Publicist: Applegate has breast cancer

Los Angeles -- "Samantha Who?" star Christina Applegate has been diagnosed with breast cancer, her publicist says.

Publicist Ame Van Iden said the 36-year-old actress was found to have an early form of the disease that is currently "not life threatening," E! Online said Saturday.

"Benefitting from early detection through a doctor-ordered MRI, the cancer is not life threatening," Van Iden said. "Christina is following the recommended treatment of her doctors and will have a full recovery."

Van Iden confirmed that the cancer diagnosis and related treatment will not keep Applegate from completing her filming duties on her popular ABC sitcom.

E! Online said Applegate is also set to appear at a Sept. 5 Stand Up to Cancer telethon along with fellow actresses Meryl Streep, Jennifer Aniston, Charlize Theron, Sally Field and Scarlett Johansson.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.