‘Praying for Beautiful Amber;’ Robin Roberts’ TV Sisterhood Supports Her Amid Partner Amber’s Breast Cancer Battle

FOX’s Lori Stokes writes, “Praying for beautiful Amber and sending you both love and strength.” Former TV-star-turned-movie star, Jennifer Garner, of Alias and Felicity fame, writes, “Love to both of you and to everyone on the journey.”

CBS Dallas-Fort Worth news personality Kennedi Walker writes simply, “Sending love and prayers.” And ABC News journalist Janai Norman says to Robin, “Sending you both so much love.”

We love to see this kind of support and uplifting towards Roberts and Laign during this difficult time. Roberts shared on social media that Laign had surgery last month and began chemotherapy yesterday. The stage and type of Laign's breast cancer has not been revealed, but Roberts says Laign's prognosis is "good."

This Thursday, Roberts posted a video on both Instagram and Twitter announcing that she will be absent from the morning news show from time to time in order to support Laign through her cancer treatment.

Robin’s Breast Cancer Battle

In 2007, Robin was diagnosed with breast cancer, and she went through her cancer battle publicly, raising awareness around the disease in the process. The GMA host also had to have a bone marrow transplant to treat her MDS, which is a rare type of blood cancer.

Roberts discovered her cancer while at work. She was preparing for a news story about the need for early detection for breast cancer, and she performed a self-check at home. While doing an exam on herself, Roberts discovered a lump. She treated her cancer with surgery. Breast cancer can also be treated with radiation and chemotherapy.

When Should You Consider a Mastectomy?

Support Through a Family Cancer Battle

Support through cancer is critical. We love that Roberts and her partner are being so supported by Roberts’ TV family sisterhood around the world.

Beverly Reeves, who battled ovarian cancer, explained to SurvivorNet in an earlier interview how important community and support, like the kind Roberts has, are when battling cancer. In fact, it's her first piece of advice to someone diagnosed with cancer: Gather your community; circle the wagons, so to speak. She says, "If I had one piece of advice for someone who had just been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, it would be to get a strong support group together."

"Get your close friends. If you're connected to a faith community, get your faith community. Get your family. Let them know what's going on and let them help you. And sometimes that's the most difficult thing to do, but just know that they are there. If they love you, they're there to help you."

'Faith, Family, and Friends' Helped Beverly Reeves Get Through Ovarian Cancer Treatment

Screening for Cancer in the Breast

Mammograms are the screening tool for detecting breast cancer and early signs of cancer in the breast tissue. When it comes to breast cancer, mammograms save lives. Early detection is critically important and it can mean broader treatment options as well. Women ages 45 to 54 with an average risk of breast cancer should get mammograms annually.

For women with an elevated risk of breast cancer this means they either have a history of breast cancer in the family, or they have the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation  they should begin screening even earlier, before age 45.

While getting a mammogram, ask about dense breasts, which may obscure cancer. The technician will be able to do determine whether or not you have dense breasts.

When Should I Get a Mammogram?

SurvivorNet reporter Sydney Schaefer contributed to this article.

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