“I remember thinking, ‘Holy shit, I saved my life,'” Amanda said after taking steps to detect the disease early.
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Glennon Doyle/Instagram
Amanda Doyle
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Amanda Doyle announced that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer
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She will undergo a bilateral mastectomy and breast reconstruction
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She shares her health experience in the hope of raising awareness about prevention
Glennon Doyle’s sister Amanda Doyle announced that she was recently diagnosed with breast cancer.
In the episode of her podcast on May 14 We can do difficult thingswhich they co-host with Glennon’s wife and football icon Abby Wambach, the 45-year-old reported in detail about the “frightening” update on his health.
“Three weeks ago I was told that a biopsy showed I had breast cancer. The first few weeks were a rollercoaster of questions like, ‘What does this mean? How bad is it? What’s the prognosis?'” she said. “It’s just a shock. I don’t think people are ever surprised to find out something like this.”
Amanda said her friend died of cancer six months ago and she was worried about how terrible it was for the many people who were diagnosed when the disease was already advanced.
“I remember thinking over and over about how stupid this is and why I don’t think it makes sense that people find out they have cancer when it’s too late,” she said.
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Amanda decided to be proactive and get a genetic test. And when her results “freaked her out,” she visited a cancer screening center. There, Amanda learned she had a higher risk of cancer.
“Based on the density of my breasts and our family history, they estimated that I was three times more likely than average to develop cancer at some point in my life,” she said on the show.
With this information, Amanda was instructed to have an MRI scan. Despite annual mammograms, cancer was detected and she was diagnosed shortly thereafter.
“I was just sitting on the side of the road with my phone and it was very scary and weird,” she recalled when she received the news during a family vacation. “I remember thinking, ‘Holy shit, I saved my life.'”
“I was so angry and frustrated and just couldn’t believe that it worked like that. You get sick or you’re in a lot of pain or this tumor breaks a bone in your body and that’s how you find out you have cancer,” she continued. “I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude that that wasn’t the case and that what I really didn’t want to happen wasn’t going to happen.”
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After her breast cancer diagnosis, Amanda was given a “very good prognosis.” But after many more tests, she learned that a lumpectomy was not an option and a mastectomy was necessary.
Amanda said on the podcast that she will be undergoing a bilateral mastectomy and breast reconstruction in a week. After the procedure, she will learn if radiation or other treatments will be necessary.
Amanda noted that doctors insisted her cancer was “not a threat to my life at all” because she caught it so early. She also urged others to attend their regular screenings and promised to talk more about breast cancer prevention on the show.
Related: See How These Breast Cancer Survivors Turned Their Mastectomy Scars Into Art With Stunning Tattoos (Exclusive)
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the United States, other than skin cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, early detection through mammography allows patients to begin treatment early and can reduce the likelihood of the disease spreading.
The US Preventive Services Task Force states that women over the age of 40 should have regular mammograms.
Health authorities also advise women of all ages to practice “breast self-awareness.” This means becoming familiar with the normal appearance and texture of their breasts. This will make it easier for them to spot anything unusual during breast self-examination.
On May 14, Amanda also posted a video about her health on her Instagram pages Glennon and Abby.
“I learned from Glennon that there is power in sharing from the chaotic middle and not waiting until you’re on the other side of things. And we’re certainly not on the other side yet, but we’re going to get there,” she said in the clip.
“In the meantime, I want to make sure that everyone who is going through this knows that they are seen and honored. And I also want to do what I can to prevent other people from having to go through this.”
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