Health4 min(s) read
Published 11:56 22 Apr 2026 GMT
A Michigan TV anchor has revealed the subtle sign that led to her being diagnosed with breast cancer, just months after tests had come back clear.
Jamie Edmonds, 42, a sportscaster with WDIV-TV in Detroit for over a decade and WJR radio talk show host, opened up about her recent diagnosis on Instagram.
She shared a heartfelt post informing her followers that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer after noticing an unusual symptom, despite having had a clear mammogram just six months earlier.
Jamie wrote: "For two decades on TV and radio, I've told other people's stories. Today, I think it's time I tell my own.
"Two months ago, I got the call that changed my life: 'your biopsy came back. It's positive for breast cancer.'
"After the initial shock wore off, I got really scared. Would I be around to see my young daughter grow up? Would the doctors be able to cure me? Why did this happen in the first place? I have no family history."
She explained what gave her the push to get another test during an appearance on JR Morning, revealing that she "felt an itch", which led to her diagnosis.
According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation Inc, persistent itching, pain, or burning, or one breast feeling warmer than the other can be signs of inflammatory breast cancer.
Jamie shared: "I’m 42 years old, it kind of came out of nowhere, total gut punch, I have a young daughter, it’s very scary. But I have full faith in my Henry Ford Health team. I think I will get through this.
“Once you get the diagnosis, it’s a dark, dark time. It is scary, it’s dark. It’s going through the motions of life … it’s like you’re a ghost."
She added: "I could have privately gone through this and just done it on my own. But I think the support that I’ve gotten from the breast cancer community and watching other women go through it has immensely helped me get to this point where I can talk about it.”
Jamie revealed that her family and friends have rallied around her to help with her daughter while she rests or to provide her with meals as she undergoes several rounds of chemotherapy to treat the disease.
She added: "If I can share my story and help others as I’ve been helped, then that’s what I plan to do."
Dr Tim Woodman, Medical Director for Cancer Services, Bupa UK Insurance, told Tyla: "It’s rare for itchy breasts to be a symptom of breast cancer, but if you have a patch of skin on or around your breasts that you find yourself regularly scratching, it’s always worth getting it checked by a health professional."
While it's rare for itchiness to be a sign of breast cancer, it is not impossible, as one form of rare breast cancer, called inflammatory breast cancer, can cause changes to the skin on the breasts, causing itching, redness, inflammation, pain, and swelling, according to Dr. Woodman.
There is also another rare skin condition, Paget's disease, that can affect the nipple and areola, with Dr. Woodman noting: "Sometimes, this can develop into cancer within the breast duct lining.
"However, it’s not always a cancerous condition, but it can lead to sore, itchy and bleeding nipples."
Itching can also be caused by other skin conditions such as eczema or other issues such as mastitis, which causes inflammation within the breast.
Dr. Woodman advised: "If you find that you regularly need to scratch the skin on or around your breasts, you should get it checked by a health professional, especially if it’s causing you discomfort or inconvenience."
As for the signs of breast cancer, women should look out for a new lump or skin thickening in or around the breast, pain or a lump in your armpit, redness, inflammation or crusting around the skin of the nipple, any changes to the nipple itself or the appearance of the breast, any dimpling or changes to skin texture or discharge or bleeding from either nipple.
If anything feels or looks different to normal, it is best to get it checked promptly by a doctor to rule out anything serious such as cancer.
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