Having been diagnosed with breast cancer after getting married in September 2022, Jill Martin says she is relieved.
In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE about her condition, the Today show contributor, 47, says she feels as though her “life will be defined [as] before and after the diagnosis” and says she is “grateful” her wedding to Erik Brooks took place before she discovered she had breast cancer because it “was such a purely happy event.”. “.
In his own words, Martin, “I feel like this is a new chapter with a new journey.”. However, given that I’ll be taking this, it’s not all bad. Simply put, it will be different.
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“And it will influence my lifestyle, my decisions, and my outlook. Of course, there will also be heartbreak, but there will also be a lot of lovely, positive silver linings,” she adds. This is so tragic, I mean. “.
The New York Public Library in New York City is where Martin wed businessman Brooks last fall.
In May 2019, the lifestyle and business correspondent got engaged to the founder of Ethos Capital in the Hamptons. The two had been dating for almost two years at the time.
Martin previously revealed to PEOPLE that she realized Brooks was “the One” when he declared that “my many eccentricities were ‘adorable. ‘ “.
We chose a location and set up what worked for everyone in our family,” she added, adding that she was “excited, grateful, and ready to dance the night away” with all of the couple’s wedding guests. Making sure your marriage is about everyone is crucial when you get married later in life. “.
Martin disclosed that she had received her breast cancer diagnosis earlier this week, shortly after she had tested positive for the BRCA gene, which is associated with a significantly increased risk of developing breast or ovarian cancer.
On Monday morning’s Today show and in an essay posted on Today.com, she broke the news. She will take a leave of absence starting right away in order to have a bilateral mastectomy and start new treatment.
Martin previously told PEOPLE, “I am in shock but at the same time, I’m so thankful because it could be a very different story that we’re talking about. Of course I’m devastated. When you hear the C-word, you immediately assume the worst. But after you hear the message and internalize it, you must then become your best friend. “.
She continued, “And also having the platform to share my story has given me strength because I feel like while I’m healing, I will be able to literally save lives. This process will have been worthwhile for me if I can prevent this from taking one life. “.
