Updated

When Victoria Gotti (search) learned she had breast cancer, she kept the news to herself -- hiding her draining treatments from her three sons and the producers of their reality show, "Growing Up Gotti." (search)

With the show set to begin its third season on the A&E (search) network this week, the daughter of late mob boss John Gotti revealed the details of her struggle to the New York Daily News.

The 42-year-old said she learned she was sick after a mammogram in November. She told her sons about the cancer earlier this month, after going through months of cancer treatments in silence.

"I lost 25 pounds," she said. "I was so exhausted, I could barely lift my arms. My producers were asking questions," as were her sons -- Carmine, 18, John, 17, and Frank, 14.

"I wasn't able to tell them," she said. "I just wanted the boys to be OK and not get crazy and think that Mommy is dying.''

She said her treatment has gone well: "They caught it early and the prognosis is good."