'Today’ Contributor Jill Martin Says Breast Cancer 'Knocked Me Down' After Double Mastectomy: 'I’m Choosing to Fight'

"Honestly, physically, I am doing OK. (Emotionally is a different story; it's been a roller coaster)" the NBC morning show contributor said

Transcript

00:00 Jill Martin has undergone a successful double mastectomy, just weeks after revealing her

00:04 breast cancer diagnosis.

00:06 In a new personal essay, the Today Show contributor shared an update on her health after having

00:10 surgery three weeks ago, saying she's doing okay physically, but emotionally is a different

00:16 story.

00:17 She explains that her doctor removed an aggressive tumor, as well as 18 lymph nodes, one of which

00:22 was cancerous.

00:23 The 47-year-old says there is now a good chance she's cancer-free, but she'll need additional

00:28 treatment to make sure.

00:30 Martin was diagnosed with breast cancer just one week after she tested positive for the

00:33 BRCA gene, linked to a significantly higher possibility of developing breast or ovarian

00:38 cancer.

00:39 "That test saved my life."

00:41 In Monday's essay, Martin describes quickly realizing how much cancer has impacted her

00:46 family.

00:47 She explains in part, "It shakes a family and a household.

00:50 The past three weeks have felt like a lifetime."

00:53 And she admits cancer has knocked her down, saying she went from someone who jumped out

00:57 of bed every day to someone who feels like staying under the covers and crying every

01:01 day instead.

01:03 But she adds, "Little by little, like today, I am choosing to get up, I am choosing to

01:07 fight, and I am choosing to use my strength and platform to do my best to crush cancer."

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