February 15, 2010
Fox News correspondent Jennifer Griffin has spent the bulk of her professional life covering wars and conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Palestine and the Middle East. That is why she believes she is prepared to fight a rare form of breast cancer that she was recently diagnosed with.
Since last September, Griffin has had 14 chemotherapy treatments, the only approach that her rare triple-negative cancer is sensitive to. Still, although she lost her hair, the 40-year-old is determined to beat the disease and live on her own terms.
"I've taken all the lessons that I've learned from how to cover wars," she recently told the Today show. "I don't go out without my body armor on. My body armor is this wig and this lipstick and making sure that I don't feel like a sick person when I'm walking out the door."
According to the National Cancer Institute, more than 190,000 Americans developed breast cancer in 2009. Yet, experts say it is highly curable if detected early which can be achieved though monthly breast self-examinations and annual mammograms for women above the age of 40.
Lifestyle changes that incorporate regular physical exercise, a low fat diet and non-smoking can also lower the chances of developing the disease.
There are many organizations that work to spread awareness, raise funds for medical research and help survivors live thriving lives, including the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
