Applegate, 36, was diagnosed with breast cancer during a regular MRI screening, spokeswoman Ame Van Iden was cited by Reuters as saying in an email.

"The cancer is not life threatening. She is following the recommended treatment of her doctors and will have a full recovery," the spokeswoman was cited by BBC NEWS as saying.

Applegate seems to have a family history of cancer.   Reuters reported that her mother suffered both breast and cervical cancer and the actress has been advocating for breast cancer research.

She is famed for her role on "Married with Children", has won an Emmy for her guest role as Jennifer Aniston's sister on two episodes of "Friends" and now plays an amnesiac in her own sitcom Samantha Who?

Breast cancer is diagnosed in about 182,000 women and 40,000 die from the disease each year in the U.S.   The best way to prevent the disease probably is to avoid an early puberty, have a baby early and follow a healthy diet and lifestyle.

Factors that may raise the risk of breast cancer also include overweight, obesity, hormone therapy, exposure to radiation, acrylamide in baked and fried foods, barbecued meat, red meat and processed meat, trans fat, bisphenol A, and early exposure to pesticides.

Dietary and lifestyle factors that may reduce the breast cancer risk include physical activity, breastfeeding, having a baby early, dietary fiber, plant foods, broccoli and soy, cabbage sauerkraut, mushroom extract, turmeric, seaweed, green tea, whole wheat, omega-3 fatty acids,  resveratrol and vitamin D.