Health Status
On July 31, 2007, Roberts announced during the live broadcast of Good Morning America that she had been diagnosed with an early form of breast cancer. She noticed a lump through self-examination the day they were working on Joel Siegel's farewell on Good Morning America. (Siegel died from colon cancer.) Roberts underwent surgery on August 3, and six days later it was announced by ABC News that Roberts was planning to return to the anchor desk on August 13.
Roberts announced on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on September 5, 2007, that she was healthier now than before the cancer but still faces future treatment. She also revealed that a mammogram did not detect her cancer but a follow-up ultrasound did. Roberts shaved her head during chemotherapy treatment. She wore a wig on Good Morning America because she "didn't want to distract viewers from the news." On April 21, 2008, Roberts stopped wearing the wig. As of January 10, 2008, Roberts had completed her eight chemotherapy treatments. She then had 6½ weeks of radiation treatment, which was completed as of March 28, 2008.
In early 2007, Roberts published a book, From the Heart: Seven Rules to Live By, of which she said, "I'm a big believer that you have to put yourself in position for good things to happen to you." She discussed the book and her Christian faith on the CBN.
On June 11, 2012, five years after the start of Roberts' fight with breast cancer, she announced on Good Morning America that she has MDS or myelodysplastic syndrome. Roberts also announced that her sister, Sally-Ann Roberts, is an almost exactly perfect match for bone marrow, and the transplant will happen in either the late summer or the fall. She has stated that with the help of her faith, her family and her GMA family she knows that she will overcome the condition.
Roberts began an extended medical leave from GMA after the August 30, 2012 program (a day earlier than planned) to get her bone marrow transplant and to attend to the health of her mother in the aftermath of Hurricane Isaac. Her mother, Lucimarian Roberts (February 5, 1924 - August 30, 2012) died a few hours after Roberts' arrival the same day she began her medical leave.
On October 11, 2012, Roberts went home from the hospital three weeks after undergoing a bone marrow transplant.
Read more about this topic: Robin Roberts (newscaster)
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