Robin Roberts Sister Sally-Ann Will Be Her Donor For Bone Marrow
Blogged By: La Tray
Source & Story Credit: Los Angeles Times / banfgdailynews.com David Bauder AP Televison Writer
Media Credit: Photo (bangdailynews.com via Ida Mae Astute | ABC | AP) / Video (CelebTV
UPDATED VIDEO 8/30/12: TMZ
Posted: Monday June 11, 2012 @2:02 p.m. PST
Updated: Thursday August 30, 2012 @ 12: 18 p.m PST
Robin Roberts, who overcame breast cancer five years ago, is battling another health scare. The “Good Morning America” anchor announced Monday that she has myelodysplastic syndrome, a disease of the blood and bone marrow, that was likely caused by her cancer treatment.
The 51-year-old anchor learned of the diagnosis on what was supposed to be a victorious day: when “GMA” beat NBC’s “Today” show in ratings for the first time in 16 years, she said in a statement on the network’s website: “Talk about your highs and lows!” Roberts said. She expects to undergo a bone marrow transplant this fall, with her sister as her donor.
“My doctors tell me I’m going to beat this — and I know it’s true,” she said in the statement. “ If you Google MDS, you may find some scary stuff, including statistics that my doctors insist don’t apply to me. They say I’m younger and fitter than most people who confront this disease and will be cured.”
Roberts will begin chemotherapy immediately. The network’s medical correspondent, Dr. Richard Besser, also said in a statement on the website that he was consulting with Roberts about MDS, a malignant disorder of the bone marrow, sometimes known as pre-leukemia that typically affects older people and can also be triggered by cancer treatment.
Roberts will continue appearing on the morning show but is expected take several months off after the transplant to recover.
Diane Sawyer, Robin and Sally-Ann Roberts. This image released by ABC shows host Robin Roberts, center, with her sister Sally-Ann Roberts, right and ABC News’ Diane Sawyer on “Good Morning America” Monday, June 11, 2012, after Robin Roberts announced she has been diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome, a blood and bone marrow disease once known as preleukemia. She says she will undergo chemo and a bone marrow transplant this year as “pretreatment” for the disease, which she says she has known about for several weeks. She says her sister is a great match for her. While she says she’ll miss a day here and there, she’ll remain on the air.
June 11, 2012
De De Tillman
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