New York, Oct 10 (IANS): Veteran American TV personality Barbara Walters has revealed that she had a breast cancer scare over five years ago.

The former co-host of “The View” was the top honouree at the Breast Cancer Research Foundation luncheon Thursday. When she took to the stage to accept the accolade, she confessed that she secretly survived the disease years ago.

"Some years back, more than five now, I discovered a small lump in my own breast. Under the expert care of my doctor, I had a lumpectomy,” contactmusic.com quoted her as saying.

"I haven't talked about it. There was no need to. There were other choices that were possible. This was mine. I told a few people and I'm fine. I wasn't worried because I knew that the advances made in treating breast cancer, including lumpectomies, were possible. Research made my treatment possible,” she added.

She also said that the entire incident was like a “death sentence” for her.

“It terrified me. It still frightens me. But now we know there is treatment,” she said.