Former NBC anchor Jenna Wolf has revealed that she underwent a hysterectomy to reduce her risk of ovarian cancer after she tested positive for BRCA-1.
The journalist and personal trainer, 49, posted photos of herself in the hospital on Instagram Wednesday as she spoke about her recent diagnosis and surgery, admitting she was “a little scared.”
Wolfe, who shares two daughters with her longtime partner Stephanie Josk, told NBC News that the hysterectomy was the first of two.
“You know, for a long time, my approach to life has always been: If you stumble, make it part of the dance.” And until recently, I managed to stumble/dance/tumble/dance my way through everything… network TV, personal training, parenting. Then I hit a pretty bumpy stretch, the last one I wanted to share with you,” she wrote in the caption.
Jenna Wolfe, 49, has revealed she underwent a hysterectomy to reduce her risk of ovarian cancer after testing positive for BRCA-1.
The journalist and personal trainer posted pictures of herself in the hospital on Instagram Wednesday while talking about her recent diagnosis and surgery.
Wolfe and her longtime partner, NBC News correspondent Stephanie Josk, share daughters Harper Estelle, nine, and Quinn Lilly, eight.
“About a month ago, I tested positive for the BRCA-1 breast cancer gene (which means my chances of getting breast and ovarian cancer… are very good), which gave me a little wiggle room to ‘consider my options.’”
Women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation have a higher risk of developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer, according to American Cancer Society.
Preventive surgeries to reduce risks include a hysterectomy to remove all or part of the uterus and a mastectomy to remove one or both breasts.
“Without a lot of options, I stared at my fears, took a deep breath and opted for two very big surgeries,” explained Wolf. Hysterectomy is the first. It’s not fun, it’s not easy, it’s not fun at all (I’m terrified of needles) but it’s something I need to do. The second, larger, surgery will be in two weeks.
The former Today presenter noted that she is “happy to share more with anyone going through something similar while revealing the questions that are on her mind right now.
The former NBC anchor reported that about a month ago she tested positive for a BRCA-1 gene mutation, which means she has a high risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer.
“Without a lot of options, I stared at my fears, took a deep breath and opted for two very big surgeries,” explained Wolf. Hysterectomy is the first
Wolfe admitted that she is “a little scared” to face what lies ahead, but knows she needs to allow herself to be afraid “to learn how to overcome it.”
Something like your head spins a few whirlpools. will i be ok will i heal Will I get the drive I once owned? she asked. I mean, a huge part of my life is based around fitness and wellness. I know I make everything look “nice” on social media…but we all know it’s usually far from cute. Especially with kids.
“Half the time, I get up at 4:30 in the morning, sneak in a quick workout before the kids wake up, grab anything edible, race to school, often half dressed, often half smart.”
Wolf and Josk share two daughters, Harper Estelle, nine, and Queen Lilly, eight.
I will admit that I am a little scared. (About a lot of things in my life now.) But I also know that I have to let myself be afraid sometimes to learn how to overcome it. It’s easy, she said, to ignore the hard stuff and choose safe comforts.
But Safety didn’t challenge anyone, scare anyone, push anyone down, or pull anyone. Security is kind of there, keeping you from moving… from growing, from thriving.
She added, “These two surgeries are the latest in what has been…let’s call it a two-year challenge for me.” But with anything in life, the only way is through.
‘I command.’ Realize that everyone has a story. that’s mine. (Well, it’s part of me.) When I get down to it, I’ll think of you and me.
