TV News Host, 68, Learned She Had Breast Cancer on Same Day She Got Prestigious Journalism Award Regular Cancer Screening Saves Lives

Diamond has been a fixture on British television screens since the 1980s. The beloved anchor also appeared on "Celebrity Big Brother" adding to her wide-ranging appeal.

Diamond broke her silence about her health troubles when she returned to her show.

"It's been a long journey. And five months later, I'm still not at the end of the journey, but I'm through it enough to come back to work," Diamond said during the interview.

While we don't know the exact kind of breast cancer Diamond has been battling, the brave TV anchor revealed some other details about her diagnosis and treatment thus far.

 

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"I spent the entire morning at my local hospital where they did everything," Diamond said detailing the day she learned she had breast cancer.

"Biopsies, X-rays, CT scans, a couple of mammograms, everything…" Diamond continued.

The day Diamond learned of her cancer diagnosis, she was also awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) medal for her journalism. This is one of the highest honors awarded by the British government and recognizes people who’ve made significant contributions in their field.

"It was a wonderful moment," Diamond told The Guardian.

Although the monumental achievement unfortunately came at the same time as her breast cancer diagnosis, she's remained uplifted and determined.

"It's been a journey, but I'm not pretending for a minute that I'm extraordinary, because I am fully aware that a quarter of women in this country are going through what I've just gone through, and I don't have any advice to give. I only have empathy," Diamond said.

For Breast Cancer, Regular Screening is Key

Breast cancer screening often involves a mammogram that examines breast tissue for signs of anything abnormal. Upgrades in imaging technology such as MRI, ultrasounds, and 3D and 2D mammography helped improve efficiency.

"3D mammography detects 34% more cancers compared to traditional mammography," a study from Lund University in Sweden found.

Dr. Connie Lehman explains how 3D mammograms work. 

"With digital mammography, 3D tomosynthesis, we're taking thin slices through the breast tissue, like slices of a loaf of bread," said Dr. Connie Lehman, the Chief of the Breast Imaging Division at Massachusetts General Hospital.

"We can look at each slice independently rather than trying to see through the entire thickness of the entire loaf of bread," Dr. Lehman continued.

Although improved mammography is helping with the early detection of breast cancer, the National Cancer Institute cautions there's a possibility of overdiagnosis. Some tumors which may be benign and not life-threatening could cause added anxiety for patients. The possibility of a false-positive test result is also likely. It is important to have a conversation with your doctor when determining your breast screening options.

Advances in Breast Cancer Treatment

Breast cancer research in recent years has also allowed doctors to better understand different subtypes of breast cancer. These subtypes influence how they should be treated to yield the best results by customizing treatment.

We now know more about HER2-positive and negative breast cancers. HER2 is a protein receptor that can be present on the surface of breast cancer cells. Cancers with this receptor in large quantities are classified as HER2-positive while the rest are considered HER2-negative.

Depending on if the cancer is HER2-positive or HER2-negative, there are treatment options designed to best handle these types of breast cancer.

However, new research has indicated that there is a new classification, “HER2-low,” that may drive treatment.

"Classically, [breast cancers were] either [HER2] negative or positive… [However, almost 60% of these] tumors that were officially classified as HER2-negative are HER2-low, meaning that the target is found in relatively low concentrations [on these cells]," Dr. Sylvia Adams, director of the Breast Cancer Center at Perlmutter Cancer Center, previously told SurvivorNet.

"With over 60% of patients being HER2-low, this is opening up a lot of treatment options for many patients," Dr. Maryam Lustberg, chief of breast medical oncology and director of the Center for Breast Cancer at Smilow Cancer Hospital and Yale Cancer Center, said.

Another type of breast cancer we now know more about is triple-negative breast cancer, which is not fueled by any of the three main types of receptors: estrogen, progesterone, or the HER2 protein.

"Metastatic triple-negative breast cancer lacks a targeted treatment. It is often the most virulent breast cancer and there is a clear need for better treatment," Dr. Harold Burstein of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute previously told SurvivorNet.

Treatment advancements such as immunotherapy, which uses the body's own immune system to target the cancer, have proven effective against triple-negative breast cancer. Pembrolizumab (brand name Keytruda) is an immunotherapy drug used to treat women with early-stage triple-negative breast cancer or those at high risk of having their cancer return.

For patients with stage 2 or 3 triple-negative breast cancer, adding the immune-boosting medication pembrolizumab to combination chemotherapy before surgery increases chances of living free of breast cancer, Dr. Adams explained.

"It changes the standard of care and should be discussed with all patients who are diagnosed with stage 2 or 3 triple negative breast cancer…It's a game-changer, though there is much more to be learned," she said.

Finding the Right Breast Cancer Treatment

If you've been diagnosed with breast cancer, your doctor will discuss treatment options shortly thereafter.

One of the ways doctors are deciding treatment options includes genetic testing. Genetic testing helps doctors personalize your treatment plan.

Your genes control all aspects of the body and its function. When genes mutate, they can increase your risk of developing certain cancers. Some genetic mutations are known to lead to specific cancers, such as mutations in the BRCA1, and BRCA2 genes.

The BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are responsible for about half of all hereditary breast cancers. They produce proteins that help repair damaged DNA. Some other mutations may only be an indication of a change in the genetic makeup without increasing your risk of cancer. Genetic testing looks for both kinds of mutations.

Dr. Julie R. Gralow, the Chief Medical Office and the Executive Vice President of the American Society of Clinical Oncology told SurvivorNet that, "Presence of a BRCA1/2 gene mutation (or others associated with high risk) may impact surgical decision-making in a patient who is newly diagnosed with breast cancer."

"It should not really impact treatment of the current cancer (eligibility for lumpectomy versus mastectomy), but the presence of such a mutation carries a very high risk of developing a second breast cancer, so bilateral mastectomy is a reasonable consideration to reduce the risk of second cancer," Dr. Gralow further explained.

Recent research has also identified other mutations, which may also increase the risk of breast cancer development. These include changes in the PALB2, ATM, CHEK2, KRAS, CDH1, TP53, PTEN, and numerous other genes. Genes without a clear link to breast cancer are called variants of uncertain significance (VUS).

"More people have VUS than have the cancer-causing genes," Dr. P Rani Anne told SurvivorNet.

Dr. Anne adds, "This prevalence exacerbates the basic issue with VUS, which is that no one knows what to do with them in terms of cancer prevention or care."

VUS genes are neither pathogenic (cancer-causing) nor benign according to the latest scientific knowledge. Further research is needed to better understand VUS and its impact on breast cancer treatment.

Modern genetic testing panels can look for mutations in more than 80 genes at once. If you undergo genetic testing as part of your breast cancer treatment, your doctor will use the data to determine the best treatment method and possible medications to specifically target your type of cancer.

Questions for Your Doctor

If you have a breast cancer screening coming up or recently had one, you may have questions you want answered. SurvivorNet suggests the following questions to kickstart your conversation with your doctor.

• Do my mammogram results indicate I have breast cancer or am I at higher risk?
• If I'm at higher risk, what are my treatment options?
• What side effects should I expect related to my treatment?
• How much will this diagnosis prevent me from working or fulfilling my daily activities?
• Will my breast cancer screening be covered by insurance or are there other financial resources available?

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

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