For Good Morning America News (GMA) anchor Amy Robach, breast cancer wasn’t on her radar. She was young, fit and had no family history. Roughly 10 months later, she wears the badge of breast cancer survivor.
During a celebration of the Capital Health Center for Comprehensive Breast Care’s national accreditation by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers, Robach delivered a poignant and inspiring account of her battle with breast cancer.
“I would not have gotten my mammogram if the producers of Good Morning America hadn’t almost forced me to do it,” says Robach who was diagnosed after having her first mammogram live on television during GMA’s “Go Pink” campaign last fall for breast cancer awareness. Her colleague Robin Roberts, a breast cancer survivor, convinced her to participate telling her “if she saved one life, it would be worth it.”
The mammogram and follow-up tests resulted in a double mastectomy and eight rounds of chemotherapy, followed by reconstructive surgery.
Speaking to members of the Capital Health breast center’s medical and support team, community breast cancer advocates and patients, Robach detailed her experience and commended the Capital Health team for recognizing that breast cancer doesn't define the patient and for treating each patient as an individual.
Capital Health’s comforting atmosphere and the friendliness of its team make a big difference to someone fighting cancer, said Robach who went on to make note of the spa available to patients at Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell.
“They treat them as people, not just cancer patients, and that’s really important when you have cancer,” Robach said during an interview with the Times of Trenton. Robach also commended the hospital for its national accreditation, which recognizes its commitment to excellence in medical care. At the event, Breast Center director and fellowship trained breast surgeon, Dr. Lisa Allen applauded Robach for her courageous battle and commitment to education. A commitment, Dr. Allen said, the hospital shares.
“Of course, with the clinical care we provide comes a commitment— actually, an obligation—to help educate and empower women to take control of their healthcare and make time in their busy schedules to take care of themselves,” said Dr. Allen.
Dr. Allen went on to challenge each person at the event to give 10 important women in their lives postcards reminding them to schedule their mammograms. “If each of you touches 10 lives, that’s over 1,000 people we are reminding to prioritize their health and schedule their mammogram.”
For Robach, the visit to Capital Health was part of a personal mission. “I want to continue to pay it forward and let other women know they are not alone,” she said. To learn about the Capital Health Center for Comprehensive Breast Care, visit capitalbreast.org or call 609-537-6767.