TV journalist diagnosed with breast cancer after live TV mammogram

A TV journalist was diagnosed with breast cancer after agreeing to live stream her mammogram for breast cancer awareness month.

Ali Meyer, 41, from Oklahoma, originally seemed relaxed while sharing preparations for what she thought would be a routine screening in October 2018, but later filmed herself sobbing after her surprise diagnosis.

She had agreed to live stream her first ever mammogram on Facebook to raise awareness of the importance of breast cancer screening.

But the KFOR reporter was left reeling from the result: “Alright, so I was hoping for a routine little mammogram, and that’s not how this went,” she told viewers.

“I was just sure we’d have nothing today, but here we are…I have breast cancer and I don’t have a tonne of answers yet.

“But I’m going to have an MRI next week to confirm exactly what we’re dealing with and get a plan of action in place.”

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Ali went on to explain how she’d been impacted by the unexpected diagnosis.

“It’s been hard and shocking,” she said.

“It does kind of rock you to your core. This is not the news I was hoping to tell you about to raise breast cancer awareness, but it’s what I got.”

Ali was diagnosed with non-invasive ductile breast cancer in her right breast.

Though it is one of the most survivable forms of the disease, Ali was initially distraught after doctors warned she may have to have her entire right breast removed.

“It felt like forced mutilation, like cancer was stealing away part of my body,” she said.

But after discussing the treatment options with surgeons, the mum-of-four realised that a mastectomy was the best decision for her and wouldn’t be as invasive as she feared.

Thankfully the surgery went well and she revealed that plastic surgeon Dr. Oscar Masters “put me back together beautifully.”

Since her unexpected diagnosis News 4 has reported on Meyer's breast cancer journey and the reporter has also shared details of her treatment progress on her Facebook and Instagram pages in a bid to help encourage other women to attend their mammograms.

The good news is Ali is now considered to be cancer-free, after being told by doctors her quick and decisive action could have helped to to be “most likely to be completely cured.”

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Ali returned for another breast cancer awareness month mammogram this year, and will continue to share her story to help raise awareness about the importance of screenings.

“Guys, I had no family history, no lumps, no concerns, no genetic mutation for breast cancer,” she wrote in one Instagram post.

“I was a perfectly healthy 40yo women with zero suspicion I had cancer cells in my body. And yet.. there they were.. tiny, cancerous calcifications inside the milk ducts in my right breast.

“For days I wished I hadn’t had that mammogram. I wished I just didn’t know. Of course, in the end, I feel thankful that I caught disease at the earliest stage..& I know my treatment was easier bc of early diagnosis.

“It’s October. Love yourself enough to take care of your body. Schedule you screening mammogram today.”

According to Macmillan Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is the earliest form of breast cancer. DCIS is when there are cancer cells in the ducts of the breasts. But these cells are contained (in situ) and have not spread into normal breast tissue.

Like in Ali’s case, DCIS may show on a mammogram and is usually diagnosed when women have a breast screening.