The “Samantha Who” star, who made her first big screen appearance at age nine in the 1981 films “Laws of Satan” and “Beatlemania,” is fighting breast cancer. But in the battle with cancer, time is on her side because she is already “following the recommended treatment of her doctors,” which means she is on her way to full recovery.

“Benefiting from early detection through a doctor-ordered MRI, the cancer is not life threatening,” Christina Applegate’s publicist, Ame Van Iden said in a statement released on Saturday.

The 36-year-old actress made her return to television last fall on ABC’s comedy “Samantha Who.”  She plays the title character in the comedy, co-starring Jean Smart, Jennifer Esposito, and Melissa McCarthy.

Applegate, known for her memorable role in Fox’s comedy series “Married…With Children,” – the actress portrayed her character for ten years –, won an Emmy for outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series in 2003 for her portrayal of Amy Green, the younger sister of Jennifer Aniston’s character on “Friends.”

The 36-year-old Emmy nominee, who has been an indefatigable advocate for breast cancer research and a tireless warrior in the battle against cancer – in 2003, she was the spokesperson for the Lee National Denim Day, which raised money for breast cancer education and research –, is facing herself the disease.

Meanwhile, Applegate continues cancer battle for others. She is set to appear Sept. 8 alongside Meryl Streep, Sally Field, Jennifer Aniston, Scarlett Johansson and Charlize Theron in the telethon “Stand Up to Cancer,” which will be simultaneously broadcast on CBS, NBC and ABC.

Around 4,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year.

If the cancer is caught at the early stages, survival rates can be as high as 89 per cent.