Washington, Mar 24 : Hollywood actress Christina Applegate, who was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, has revealed that it was her sense of humour that helped her cope with the disease.

Applegate tells that "the only way to cope" with the disease was laughing throughout the painful treatment.

The 37-year-old is cancer-free since having a double mastectomy - after doctors diagnosed her with an early form of illness in 2008.

Applegate also credited her mother Nancy Priddy, who is also a breast cancer survivor, for helping her throughout her treatment.

"I have a lot of energy and just kind of pushing past it, moving on. That''s just how I operate, I have to with everything in my life and all the things that have happened. It''s the only way I can kind of cope," Contactmusic quoted Applegate, as saying.

Meanwhile, the stunner is planning a return to Broadway - four years after making her debut on the New York stage.

The California-born admits she has longed to return to theatre since her stint in the 2005 revival of Sweet Charity, which earned her a Tony Award nomination for best actress in a musical. (ANI)