‘I didn’t know if I was going to make it': TV's Jill Martin reveals suicidal thoughts in breast cancer battle

Today contributor Jill Martin has revealed that the worst part of her cancer treatment was not the chemotherapy or six surgeries, but that the side effects of medication left her feeling suicidal. In an interview with E! She said that “the dosage was not right for me and it caused me to have suicidal thoughts.” Jill Martin also revealed that "I had the wherewithal to be able to call my doctors and say, 'Something's not right.”

E! Reported that her Jill Martin’s oncologist, Dr. Eric Winer, “director of the Yale Cancer Center adjusted her dosage, leaving her feeling more like herself and determined to help others. Because for most survivors, the battle doesn't end when doctors deem you cancer-free.”

In an essay published to Today.com on 17 July last year, Jill Martin said: "I had always feared this day would come," "but I never really thought it would."

In the essay, she also said: “My grandmother passed away from breast cancer. And my beautiful mother — who is healthy now — had a double mastectomy in her late 40s after being diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ, often referred to as stage 0 breast cancer. If left untreated, DCIS can turn into invasive cancer, according to the American Cancer Society.”

Jill also wrote that “But because of my family history, my doctors at Schaffer, Schonholz & Drossman in New York, and my general practitioner, Dr. Allison Spatz, told me: “You should just get genetic testing anyway to make sure.” That suggestion saved my life. On June 20, I got a call from Dr. Susan Drossman telling me that I was BRCA2 positive. And as it turns out, my father is BRCA2 positive, too. And because of those positive tests, which I will be forever grateful we took, my father will get screened and stay vigilant about breast, prostate and pancreatic cancer, which he now knows he’s at a higher risk for.”

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In order to help others, Jill Martin released a By Jill Martin line of loungewear, all proceeds are donated to the Basser Center for BRCA.

If you have been affected by issues relating to suicide, you can contact The Samaritans for free on 116 123.