of humor about her work.

When you approach a comedic character, do you try to make her fun or keep her in reality?

Trying to make it funny, you'll fail entirely. For me, and really for anyone who does this, you have to approach this as if you are doing Chekhov. You have to ask all the same questions as if you were doing anything else, but then you kind of have to step back and do -- what I always say -- "twinkle above it," which is just lightening it up a little bit, just take it a step out of reality, and know that people are just funny.

In fact, I can't take [any project] unless it has a sense of humor about itself. Any show or movie, regardless of what it is, if it takes itself too seriously I have a hard time kind of getting into it. You look at Meryl Streep -- she's so brilliant, but if you really look at it, she doesn't take herself seriously. She has this element about her. That is why she's the master of what she does.

Read the complete Envelope interview with Applegate here.

[LA Times]