Oprah Winfrey’s Pink Ribbon Episode: Pink is Powerful

“By the end of this hour, 20 women will hear the words, ‘You have breast cancer.’”

That’s how Oprah opened today’s show. Powerful.

Right off the bat she introduced Christina Applegate.

Christina is five weeks into her recovery, and spoke candidly about the grieving process she went through, is going through, after the loss of her breasts.

She also describes the expanders she now has and the process she has gone through since she heard the words, ‘It came back positive.’

Christina, having been at high risk because her mother had breast cancer (twice actually), has been getting mammograms since she was 30. But she also has dense breasts … and recently went for an MRI. The MRI showed an abnormality so she went for a biopsy. That biopsy brought her a diagnosis … early stage breast cancer (she was vague about what stage … not the earliest but still quite early she said).

So, within a week, she had her first lumpectomy; the margins weren’t clear enough and her plan was to have a second lumpectomy. But then tested positive for a BRCA gene. Her decision, at that point, was to get a double mastectomy.

Her oncologist then joined the show to discuss the BRCA genes and the limitations of genetic testing; she also discussed breast density, MRIs, mammograms, breast self exams … they covered a lot, man, this is an episode to keep and re-run over and over again.

Did you know that Christina has her own foundation now? Check out Right Action for Women. This woman makes me proud!

If you missed it, here’s video from the show. Also, you should check out this video clip as well, footage from after the show

I also want to mention that Oprah introduced Nancy Brinker … founder of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, an organization who has given over $1 billion to breast cancer research.

There was more … what a packed episode. Another survivor appeared on the show speaking about her intuitive feel that she had cancer, about the facade of hair, make-up and clothes, the support you need to give women dealing with cancer. Women also joined the conversation via Skype, sharing stories, advice and asking questions — a six year survivor was on the show who they followed six years ago through her treatment one day. Seriously jam packed guys, this show rocked.

Well done Oprah … well done.