A journalist heartbreakingly found out she had breast cancer while filming her first ever mammogram to help raise awareness.
Oklahoma based mum-of-four Ali Meyer, 41, was given the devastating diagnosis in October 2018 during a Facebook live stream, which was being watched by News 4 viewers.
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The discovery was made just a matter of months after her 40th birthday, and she couldn't contain her tears as she found out under the glare of the camera.
The radiologist at Stephenson Cancer Centre found she didn't have the genetic mutations for the illness, but had cancerous calcifications in her right breast.
She was diagnosed with non-invasive ductile breast cancer in her right breast - which is typically one of the most survivable kinds.
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Carrying on the Facebook live streaming nonetheless, Ali told viewers afterwards: "I was hoping for a routine little mammogram and that's not how this went.
"I have breast cancer and I don't have a ton of answers yet.
"But I'm going to have an MRI next week to confirm exactly what we're dealing with and get a plan of action in place.
"Because I'm only 40 the doctors recommended that I have genetic testing so I have already done that."
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A day later she added: "This has been hard and shocking. It does rock you to your core
"This is not the news I was hoping to tell you about to raise breast cancer awareness."
News 4 reported on the ordeal in a poignant special on Tuesday night, in which Ali's subsequent surgeon appointments and breast cancer journey was captured for all to see.
In the footage, a surgeon told the journalist she would have to have her right breast removed.
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While news she would be having a mastectomy initially "crushed" her, she went on to reveal it was actually a lot less invasive than she imagined.
"I walked into Lakeside Women`s Hospital for right side, skin sparing, nipple sparing mastectomy," she said.
"Even though surgery was my choice, it felt like forced mutilation. It felt like cancer was stealing part of my body away from me."
However, she added that surgeon Dr. Oscar Masters "put me back together beautifully".
"Keeping the most personal part of my body intact was important to me," Ali explained to viewers at home.
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Fortunately, this story has a happy ending.
Remarkably, Ali is now cancer free, with doctors telling her she is "most likely to be completely cured," thanks to her decision to remove her right breast.
Following her ordeal, Ali is determined to encourage women to be vigilant and regularly go for mammograms.
"My surgical options, my recovery and my outcome were all better because my mammogram found the cancer before I even knew it was there," she said.
"I will never stop having mammograms. I will never stop telling women to take care of their bodies and schedule their mammogram."
Ali's cause is more important than ever, seeing as one in five women under 40 recently admitted they have never checked their breasts for the disease.
Women in the UK aren't offered mammograms until they are approaching 50.
However, for more information on how to check your boobs for cancer, visit the National Breast Cancer Centre here.
You can also receive free text reminders from Coppafeel whenever it's time to check them - all you have to do is enter your details here.
Featured Image Credit: KFOR