Today show contributor Jill Martin has been diagnosed with breast cancer. The 47-year-old shared that the diagnosis came just one week after testing positive for the BRCA gene, which is linked to a significantly higher possibility of developing breast or ovarian cancer. In an interview with People, she opened up about how she's been taking the news.
"I am in shock, but at the same time I'm so grateful because it could be a very different story that we're talking about," Jill shared. "Of course I'm devastated. You hear the C-word and you think the worst. But after you hear the word and you absorb it, you then have to be your own best friend."
She went on to share that a mammogram she had done in January came back perfect. But after fibroid surgery, her doctor recommended she get genetic testing. Jill ordered an at-home testing kit and found out three weeks later that she'd tested positive for the gene. And then a week later, an MRI detected the breast cancer.
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"Having the platform to share my story has given me strength, because I feel like while I'm healing, I will be able to help literally save lives," Jill explained. And if I save one life from this, then this process will have been worth it for me."
