On July 31, 2007 Robin Roberts, the co-anchor of Good Morning America, announced that she has breast cancer.

She said the disease is in its early stages and her prognosis is good. She plans to undergo surgery on Aug 3, 2007.

The American Cancer Society reports there are around two-million women living in the U.S. who have been treated for breast cancer.

And, the chance of a woman having the disease is around one in eight.

It was an emotional announcement on Good Morning America as co-anchor Robin Roberts told the country that she has breast cancer.

“I have breast cancer as my family here knows and my family at home knows. It’s in the early stages. I will have surgery on Friday begin treatment and move forward as millions of people do when they hear this,” Roberts said.

Anne Grubbs knows that feeling all too well. She’s a breast cancer survivor.

“I thought it was really nice of her and brave to do it on the air,” Grubbs admitted.

Anne was diagnosed in 2004. She says self-exams and yearly mammograms are key in detecting the disease.

“That’s one thing I always tell everybody-go for the mammogram and be a regular on the doctors doorstep,” Grubbs explained.

Dr. Joe Davis recommends that women should perform a self-breast exam on a regular basis.

“We do recommend at least once a month, looking for changes in the breast, whether it be nodular changes in the breast, or skin changes,” Davis advised.

Then when a woman turns 40, a yearly mammogram is recommended. Dr. Davis said when women pass child-bearing age, they may get away from annual exams. So, it’s important that they don’t forget a mammogram.

“It’s very important in that age group especially because the risk of breast cancer increases with age,” Davis said.

As for Robin Roberts, she now joins Anne and the millions of women across the country who have been diagnosed with the disease.
“It’s not the end of the world, your hair does come back,” said Grubbs.

It’s important to note that while it’s rare, men can get breast cancer as well.

So if you notice a change, go to your doctor for an exam.

 

Hanson, Lauren (2007, July). Surviving Breast Cancer. WBKO.com. Retrieved from http://www.wbko.com/news/headlines/Anne-Grubbs-Passes-Away-270544471.html