Jill Martin to Undergo Surgery as Part of Ongoing Cancer Recovery
Jill Martin will require surgery following setbacks related to her breast cancer treatment.
“It’s easy to assume the struggle is finished, but life often reminds you that recovery isn’t always a straightforward process,” Martin, 49, shared during the Friday, January 9, episode of Today.
Martin revealed that her skin experienced damage as a result of radiation therapy and she is scheduled for an operation to repair it. This will mark her eighth procedure since her cancer diagnosis in 2023. (Martin previously underwent reconstructive surgery and preventative surgery to remove her ovaries and fallopian tubes.)
“This is a preventative and proactive measure – an emergency only in the sense that if we don’t take action now, it could develop into something considerably more serious,” the Today contributor told the outlet while emphasizing that “my cancer has not returned.”
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According to Martin, she will be hospitalized for a minimum of three nights. She will then recuperate at home for several weeks.
“I feel exhausted and thankful simultaneously,” she said. “Sometimes it feels like it never truly concludes. And yet – I’m grateful. Grateful for prompt action, for excellent doctors, and for the opportunity to continue moving forward.”
In July 2023, Martin disclosed that she had been diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer. The journalist also announced that she would be undergoing a double mastectomy after discovering she carries the BRCA 2 gene mutation, which increases the risk of breast and other cancers in those who have it.
“I am sharing this story now because I couldn’t proceed through months of operations, and begin to recover both physically and mentally, without urging everyone to consult with their doctors to determine if genetic testing is appropriate,” she wrote in an essay for Today’s website. “By the time I recover from my initial surgery, I hope that many of you will know your results and can make informed decisions with your doctors, families and loved ones.”
Four months after disclosing her diagnosis, Martin finished her chemotherapy treatment. She documented the occasion by posting a video on social media of her ringing a bell in the hospital.
In October 2024, Martin spoke openly about the mental toll her cancer battle took on her.
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“I experience two emotions that don’t typically coexist,” Martin exclusively told Us Weekly. “I’m incredibly thankful to be cancer-free, but on the other hand, I’ve just emerged from a year of feeling disconnected, and people look at me and think I look like myself. To me, I look completely different, and my body feels entirely different.”
Martin continued, “I’ve spent the past year solely focused on preserving my life. And now, I’m grappling with the psychological trauma of it all. And I believe many survivors will tell you, it’s never truly over. It’s not a matter of, ‘When will you be finished?’ or ‘Is it over?’ It’s never over. This is a fight I will continue to wage for the rest of my life. I think about chemotherapy every single day.”
Amid her cancer battle, Martin also separated from her husband Erik Brooks, who initiated divorce proceedings in July 2024.
“I experienced a beautiful love affair, but like some stories, unfortunately, have a beginning, middle, and end,” she said of her divorce in an October 2024 episode of the “Making Space with Hoda Kotb” podcast. “And we both concluded it this time. So, if everything were positive, we would still be married. Therefore, there were underlying issues.”
