Samantha Harris Tweets Photo After Double Mastectomy

Even in the most challenging of times, Samantha Harris is keeping her spirits up.

After undergoing an intense double mastectomy, the former Dancing With the Stars host reached out to friends and fans, sharing an intimate pre-op pic.

In the shot, the 40-year-old mother of two reveals the markings the surgeons made on her chest—but perhaps even more notably, she has a smile on her face. "Made it thru grueling double mastectomy #surgery. Thanks to all of my amazing surgical team. Like my 'art' b4," she wrote.

But even though the brunette beauty is staying strong (and feeling grateful), it doesn't mean this has been an easy process.

The TV host first shared news of her breast cancer in April 2014. She had initially detected a lump during a self-exam the previous fall, but her mammogram results came back clean. Harris remained unconvinced, however, and consulted with more specialists. Only after several months, a needle biopsy, and a lumpectomy, was she actually diagnosed with breast cancer. While she admits she was given a choice of treatments, she opted for the double mastectomy — by far the most radical — because it gave her the "best chance."

Between settling on this course of action and actually going under the knife, however, Samantha made time to participate in the Revlon Run/Walk, where she bonded with Christina Applegate and other recognizable survivors and advocates of women's health.

Not surprisingly, Harris revealed that one of the hardest parts of the process was telling her daughters, Josselyn, 6, and Hillary, 3. Ultimately, Samantha and her husband of 10 years, Michael Hess, thought it best to tell each girl separately. Being there for her daughters has clearly been the star's top priority.

"My dad wasn't able to walk me down the aisle," Harris reflected. "I will be here to plan my daughters' weddings and they better like the dress I pick."

We'll have to wait and see if she gets any input (at all!) when it comes time for her daughters to walk down the aisle, but for now at least one thing is clear: With this "grueling" operation behind her, Samantha's road to recovery has officially begun.