The final time Jill Martin Brooks, 48, spoke to her oncologist, Dr. Eric Winer, he gave her strict directions — to get her life again. And “that’s precisely what (I’ve) been doing,” the TODAY contributor tells TODAY.com.It’s been just a little greater than a 12 months since Jill was identified with stage 2 breast most cancers quickly after studying she had a BRCA2 mutation, an inherited genetic mutation that will increase one’s probability of creating a number of cancers, together with breast and ovarian, based on the Nationwide Most cancers Institute.Jill’s medical doctors “threw the kitchen sink” at her most cancers, she says. During the last 12 months, Jill had a double mastectomy with the elimination of 17 lymph nodes and underwent “one of many hardest chemo regimens,” which included the crimson satan, the chemotherapy drug doxorubicin identified for its vibrant crimson shade.Jill Martin on the TODAY present, June 12, 2024.Nathan Congleton / Getty ImagesFollowing chemotherapy, Jill accomplished 16 straight weekdays of radiation and a subsequent preventative surgical procedure to take away her ovaries and fallopian tubes. Now, she’s taking two oral chemotherapy drugs; she’ll take one for the following 12 months, and the second she’ll want for the following seven to 10 years. Regardless of the tumultuous 12 months, Jill possesses an awesome feeling of appreciation.“I really feel very grateful truly,” she says, including that she nonetheless looks like “the luckiest particular person on this planet.” Regardless of being given one thing “horrific,” Jill hopes to lift consciousness in order that different folks may keep away from “the hell” her household has been by way of, she says.“(I’m) switching the narrative (about) chemo and the drugs,” Jill explains, recalling how her surgeon, Dr. Elisa Port, informed her that she ought to thank her drugs each morning for combating for her and serving to her — not hurting her.The newest remedy Jill is going through is breast reconstruction surgical procedure on July 9. She hopes it will likely be her final process for now. “That is the final (scheduled) surgical procedure,” Jill says. “However most cancers doesn’t prefer it once you say, ‘Oh that is the very last thing.’ (So) I’m referring to it as the following part.”Jill candidly disclosed her most cancers analysis to lift consciousness of BRCA gene mutations and to encourage folks in danger to get examined for it. Her outspokenness labored, and he or she’s heard from hundreds of people that’ve mentioned they had been examined after listening to her story. Jill feels extraordinarily grateful to listen to that her advocacy has had a profound influence on so many, but it surely’s particularly important that’s has helped so many individuals she is aware of, together with her school housemate Melissa. After listening to Jill’s story, Melissa underwent testing and discovered she had a BRCA2 mutation. She’s had a mastectomy and her ovaries and fallopian tubes eliminated in an effort to forestall her from creating breast or ovarian most cancers. RecommendedIn a textual content to Jill after first discovering out, Melissa mentioned, “I wanted to thanks for hopefully saving my life.”Whereas Jill feels empowered that she has been capable of assist so many individuals, having most cancers, she says, has modified her. She looks like a disco ball, she explains — “lots of items one way or the other put again collectively in a brand new and delightful method.” Jill nonetheless sees her previous self, however her life is totally different now. She has rather a lot to unpack from her expertise with breast most cancers however is aware of there have been many silver linings, too.Having the help of family members and colleagues helped Jill cope, and he or she was capable of relaxation as she wanted.“You’re positively traumatized and want time away,” she says. “It’s vital to acknowledge that.”She realizes that “being a most cancers survivor is ceaselessly with you as a part of your material for higher or worse.” Whereas there have been robust occasions, Jill continued working all through remedy, sharing Steals & Offers on TODAY. She’s centered on a brand new enterprise, which she’s excited to share extra about within the fall. After needing to “keep in a single place” for most cancers therapies, Jill says she’s “trying ahead to extra adventures,” together with journey. Receiving kindness from viewers and followers helped Jill all through her analysis and remedy.“I did this publicly, and it virtually made it simpler as a result of folks had been so compassionate,” she says, including that she’s grateful for the love she and her household have obtained from buddies, in addition to excellent strangers. Meghan Holohan is a digital well being reporter for TODAY.com and covers patient-centered tales, girls’s well being, incapacity and uncommon ailments.