Text within a PHP Mail function...?

I'm using the PHP Mail() function, and i'm using a standard html form to have the info put in, and then defining each field as part of

$mail_body = "example: $example\n\nExample on line 2: $example2";

and so on.. the problem i'm having is that within the mult-line < textarea > field, where if a contraction is typed in (such as can't, or don't), then in the email it shows up as "can\'t" or "don\'t"

why is this, and how do i fix it? please please? :) :)