NBC 5 Storm Team Meteorologist Alicia Roman has been presenting weather forecasts to our audience for 15 years, but she’s now facing something she never could have predicted.
A breast cancer diagnosis.
Alicia is sharing with our NBC 5 audience that her annual mammogram recently revealed a diagnosis of Stage 0 cancer in multiple areas of one of her breasts. The diagnosis means the abnormal cells are contained to ducts, and is not considered invasive.
Still, the mother of two says the diagnosis was a shock to her system.
“I am such a happy positive person… and I know I’ve walked into work a couple times… and just been down…Not the smiley person I am,” she says. “And it has been hard to go to work because I’m just so overwhelmed. It’s all so overwhelming.”
Dr. Miraj Shah-Khan, a breast surgical oncologist at Northwestern Medicine, recommended Alicia undergo a mastectomy since the cancer was found in multiple areas. Due to her family history of cancer on both sides, Alicia says she made the decision to have both of her breasts removed.
“To me, I’m young, a mastectomy, fine. But there’s still years left. But I don’t want those years to be put down by breast cancer if I did save the other side,” she says.
Shah-Khan says Alicia’s prognosis is good.
“For somebody with stage zero, the prognosis tends to be very good. It’s considered a very treatable breast cancer, but it does require treatment,” she says.
While the diagnosis and treatment will require Alicia to be absent from our airwaves for a time, she is eager to give voice to the illness to women everywhere, especially in Black and Brown communities in the Chicago area.
“I represent a large community of females, but the Black and Brown community and I know those resources may not be there for some people,” she says. “There are resources for everybody.”
Dr. Sandy Goldberg, a former health contributor for NBC 5, knows firsthand not only how to battle the disease as a survivor, but also knows how challenging it can be to gain access to resources when fighting the illness.
To that end, she has founded A Silver Lining Foundation, which aims to give access to people battling cancer.
“Women that are diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer, 97% of the time they will go on to live a normal, healthy life,” she says. “As I said to Alicia, ‘you’ll dance at your grandkid’s wedding. This is what we talk about. That’s why this is so important.”
The foundation aims to take the financial burden off of families, and all patients have to do is call or visit the foundation’s website.
“We’ve helped over 50,000 women to cost-free breast health testing,” Goldberg says. “And if God forbid someone is diagnosed through our partner hospitals, those individuals will be taken care of, again, for free.”
With a treatment plan in place and a desire to help others firmly in mind, Alicia is also laser-focused on her family as she embarks on her journey. She is leaning on the support of her husband Nick and the couple’s two young children, Nico and Valentina, both of whom have their own understandings of what’s ahead.
“Valentina knows I have a boo boo on my breast,” she says. “But when I talk to Nico, he says ‘yes, that’s what Pope Leo had.’ (What a) great example! Pope Leo went in, had surgery, they removed it, and he’s better. That’s what mommy is going to get.”
As Alicia prepares for her treatment regimen to get underway, she says she wants to be a ray of sunshine for other women who are facing health challenges.
“I will never let this darkness dampen my sunshine and I will always be positive for those around me who are dealing with this who currently are dealing with this or have dealt with in the past,” she says. “I can help be your sunshine too, because we all need that in our lives.”
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