TV News Anchor Nichole Berlie, 46, Says She’s ‘Proud of Who She’s Become’ After Battling Breast Cancer and Shows Off Her Remarkable Hair Regrowth After Treatment

“News Nation” anchor Nichole Berlie, 46, may be a couple of years removed from being told she had breast cancer, but even in survivorship, the road to normalcy is long, and milestone moments along the way are a reason to pause, reflect, and celebrate.

Recently, Berlie shared a before-and-after photo of her hair regrowth.

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“For all my cancer warriors and survivors who feel like their hair will never come back,” Nichole Berlie captioned her Instagram post, highlighting her remarkable hair regrowth after battling breast cancer.

“Not exactly who I was, but I’m so proud of who I’ve become,” Berlie added.

In 2024, when Berlie’s hair was falling out as a result of chemotherapy, she decided to embrace it, although she admits it wasn’t easy.

 

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“When I actually cut my hair, I wasn’t as emotional, but seeing it come out, and there were patches, it was just very traumatic, so I decided to shave it,” Berlie once said in an Instagram post.

Berlie is a veteran news anchor with Nebraska roots. After reporting the news in a few television markets across the United States over the years, she joined News Nation in 2020. When she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023, it seemingly caught her by surprise because she didn’t have any typical signs like a lump in the breast or swelling.

“I didn’t have any signs, I didn’t have any symptoms, I still don’t. And I still feel great. But, as I now know firsthand, you can have cancer, and you can feel and look fine,” Berlie said during her newscast.

In the weeks and months since, she’s taken her news viewers along for the ride of her cancer journey. The ups and downs of chemotherapy, which include hair loss, were evident.

 

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Chemotherapy can cause hair loss. It usually begins about three to four weeks after chemotherapy and continues throughout treatment.

This happens because this treatment targets quickly dividing cells throughout the body, including cancer cells and hair cells.

Coping with Hair Loss in Cancer Care: Practical Advice & Emotional Support

Hair loss can be one of the more emotionally challenging parts of a cancer journey. For many patients, it’s not just about appearance—it’s about identity, control, and coping with change. SurvivorNet offers guidance and resources to help you navigate this side effect with confidence and care.

“For cancer patients, losing one’s hair can be unbelievably stressful. The dread alone can lead to sleepless nights and heightened anxiety,” says Dr. Samantha Boardman, a New York-based psychiatrist and author.

WATCH: What is a scalp-cooling device?

While chemotherapy is a common cause of hair loss, radiation can also lead to thinning or baldness—especially when the treatment area includes the scalp. For instance, radiation targeting a brain tumor may result in hair loss on the head.

The good news? Hair typically begins to regrow within four to six weeks after treatment ends. According to Dr. James Taylor, a radiation oncologist at GenesisCare, “Fortunately, for most patients, hair loss is not a concern when having radiation therapy.” Still, regrowth may come with changes in texture or color.

One promising option for minimizing hair loss during chemotherapy is cold capping, also known as scalp cooling therapy. These FDA-approved devices—initially for breast cancer and now used for other cancers—are worn before, during, and after chemo sessions. The helmet-style caps are filled with gel coolant chilled to between -15°F and -40°F.

“Cold caps work by causing vasoconstriction, or narrowing of the blood vessels that supply blood to the scalp,” explains Dr. Renata Urban, gynecologic oncologist at the University of Washington.

This reduced blood flow limits the amount of chemotherapy that reaches hair follicles, helping protect them from damage. The cold also slows down follicle activity, making them less vulnerable to the effects of treatment.

If hair loss is a concern, know that you have options—from wigs and wraps to hats and scarves—that can help you feel more like yourself during treatment.

Coping With Post-Surgery Scars, Body Image Amid Cancer

When you are in the middle of a health challenge, you may notice some physical changes in your body. The changes may include weight gain or loss, hair loss, or something invisible to the naked eye.

One way to prepare yourself for possible body changes during cancer treatment is to understand that changes are possible but also frequently temporary. This can also help build up your self-confidence. Your support group, filled with loved ones, can also help you during this stage of your journey.

While surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation are treatments that can cause visible changes to one’s physical appearance, other treatments that are less noticeable include endocrine or hormone therapy.

WATCH: Know Your Breasts with Self-Exams 

Hormone therapy “slows or stops the growth of hormone-sensitive tumors by blocking the body’s ability to produce hormones,” according to the National Cancer Institute.

Psychologist Dr. Marianna Strongin shares with SurvivorNet some additional tips cancer warriors can explore to help manage the emotional toll body changes can have during treatment.

Dr. Strongin encourages cancer warriors to take ownership of the part (or parts) of their body impacted mainly by cancer treatment. She says that although they may represent “fear and pain,” they also represent “strength and courage.”

“Research has found that when looking in the mirror, we are more likely to focus on the parts of our body we are dissatisfied with, which causes us to have a negative self-view and lower self-esteem. Therefore, I would like you to first spend time gazing at the parts of your body you love, give them time, honor them, and then thank them,” Dr. Strongin said.

Dr. Strongin then suggests looking at the part or parts of your body impacted by the cancer or cancer treatment. She recommends creating a regular practice of accepting your body image because it helps you accept your cancer journey emotionally and physically.

“As you allow yourself to spend more time looking at all of you, you will begin having a new relationship with your body. It may not happen immediately, but with time, you can begin honoring and thanking your new body,” Strongin adds.

Understanding Early-Stage Breast Cancer and What Comes Next

Early-stage breast cancer means the tumor is small and hasn’t spread to nearby lymph nodes. According to medical oncologist Dr. Elizabeth Comen, the first step is usually surgery to remove the cancer. This may involve a lumpectomy, where only the tumor and surrounding tissue are removed, often followed by radiation therapy to reduce the risk of recurrence.

However, treatment isn’t one-size-fits-all. Factors like age, tumor size, family history, and personal preference may influence whether radiation is needed or if a patient chooses a more aggressive approach, such as a mastectomy—removal of the entire breast. After surgery, a pathologist examines the tissue under a microscope to help determine the next steps in treatment.

WATCH: Understanding Early Stage Breast Cancer

Diagnostic testing plays a critical role in shaping your care plan. If a mammogram or clinical breast exam reveals something abnormal, your care team may recommend:

• Diagnostic mammogram and breast ultrasound to get a closer look at the breast and nearby lymph nodes
• MRI scans for additional imaging detail
• Biopsy of suspicious areas, including lymph nodes, to confirm cancer
• Tumor marker testing to identify hormone receptors and proteins that influence treatment options
• Additional imaging to check for any signs of metastatic disease

Once all this information is gathered, your cancer is staged—based on tumor size, lymph node involvement, and whether it has spread. Staging helps guide treatment decisions, while hormone receptor and protein marker tests reveal how the cancer behaves and which therapies may be most effective.

Your healthcare team will consider all of these factors—alongside your personal health, values, and goals—to create a treatment plan tailored to you.

Going Through Chemotherapy and Radiation for Breast Cancer

Chemotherapy is an effective tool for oncologists to help treat cancer by stopping cancerous cells from growing, dividing, and spreading to other organs. Chemo works by traveling through the bloodstream, killing cancerous cells. However, healthy cells are also impacted in the process, leading to side effects.

Patients almost universally experience fatigue, often alongside gastrointestinal side effects, such as nausea. Doctors have many effective medications to combat chemo-induced nausea. “But mitigating that fatigue often depends on the patient,” says Dr. Urban.

“Neuropathy is probably one of the most challenging side effects,” says Dr. Urban. Neuropathy results from damage to the peripheral nerves. It usually resolves after chemotherapy treatment, but sometimes symptoms can persist. While it’s typically characterized by numbness or a pins-and-needles sensation in the hands and feet, neuropathy can have several different symptoms, including:

• Weakness in the hands or feet
• Stabbing or burning pain in the hands or feet
• Difficulty gripping, such as when holding a fork
• Difficulty with fine motor skills, such as writing or buttoning a shirt

Nausea and vomiting are common side effects of chemotherapy. When chemotherapy affects the rapidly dividing cells in the lining of the stomach, the resulting cellular havoc in the gastrointestinal tract can lead to side effects such as nausea and vomiting. However, doctors can help patients mitigate the hit with various medications before, during, and after treatment.

“Part of the chemotherapy prescription includes a set regimen of anti-nausea medications,” says Dr. Urban. “We also ensure that patients have medications at home that they can use should they develop nausea after treatment.”

Hair loss is another side effect of chemotherapy.

WATCH: Coping with hair loss.

“For cancer patients, losing one’s hair can be unbelievably stressful. To start with, the dread of losing one’s hair can lead to some sleepless nights and feelings of anxiety,” Dr. Boardman told SurvivorNet.

Tips for Navigating Chemo Side Effects

When dealing with fatigue, doctors don’t have an arsenal of weapons to combat fatigue in terms of prescription medications. However, you can do several things to help minimize the hit and restore your energy.

• Exercise: While it may be counterintuitive, physical activity can help alleviate side effects, especially fatigue. “Although ovarian cancer is not common, we often draw upon the experience of patients with breast cancer and colon cancer, who have shown that physical activity can not only improve quality of life but may also have beneficial impacts on cancer outcomes,” Dr. Urban says.
• Eat well: Even though nausea may interfere with your ability to eat a healthy diet, it’s essential to ensure you’re eating appropriately, getting enough protein, and not losing weight. Not only will nourishing your body support your recovery, but it may also help you feel more energized.
• Sleep: Want to mitigate fatigue? Be sure to maintain your regular sleep-wake cycle while on treatment. Sticking to a set sleep schedule helps reduce fatigue by ensuring enough hours for your body to heal and restore itself each night. It may also help you recover more quickly by keeping energy levels high during the daytime.

Treating Neuropathy Symptoms

Doctors have several strategies for helping patients deal with this side effect. Once a patient begins experiencing the symptoms of neuropathy, they’ll be carefully monitored to make sure it doesn’t get worse. Before each chemotherapy infusion, the attending oncologist will assess whether the symptoms have progressed. If the symptoms worsen, they may adjust the dose or delay treatment. They may also try switching to another chemotherapy drug.

How to Get a Handle on Nausea

Most of these anti-nausea medications last for more than eight hours. One of the infusions commonly used reduces the degree of nausea for up to three days.

Complementary approaches may also be helpful. A few favorites:

• Ginger: Studies consistently show that ginger helps alleviate chemotherapy-induced nausea. The powerful herb appears to have an anti-spasmodic effect on the gut. Not a fan of raw ginger? Suck on ginger candy, sip ginger ale, or make a steaming cup of ginger tea.
• Pressure bracelets: at your local pharmacy, these bracelets provide consistent pressure on a particular acupressure point on the wrist to reduce nausea.
• Deep breathing: Moving air in and out of your lungs with a few deep breaths can help relieve nausea, particularly if you pair deep breathing exercises with meditation. It can also help you relax and release stress and anxiety.

WATCH: Managing chemo side effects.

Coping with Hair Loss

If losing your hair is a concern for you before cancer treatment, know you have options like wigs, hats, wraps, and scarves, among other things.

Another option that can minimize hair loss is cryotherapy, “just a fancy way of saying cold therapy,” says Dr. Urban.

Cryotherapy involves wearing cold caps or special cooling caps before, during, and after each chemotherapy treatment.

Radiation Therapy: A Powerful Tool with Long-Term Considerations

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

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.
Radiation treatment continues to evolve, with ongoing debates among experts about how to reduce side effects while optimizing outcomes. Dr. Chirag Shah, the Director of Breast Radiation Oncology and Director of Clinical Research in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the Cleveland Clinic, outlined three key areas of discussion:

• Whole vs. Partial Breast Radiation: Shortening treatment duration and minimizing side effects are promising, though long-term data are still emerging.
• Identifying Patients Who May Not Need Radiation: Some individuals may not benefit from radiation, and omitting it could reduce unnecessary risks.
• Technique Optimization: Advancements in delivery methods aim to improve effectiveness while limiting harm to healthy tissue.

“I think the first debate that we have is whole breast radiation versus partial breast radiation and the idea of reducing duration of treatment and reducing side effects for patients, albeit with less than 10 years’ worth of long-term data,” Dr. Shah explained to SurvivorNet.

When to Screen for Breast Cancer

The medical community has a broad consensus that women should have annual mammograms between the ages of 45 and 54. However, an independent panel of experts called the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is saying that women should now start getting mammograms every other year at the age of 40, suggesting that this lowered age for breast cancer screening could save 19% more lives.

The American Cancer Society recommends getting a mammogram every other year for women 55 and older. However, women in this age group who want added reassurance can still get annual mammograms.

WATCH: Mammograms are still the best tool for detecting breast cancer.

Women with a strong family history of breast cancer, a genetic mutation known to increase the risk of breast cancer, such as a BRCA gene mutation, or a medical history, including chest radiation therapy before the age of 30, are considered at higher risk for breast cancer.

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 of developing breast cancer, you should begin screening earlier.

Regular Self-Exams Are Helpful In Between Mammograms

A self-breast exam is an easy way to monitor your breasts for abnormalities. It involves feeling the breast for swelling, bulging, or changes in the shape of the breast or nipple.

Checking for signs of redness, rashes, or discharge is also part of this exam. If anything is found that is concerning, you should contact your doctor. It’s important to note that self-exams should be done with regular mammograms.

Learning More About Genetic Testing

Genetic testing for cancer is typically conducted in a medical setting, such as a primary care office or an OB-GYN clinic. However, some tests are now available for direct purchase, allowing individuals to explore their genetic risk independently.

Initially, genetic testing was recommended for a limited group of individuals based on specific risk factors, including a strong family history of breast cancer, personal cancer history, or certain ethnic backgrounds.

WATCH: Helping you understand genetic testing.

“It started out with a very narrow field of women and men who were recommended to have it based on certain risk factors, family history of breast cancer, or other cancers, and also ethnic backgrounds,” explains Dr. Elisa Port is a surgeon who specializes in the care and treatment of patients with breast cancer as well as those at an increased risk of developing breast cancer.

Guidelines from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) suggest that genetic testing should be prioritized for patients at higher risk for hereditary breast cancer. This includes individuals diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 45, those with a strong familial history of the disease, and individuals of Ashkenazi Jewish descent.

Meanwhile, the American Society of Breast Surgeons (ASBrS) takes a broader approach, recommending genetic testing for all patients diagnosed with breast cancer.

These evolving recommendations reflect a growing emphasis on personalized medicine, ensuring that individuals at risk receive appropriate screening and guidance to manage their health proactively.

What If You Have the BRCA Gene Mutation?

Discovering a genetic mutation can be unsettling, but there are several options available to manage cancer risk effectively. These include enhanced screenings for early detection, prophylactic (risk-reducing) surgery to remove high-risk tissue, and chemoprevention—the use of medications designed to lower the chances of developing cancer.

Interestingly, for individuals diagnosed with ovarian cancer, carrying a BRCA mutation may provide a treatment advantage when paired with a class of drugs known as PARP inhibitors. Approved by the FDA starting in 2014, these targeted therapies have transformed the landscape of ovarian cancer treatment.

WATCH: Understanding the BRCA Gene Mutation

PARP inhibitors function by blocking the protein PARP, which normally repairs damaged DNA. By preventing this repair process, the inhibitors selectively destroy cancerous cells while sparing healthy ones, making them a powerful treatment tool.

“The PARP inhibitor prevents the repair of the [damaged] single-strand DNA break, and your BRCA mutation prevents the repair of the double-strand DNA break,” explains Dr. Rebecca Arend, Associate Scientist at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, in an interview with SurvivorNet.

This combination of genetic insight and advanced medical therapies highlights how precision medicine continues to evolve, offering more effective, tailored approaches to cancer prevention and treatment.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

If you’re going through cancer treatment and experiencing hair loss, here are some questions you may consider asking your doctor:

• Are there any treatments to help manage or minimize my hair loss?
• What are scalp-cooling devices, and how do they work?
• Do you recommend scalp-cooling devices?
• What other options are available to help me cope with hair loss?
• Can you recommend a wig maker?
• I’m struggling mentally with my hair loss; can you recommend a therapist to talk to?
• How can I find a local support group with people going through similar things?

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