After undergoing a mammogram live on air, Today host Lisa Wilkinson has now revealed the results.
Speaking with A Current Affair host Tracy Grimshaw last night, 53-year-old Lisa Wilkinson said the results were not what she expected.
“Just as we were about to leave, the nurse who was taking such wonderful care of us throughout the morning said ‘Lisa would you mind just coming over here for a moment’ and I thought it was do to do with some of the details we were going to share on set.” Wilkinson said.
“She [the nurse] said ‘there’s a bit of a problem with your mammogram and we don’t want you to panic but we do need to take a few more pictures to just see if what we’re looking at is a problem or not,” she said.
“I hadn’t actually thought what happens if there is a problem with the mammogram,” she said.
The test revealed a few dark shadows that the nurses weren’t happy with. Lisa had a few more mammograms and some ultra sound screenings.
As it turns out, Lisa’s mammogram was clear of any signs of cancer.
“There’s a couple of cysts there that they don’t have to do anything about… there’s a certain percentage of women who have small cysts and they do show up as an irregularity in a mammogram,” Wilkinson told Grimshaw.
“I am absolutely fine and I cannot tell you the relief of having acted upon it straight away and knowing that I am absolutely fine,” she said.
“But this morning was really about making sure that every woman over the age of 40 looks after herself because it is so easy to put your own health and your own concerns on the back burner.”
Here’s the video of Lisa talking about the results with her Today co-hosts.
Lisa thanked her Today viewers and supporters for their support.
“I don’t think you could ever regret having done this when I see the messages that have come into the show today,” Wilkinson said.
Wilkinson decided to have the mammogram after hearing the story of Amy Robach – a Good Morning America host who had a mammogram on air only to discover she had breast cancer.
Wilkinson’s co-host Georgie Gardner, 48, also signed up to have a mammogram on air and was given a clean bill of heath.
The decision to do so came on the back of news from the US about a woman named Amy Robach – a Good Morning America host who had a mammogram on air only to discover she had breast cancer.
Before Wilkinson – who is an ambassador for the National Breast Cancer Foundation – had the mammogram, she said: “I know how guilty I have been feeling. I felt like a fraud.”
“I have been telling women for years that they have to go out and be breast aware and I haven’t been.
“Three years ago I had my last one. I do regular hand checks but you have to have a mammogram to make sure you’re really covering it off.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zuc9PBRKE9M
According to the Breast Screen Australia website, free mammograms are offered to women over the age of 40 – but not recommended to people under the age of 40. They suggest women aged 50-69 have mammograms every two years to detect breast cancer early.
Top Comments
Pity they didn't get her to have an MRI as well. My mammograms & ultrasounds were all clear, only the MRI showed the cancer, and too late to save my breast or lymph nodes.
Breast MRI is paid for by the patient - no Medicare rebate is available.
I know this is all in a good cause & all, but this smacks of a publicity stunt to me.
Breast cancer is a very high profile issue & there is a great deal of air time afforded to it. Was an on air mammogram really necessary to "discuss" it?
This just made me cringe when I heard about it. It was a segment hijacked from another show. The producers must be kicking themselves there was not some tragedy they could cash in on. At least they got a bit of faux drama with a "dodgy" x ray.
I completely agree.
I think it was great what they did. Only just over 50 percent of women who are in the age group go and have a regular mammogram and I think it showed women that is a simple slightly uncomfortable procedure. So many women I see say they nearly didn't come or know others who won't because other women have complained about it being painful. Most say oh gee that wasn't nearly as bad as I thought what was I worrying about.
A woman told me once that as her friend lay dying of advanced breast cancer she said I just wish I had gone to BreastScreen when I had the chance rather than burying my head in the sand.
Yep, I wonder if they will get karl to do a live prostate exam... my guess is probably not.