Thriving As A Cancer Survivor
- Robin Roberts recently shared details about the first time she ever came out to someone as gay.
- Roberts, who previously battled breast cancer herself, is now supporting her partner, Amber Laign, as she takes on her own battle with the disease.
- Breast cancer is a common cancer that has been the subject of much research, so there are many treatment options out there. Mammograms, a standard screening procedure for breast cancer, and self breast exams can save lives.
Roberts publicly announced that she was gay in 2013. But she had come out to family and friends long before that. As the cover star of PEOPLE‘s Pride Issue which celebrates June being Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex (LGBTQI+) Pride Month, she shared more details about the first time she came out.
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After a moment that felt like a lifetime, the server finally left and gave Roberts the chance to finally hear what her crying sister had to say.
“I look at her and she goes, ‘Oh, oh, I’m not crying because you told me you’re gay. I’m crying because you love me enough to tell me that,'” Roberts said.
Roberts then went on to share why she waited until 2013 to finally reveal the same news to viewers.
“For the longest time, before I came out publicly [in 2013], I would think, ‘Well, everybody knows I am gay. My family knows I am gay. My colleagues, bosses….’ All true. If I was walking down the street I would introduce my partner, Amber,” she said. “What a waste of time! And why? Because I was afraid. Because I was afraid people couldn’t think I could be a Christian and gay.”
Fast forward to today, and Roberts is happily with her partner Amber Laign, 47, and not afraid to share her religious beliefs.
“Of course, today I know the importance of having come out,” Roberts said. “And I am so encouraged today by so many LGBTQ+ people who are visible in my industry.
“Somewhat ironically, when I came out, it was my industry who kept reporting, ‘Gay! She’s gay! Oh!’ Meanwhile the public was going like, ‘Uh, duh! Really? That’s your headline?'”
Robin Roberts and Amber Laign Battle Breast Cancer
Roberts and Laign have been together through many highs and lows over their nearly 17-year relationship including each of their battles with breast cancer.
Roberts received her breast cancer diagnosis in 2007. Ironically, she was diagnosed after finding a lump in her breast during her preparation for a news segment on performing self-checks. Thankfully, she was cancer-free after surgery.
But in February, Roberts shared that Laign now has to face breast cancer as well. And in an interview from just the other day, she gave an important update regarding her partner's cancer journey.
"She's had some complications with the chemotherapy," Roberts previously told Entertainment Tonight. "They're working it out. We're gonna figure it out. The prognosis is still very good."
Complications with chemotherapy are not uncommon, but they can be scary. So, Roberts is doing everything in her power to support her loved one during this difficult setback.
"I didn't realize how much I had blocked out during my journey, and it was because of sweet Amberbecause she protected me and navigated for me," Roberts said in a previous interview with Ellen Degeneres. "So, I'm doing the same thing for her."
Understanding Robin Roberts' Type of Cancer
Breast cancer is a common cancer that has been the subject of much research. Many women develop breast cancer every year, but men can develop this cancer too though it is more rare, in part, due to the simple fact that they have less breast tissue.
There are many treatment options for people with this disease, but treatment depends greatly on the specifics of each case. Identifying these specifics means looking into whether the cancerous cells have certain receptors. These receptors the estrogen receptor, the progesterone receptor and the HER2 receptor can help identify the unique features of the cancer and help personalize treatment.
"These receptors, I like to imagine them like little hands on the outside of the cell, they can grab hold of what we call ligands, and these ligands are essentially the hormones that may be circulating in the bloodstream that can then be pulled into this cancer cell and used as a fertilizer, as growth support for the cells," Dr. Elizabeth Comen, a medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, previously told SurvivorNet.
The Unique Features of Breast Cancer: Deciding the Right Course of Treatment
One example of a type of ligand that can stimulate a cancer cell is the hormone estrogen, hence why an estrogen receptor positive breast cancer will grow when stimulated by estrogen. For these cases, your doctor may offer treatment that specifically targets the estrogen receptor. But for HER2 positive breast cancers, therapies that uniquely target the HER2 receptor may be the most beneficial.
The Importance of Breast Cancer Screening
Screening for breast cancer is typically done via mammogram, which looks for lumps in the breast tissue and signs of cancer. The American Cancer Society (ACS) says women should begin yearly mammogram screening for breast cancer at age 45 if they are at average risk for breast cancer. The ACS also says those aged 40-44 have the option to start screening with a mammogram every year, and women age 55 and older can switch to a mammogram every other year, or they can choose to continue yearly mammograms.
For screening purposes, a woman is considered to be at average risk if she doesn't have a personal history of breast cancer, a strong family history of breast cancer, a genetic mutation known to increase risk of breast cancer such as a BRCA gene mutation or a medical history including chest radiation therapy before the age of 30. Beyond genetics, family history and experience with radiation therapy, experiencing menstruation at an early age (before 12) or having dense breasts can also put you into a high-risk category. If you are at a higher risk for developing breast cancer, you should begin screening earlier.
In a previous interview with SurvivorNet, Dr. Connie Lehman, chief of the Breast Imaging Division at Massachusetts General Hospital, said people who hadn't reached menopause yet should prioritize getting a mammogram every year.
When Should I Get a Mammogram?
"We know that cancers grow more rapidly in our younger patients, and having that annual mammogram can be lifesaving," Dr. Lehman said. "After menopause, it may be perfectly acceptable to reduce that frequency to every two years. But what I'm most concerned about is the women who haven't been in for a mammogram for two, three or four years, those women that have never had a mammogram. We all agree regular screening mammography saves lives."
It's also important to be on top of self breast exams. If you ever feel a lump in your breast, you should be vigilant and speak with your doctor right away. Voicing your concerns as soon as you have them can lead to earlier cancer detection which, in turn, can lead to better outcomes.
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