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Jill Martin<\/strong><\/a> is \u201cdoing OK\u201d physically after undergoing a double mastectomy amid her cancer battle \u2014 and she wants to share her story with fans.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat an earth-shattering six weeks. It feels like both yesterday and a lifetime since the last time I walked into Studio 1A,\u201d Martin, 47, wrote in an essay for the Today<\/em> show<\/a> on Monday, August 7, following another appearance on the talk show. \u201cIn the past six weeks, I learned I am positive for a BRCA2 mutation, had stage 2 breast cancer, then had a double mastectomy and learned that my life will soon look very different.\u201d<\/p>\n The Today<\/em><\/a> contributor previously announced on July 17<\/a> that her gene mutation \u2014 the BRCA gene is linked to a significantly higher possibility of developing breast or ovarian cancer \u2014 is what caused her breast cancer. Martin is now three weeks into her recovery from a double mastectomy and while her cancer battle isn\u2019t over, her health has taken a positive turn.<\/p>\n \u201cEmotionally is a different story; it\u2019s been a roller-coaster,\u201d Martin confessed on Monday, noting that one week after her surgery she had a meeting with her oncologist. \u201c[It] started with the news that there is a good chance I am cancer-free, but I need further treatment to help ensure that<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n Once Martin\u2019s results from her biopsied tissue test came back, the doctors told her \u201cthey believed they had gotten it all.\u201d Martin further explained that she had \u201can aggressive tumor removed\u201d during the procedure and the surgeon removed 18 lymph nodes from her breast, one of which was cancerous.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is always a small possibility that cancerous cells could have escaped<\/a>, so the rest of the meeting was dedicated to planning out my long road ahead, and what the doctor suggests I do to prevent this insidious disease from coming back,\u201d Martin continued.<\/p>\n Martin explained that \u201cthe past three weeks have felt like a lifetime\u201d and despite the fear associated with her health battle, she did smile after her surgery thanks to the nurses.<\/p>\n \u201cThe first time I looked in the mirror after my mastectomy, [nurse] La Rae said to me, \u2018You are under construction.\u2019 It was the first time I laughed,\u201d she recalled. \u201cAnd I realized I am allowed to cry, to mourn, to smile, to laugh. To be.\u201d<\/p>\n Later this week, Martin will receive her \u201cexact next steps and treatment plan\u201d from her doctors. She noted that no matter what comes next, Martin will have to have another surgery to remove her ovaries and fallopian tubes as a preventative measure to \u201cdecrease my risk\u201d of ovarian cancer.<\/p>\n \u201cIn my case, I will need a full hysterectomy, as I have had fibroid issues in the past. I will also need to take anti-hormonal drugs for 5 years,\u201d Martin outlined. \u201cAnd I will most likely need chemotherapy because of the aggressiveness of the tumor. That is the part that hit me the hardest \u2014 the idea of chemo.\u201d<\/p>\n Martin revealed she is still \u201cin a state of shock\u201d following her whirlwind diagnosis and surgery. \u201cThere was not a lot of time to process upfront, and a lot of that is going on now after the fact. Cancer has knocked me down. It has,\u201d she admitted. \u201cI used to jump out of bed every day to begin work, but now every day is a choice. Do I feel like staying under the covers and crying? Yes. Every day.\u201d<\/p>\n Martin recalled staying in bed when she first started recovery, sharing, \u201cLittle by little, like today, I am choosing to get up. I am choosing to fight. And I am choosing to use my strength and platform to do my best to crush cancer.\u201d<\/p>\n As Martin continues treatment \u2014 and keeps fighting \u2014 she said she will be \u201con and off the air\u201d<\/a> for the next six months.<\/p>\n