Miami News Anchor Diagnosed With Breast Cancer Says, ‘It’s Still Hard For Me to Talk About It’ After Coming to Grips With Diagnosis – What to Do to Help Ease the Shock of a Diagnosis

“Now I can say, I had breast cancer. That is big. It’s still hard for me to say. It’s still hard for me to talk about it,” she told WFOR News.

Known for her warmth and charisma on screen, Petrillo has earned three prestigious N.A.T.A.S. Emmy awards and interviewed icons like Oprah Winfrey, Tom Cruise, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. But her most personal story began quietly—during a routine self-exam.

While checking her breasts, Petrillo noticed something unusual. Breast self-exams are a vital tool for early detection, encouraging women to look for changes such as swelling, bulging, nipple distortion, redness, rashes, or fluid discharge. Gentle pressure around the breast tissue can help identify anything that feels out of place.

WATCH: Getting to Know Your Breasts With Self-Exams

As Dr. Elizabeth Comen, medical oncologist, explains: “When we think about breast cancer prevention and awareness, the first step is that women need to feel comfortable with their breasts and know what their breasts feel like normally.”

It’s important to note that self-breast exams are not a substitute for a full mammogram.

Petrillo asked her husband to confirm what she was feeling. The next day, she saw her doctor and underwent an ultrasound. The results revealed a lobular tumor in her right breast—an early-stage diagnosis. For someone so publicly poised, the news was emotionally overwhelming.

She began treatment with a lumpectomy, a breast-conserving surgery that removes the tumor and surrounding tissue while preserving the rest of the breast. That was followed by 15 days of radiation. Her full recovery took nearly 10 months.

Though she initially kept her diagnosis private, Petrillo now shares her story to help others feel less alone.

“If someone’s in the same situation as me, maybe it’s time for me to say what happened so I can help,” she said.

As she continues taking medication for the next five years, Petrillo remains focused on healing—and on using her voice to uplift others walking the same path.

Lisa’s Breast Cancer Treatment

A lumpectomy removes the cancer or abnormal tissue from the breast, and unlike a mastectomy, only the tumor and some of the surrounding tissue are removed. The surgery typically takes about an hour and is an outpatient procedure, meaning a patient will be able to go home the same day. “It’s abnormal to have a lot of pain after a lumpectomy,” says Dr. Sarah Cate, Chief of Breast Surgery, Stamford Hospital.

WATCH: Recovering from a Lumpectomy

For early-stage breast cancer, studies have shown that lumpectomy plus radiation is as effective a treatment in preventing a recurrence of breast cancer as mastectomy.

“As the breast surgeon, I then make a cut in the breast and remove the cancer, and then I will do certain plastic surgery techniques to rearrange the tissue just in that area to make it look nice,” Dr. Cate explained.

“A lot of the time, the stitches are underneath the skin, and I use a skin glue. And that’s also taken from plastic surgery techniques for the best possible appearance of the scar. I also place the scars, most of the time, by the areola, or maybe at the bottom of the breast, so that patients can wear V-necks or bathing suits, and they really cannot see the scar after some time,” Dr. Cate continued.

Lumpectomy patients are usually at the outpatient surgery center for about four hours. If patients aren’t feeling well or experiencing additional pain or discomfort, they might stay longer.

Preparing for Radiation Treatment for Breast Cancer

Radiation therapy is often used after surgery to destroy any remaining cancer cells in the breast or surrounding tissue. As Radiation Oncologist Dr. Subhakar Mutyala told SurvivorNet, “Radiation therapy is actually ionizing energy, where energy goes through your body, essentially causes DNA damage… The actual treatment is just ionizing energy.”

Radiation therapy—using high-energy rays to destroy cancer cells—is a common follow-up to breast cancer surgery, especially for patients who choose a lumpectomy over a mastectomy. Its goal: reduce the risk of recurrence by targeting any lingering cancer cells in the breast or surrounding tissue.

While effective, radiation can come with side effects, both immediate and delayed. Common symptoms include:

• Fatigue
• Swelling
• Scar tissue
• Shortness of breath

RELATED: Cancer Patients With Dark Skin Are at Increased Risk of Painful Radiation Side Effects, New Research Says

One of the more serious concerns involves the heart, which can unintentionally absorb radiation due to its proximity to the breast.

“When the radiation is delivered, unfortunately, the heart happens to be somewhere very near to where they have their breast cancer, and it becomes an innocent bystander absorbing some of the radiation,” explained Dr. Jean-Bernard Durand to SurvivorNet.

This exposure can lead to complications such as fatigue, shortness of breath, and even heart failure—sometimes surfacing decades after treatment.

“We make it a point to see them on a regular basis so that we can catch these things very early and treat them,” Dr. Durand added.

Even advanced techniques like proton therapy, which aim to minimize damage to healthy tissue, aren’t immune to side effects. Fatigue remains a common complaint, and the risk of long-term injury still exists.

“Radiation is a form of energy… and when we give radiation, it has the ability to scatter,” Dr. Durand said. “Even though we may target one particular area, that scattering of energy can cause injury to the local surrounding structures, including the heart.”

Over time, this injury can lead to the development of scar tissue within the heart muscle, its electrical system, and blood supply.

“We believe it is what causes all the injury, that ultimately leads to the symptoms,” he explained.

For survivors, this underscores the importance of ongoing monitoring and open conversations with care teams.

WATCH: The Debates Around Radiation for Breast Cancer

While radiation is a standard part of care for many, experts continue to debate its scope and necessity. Dr. Chirag Shah of the Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center notes two key controversies: whether to use whole breast versus partial breast radiation, and whether some patients may not need radiation at all.

“The idea is reducing the duration of treatment and reducing side effects for patients,” Dr. Shah said. “Omitting radiation is therefore associated with a lower risk of side effects.”

Considering a Self-Breast Exam? Here Are the Steps.

If you choose to incorporate self-exams into your routine, here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started:

• Visual Check in the Mirror
  • Stand straight with your hands on your hips and observe your breasts for any visible changes—swelling, bulging, asymmetry, redness, rashes, or fluid discharge. Repeat this check with your arms raised overhead to spot subtle shifts in shape or contour.
• Physical Exam While Lying Down
  • Lie flat and use your right hand to examine your left breast, then switch sides. Use the pads of your first three fingers to apply varying pressure—light for surface tissue, medium for mid-depth, and firm for deeper areas. Cover the entire breast zone: from collarbone to ribcage, and armpit to cleavage.
• Repeat While Standing or Sitting
  • Some women find it helpful to repeat the exam in the shower, where fingers glide more easily over wet skin. Consistency is key—monthly checks can help you recognize what’s normal and flag anything unusual.

What To Ask Your Doctor

If you have been diagnosed with breast cancer, you may have questions about keeping your strength through treatment. Here are a few questions to help you begin the conversation with your doctor:

• What treatment will I be receiving?
• What side effects are associated with this treatment?
• Are there steps I can take daily to help minimize these side effects?
• What physical activity routine do you recommend for me during treatment?
• Do you have recommendations for someone who doesn’t particularly enjoy exercise?
• Can you recommend a dietician who can help me with healthy eating tips and weight maintenance?
• I’ve been having trouble sleeping. Do you have any treatment recommendations?

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