ABC News’ Amy Robach: Double Mastectomy Revealed Second, Undetected Malignant Tumor
ABC News’ Amy Robach, whose cancer diagnosis after an on-air mammogram made news, says her double mastectomy has revealed a second, previously undetected malignant tumor. “My prognosis is good, I got very lucky finding the cancer through our ABC sponsored mammogram and I got lucky choosing an aggressive approach, bilateral mastectomy, because while in surgery last week my surgeon found a second, undetected malignant tumor,” Robach said today in a memo to Good Morning America staff.
American TV viewers have become accustomed to watching news talent having various on-air health checkups since Katie Couric had her celebrated on-air colonoscopy more than a decade ago. (Most recently, Matt Lauer and Al Roker got their prostates checked on Today, and in October, Robach got her very first mammogram on ABC’s Good Morning America as talent across the morning infotainment-show landscape plugged Breast Cancer Awareness Month. What viewers are not used to is that correspondent announcing, not long thereafter, that they have breast cancer and will have a double mastectomy. That fell to Robach, a few weeks after her October 1 on-air mammogram resulted in a cancer diagnosis. On GMA last month, and in a post on ABC.com, Robach said the mammogram was something she had agreed to do only at the request of a GMA producer, and that she had breathed a sigh of relief once it was over. The cancer concerns were not raised during that broadcast. But a few weeks later, she said, when she thought she was going back in for a few follow-up images, she learned she had breast cancer and decided to have the double mastectomy. That led to some debate around the TV landscape as to her decision. Today, in her memo, Robach made it clear she thinks it was the right call.
Robach’s memo:
Happy Friday Everyone!
It may be cold and gloomy outside today but it is warm and sunny in my world. This message is long overdue…it has been weighing heavily on me how much gratitude I owe each and every one of you. The unbelievable outpouring of support from ABC began from the first moment I received my diagnosis. Phone calls, emails, cards, flowers, blankets, care packages, food, pajamas, slippers, help with insurance, medical advice….The list goes on and on…It was truly overwhelming how many of you thought of everything anyone could possibly want or need during a time of medical crisis. It brought so many tears of joy to my eyes and warmed my heart more than you’ll ever know to see what my ABC family did for me and for my entire family. In fact, there have been so many emails, it may take me weeks to get back to each and every one of you!
Physically and emotionally I have been through the ringer, but I am emerging on the other side so much stronger. I have a greater appreciation for life, for health and for how such simple acts of kindness can be so incredibly powerful. I am looking through a different lens now…and I am thankful for that as well. There was my life before October 30th and now my life after.
My prognosis is good, I got very lucky finding the cancer through our ABC sponsored mammogram and I got lucky choosing an aggressive approach, bilateral mastectomy, because while in surgery last week my surgeon found a second, undetected malignant tumor. No MRI, no mammogram, no sonogram had found it…it was only through the mastectomy that she discovered it. My cancer had spread to my sentinel lymph node, but not beyond, so I will have more treatments ahead of me, but none that will take me out of work. As of right now, I plan to head back into the building Monday, December 2nd and I couldn’t be more excited to get back to work.
Your support and love has made this all an experience that has given me the strength to fight the fear and hopefully help others do the same in the days/weeks/years to come!
With much love,
Amy
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