AceShowbiz -

Erin Andrews was missing the first two episodes of "Dancing with the Stars" season 23 last year. While Andrews was reported to be with her fiance following the tragic death of his nephew, she had another reason for taking time off, a surgery for her cervical cancer.

Andrews was diagnosed with cervical cancer last September. She kept her illness and treatments secret for months until now. "Throughout my career, all I've ever wanted is to just fit in," Andrews said in an interview with Sport's Illustrated's The MMQB. "That I had this extra baggage with the scandal, I didn't want to be any different. I felt that way about being sick too. I don't want players or coaches to look at me differently."

Following the diagnosis, Andrews quickly scheduled her surgery for early October. But a surgery could not stop her from working as she firmly told her doctor beforehand, "I'm not watching any football games at home. This is [Fox's] Super Bowl year, and I'm not missing the Super Bowl."

Andrews filmed a feature with the Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson just two days after the surgery and went back to the field reporting an NFL game after five days. "Should I have been standing for a full game five days after surgery? Let's just say the doctor didn't recommend that," Andrews said. "But just as I felt during my trial, sports were my escape. I needed to be with my crew."

Andrews' recent interview shocked her colleagues at ABC. A longtime associate of "Dancing with the Stars" said Andrews never discussed her illness. "She's always the first one to make a joke," the associate recalled. "She doesn't show that things bother her, so you would never guess that she was going through something so awful as cancer," the associate continued.