The last time Jill Martin Brooks, 48, spoke to her oncologist, Dr. Eric Winer, he gave her strict instructions — to get her life back. And “that’s exactly what (I’ve) been doing,” the TODAY contributor tells TODAY.com.
It’s been a little more than a year since Jill was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer soon after learning she had a BRCA2 mutation, an inherited genetic mutation that increases one’s chance of developing several cancers, including breast and ovarian, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Jill’s doctors “threw the kitchen sink” at her cancer, she says. Over the last year, Jill had a double mastectomy with the removal of 17 lymph nodes and underwent “one of the toughest chemo regimens,” which included the red devil, the chemotherapy drug doxorubicin known for its bright red color.
Following chemotherapy, Jill completed 16 straight weekdays of radiation and a subsequent preventative surgery to remove her ovaries and fallopian tubes.
Now, she’s taking two oral chemotherapy pills; she’ll take one for the next year, and the second one she’ll need for the next seven to 10 years. Despite the tumultuous year, Jill possesses an overwhelming feeling of appreciation.
“I feel very grateful actually,” she says, adding that she still feels like “the luckiest person in the world.” Despite being given something “horrific,” Jill hopes to raise awareness so that other people might avoid “the hell” her family has been through, she says.
“(I’m) switching the narrative (about) chemo and the pills,” Jill explains, recalling how her surgeon, Dr. Elisa Port, told her that she should thank her pills every morning for fighting for her and helping her — not hurting her.
The latest treatment Jill is facing is breast reconstruction surgery on July 9. She hopes it will be her last procedure for now.
“This is the last (scheduled) surgery,” Jill says. “But cancer doesn’t like it when you say, ‘Oh this is the last thing.’ (So) I’m referring to it as the next phase.”
Jill candidly disclosed her cancer diagnosis to raise awareness of BRCA gene mutations and to encourage people at risk to get tested for it. Her outspokenness worked, and she’s heard from thousands of people who’ve said they were tested after hearing her story.
Jill feels extremely grateful to hear that her advocacy has had a profound impact on so many, but it’s especially significant that is has helped so many people she knows, including her college housemate Melissa. After hearing Jill’s story, Melissa underwent testing and learned she had a BRCA2 mutation. She’s had a mastectomy and her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed in an effort to prevent her from developing breast or ovarian cancer.
In a text to Jill after first finding out, Melissa said, “I needed to thank you for hopefully saving my life.”
While Jill feels empowered that she has been able to help so many people, having cancer, she says, has changed her. She feels like a disco ball, she explains — “a lot of pieces somehow put back together in a new and beautiful way.”
Jill still sees her old self, but her life is different now. She has a lot to unpack from her experience with breast cancer but knows there have been many silver linings, too.
Having the support of loved ones and colleagues helped Jill cope, and she was able to rest as she needed.
“You’re definitely traumatized and need time away,” she says. “It’s important to acknowledge that.”
She realizes that “being a cancer survivor is forever with you as part of your fabric for better or worse.” While there were tough times, Jill continued working throughout treatment, sharing Steals & Deals on TODAY. She’s focused on a new business, which she’s excited to share more about in the fall. After needing to “stay in one place” for cancer treatments, Jill says she’s “looking forward to more adventures,” including travel.
Receiving kindness from viewers and fans helped Jill throughout her diagnosis and treatment.
“I did this publicly, and it almost made it easier because people were so compassionate,” she says, adding that she’s grateful for the love she and her family have received from friends, as well as perfect strangers.
