ABC's Robin Roberts: 'I Have
Breast Cancer'
From GMA By ROBIN ROBERTS
(ABC)
July 31, 2007
Share I never thought I'd be writing this. … I have
breast cancer.
It all started a few weeks ago. We had gotten the news
that our dear colleague and friend Joel Siegel had
passed away and we began preparing for our special
tribute show for him. I did a piece about Joel's
courageous battle with cancer, reporting on the way my
friend had lived his life and been such a successful
advocate for the importance of early cancer screenings.
At first I thought, "This can't be. I am a young,
healthy woman." Nevertheless, I faced my fear head on
and made an appointment to see the doctor. Much as I was
hoping the doctor would say it was nothing, she did a
biopsy and confirmed that the lump I'd found was indeed
an early form of breast cancer.
Hearing the doctor say those words out loud was surreal.
I will be having surgery shortly and follow-up treatment
in the months to come. So in the coming months, you will
probably notice that I will have my good days and my bad
days, but I know I will get through it with the love and
support of my family and friends. Diane, Sam, Chris and
all of the folks behind the scenes who make this program
come to life each and every morning have been so
supportive and loving at this challenging time.
To you, our viewers, please know that your thoughts and
prayers very much sustain me as they always have each
and every morning when I sit in the chair next to Diane
and say "Good Morning America." You have always been
there for me … and I love you back.
And like my good friend Joel, I can't stress enough how
important it is to get screened and checked for all
cancers — and to do self breast exams. I am so blessed
that I found this in the early stages and the prognosis
is so promising that my doctor expects me to be flying
planes and hanging on to submarines in the middle of the
Atlantic and scaling the Mayan Pyramids in no time in
the mornings to come.
Now I join the ranks of millions of Americans who are
fighting this same battle each and every day. I
appreciate YOUR courage and YOUR example. Thank you for
showing me the way.
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