In the article, Roberts reveals that doing routine breast self-examinations helped her to discover the cancerous lump in her breast:
“I found my lump in a self-exam!” remarked Roberts. “Because I was familiar with my body and the lumps, I knew this one felt different. It was in a different place on my breast, and it was hard. If I hadn’t been doing self-exams, I wouldn’t have known that.”
Although Roberts received full treatment for her breast cancer, she admits that when it was over she felt depressed at the prospect of handling her cancer ordeal on her own:
“… Suddenly it’s like, ‘Go, run along. You’ll be OK,’” explained Roberts. “I was in a funk. I was depressed. Also you’re mad at yourself because you’re thinking, ‘I’m supposed to be happy. The treatment’s over. My hair is growing back.’ ”
Besides her cancer ordeal, Roberts also discussed the difficulties black people face trying to gain visibility on TV:
“I know how difficult it is to break in and how you really have to have a champion,” said Roberts. “I was very fortunate that I had people who did that — not people of color, not always women. Many of them were white men.”
Hopefully, her story can inspire more black women to learn more about breast cancer and breast self-examinations. –nicholas robinson
