Jill Martin Reveals How a Cancer Diagnosis Gave Her a New Purpose—and a Deeper Joy Every Day (EXCLUSIVE)
TODAY’s Jill Martin shares how gratitude and resilience helped her heal through breast cancer
Emmy Award-winning NBC TODAY contributor Jill Martin is beloved by millions of viewers for sharing the relatable ups and downs of life—including her difficult battle with breast cancer. Here, she reveals how humor, positivity and gratitude have made her stronger than ever!
When entrepreneur, author and TODAY show contributor Jill Martin, 49, received the call that her genetic testing revealed she carried the BRCA2 mutation — putting her at high risk for breast cancer — her life turned upside down. She chose to have a preventative double mastectomy, but a pre-op MRI revealed a mass. “I was told I had stage 2 breast cancer…and it was aggressive,” Jill recalls to Woman’s World. “Everything changed that day.”
Jill underwent the double mastectomy as well as four months of chemotherapy and three weeks of radiation. “Cancer knocked me down. But I chose to get up.”
And through her tumultuous battle, Jill became an inspiration to her half a million social media followers and TODAY show viewers. Jill also embraced her role as an advocate, urging women to know their genetic risk and prioritize health screenings.
Jill says her key to resilience during her recovery — and beyond — has been staying grateful, shifting her mindset and consciously looking for small glimmers of joy.
“I think that every choice you make — or choice you don’t make — has consequences, and I’m very deliberate in my steps now. Cancer took a lot from me, but it also gave me perspective. I’ve learned to look for silver linings even in the hardest situations,” Jill explains. “I’ve learned that while you can’t always control what happens, you can control how you show up each day.”
Read on for Jill’s reveals her six best tips to Woman’s World as our cover girl (get your copy here!) on how she takes time to rest, redefines the meaning of beauty and prioritizes what matters most.
Redefine beauty
“When I lost my eyebrows and my hair, and gained weight during chemo, I realized beauty is such a small part of the pie. Resilience and kindness are what I now see as beautiful,” Jill says. “Confidence comes from working on yourself and building your skills. I used to be hard on myself about weight or appearance, but those things are fleeting. What lasts is how you make others feel, how you show up for yourself and what you contribute. That doesn’t mean you can’t care about looking like yourself—I did scalp cooling therapy during chemo to save my hair and feel more like me. But I learned that recognizing how unique you are, surrounding yourself with empowering people and focusing on the qualities that will never fade are the keys to loving who you are.”
Bask in the calm
“I never want to have an unsettled nervous system — I believe that exacerbated my cancer. Anything in your life that causes chaos or tumult, I highly encourage you to pivot,” she says. “Surround yourself with people who make you feel your best. Level up your circle and choose your people wisely.”
Build your power
“Everyone has a superpower. Instead of trying to reach for so many different things, hone in on that one skill or that one thing that brings you joy,” suggests Jill. “It will help you build your confidence. I think confidence is built over time by working on yourself, living in the lane you belong in and empowering others to do the same.”
Choose joy daily
“Knowing tomorrow isn’t guaranteed is a mindset that shifts everything,” Jill says. “You stop procrastinating because you understand how precious time is. I know how fleeting life is, so I choose joy daily. That doesn’t mean every moment is easy, but it means I’m committed to finding magic in the day, spreading kindness and making an impact in whatever way I can — big or small.”
Switch up the narrative
“My surgeon told me to look at chemotherapy and the safety-net pills that I’m on not as something attacking me, but as my best friend,” Jill explains. “I treated chemo like I needed someone in a hazmat suit to fight with me, not against me. Every morning when I wake up and take my pills, I I say ‘thank you’ out loud. Switching that narrative is super important. It turns fear into gratitude.”
Rest is part of success
“I really believe in time off. I give my team time every workday to do whatever recharges them. I love being on the water, paddleboarding, walking around town and putting down my phone. Working 24 hours a day isn’t the formula for success — it’s a sure way to fail. Rest and recharge your brain.”
Get cozy with Jill!
While undergoing treatment, Jill continued growing her lifestyle brand, By Jill Martin, creating cozy, chic essentials that blend style with comfort. After years offering tips as a fashion expert on TODAY, she launched a line of products — including soft, cozy sherpas — that reflect her philosophy that comfort breeds confidence. Log on to JillMartin.com to shop the full feel-good line.
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