#RHONJ Amber Marchese Shares Cancer Update: “I Am Very Blessed”

Amber Marchese, “Real Housewives of New Jersey” star, mom, wife, survivor and advocate will have a new attribute to add and that is, blogger. Beginning next week, Amber will write about her second battle with cancer for People Magazine, sharing her journey with others.

“I am excited to be able to have PEOPLE.com as my platform to bring everyone on my journey with me,” she said. “I don’t know how or why this happened again, but I have to turn it into an opportunity to raise awareness not just about breast cancer, but about self-detection, treatment options, the importance of faith, a positive attitude, and the overall health of our bodies. I am hoping to educate and inspire others in their fight. I was blessed to find it a second time.”

One week ago, Amber underwent a partial mastectomy to remove 20 millimeters of her right breast tissue that was “potentially cancerous.” This surgery took four-hours, and though Amber was in a lot of pain when she woke from the surgery, she is feeling great now and ready to start helping others.

“I want some good to come from all of this. I know others in a similar position may be afraid, confused or lost. This will be my chance to share my story and hopefully help others along the way.”

Amber has reason to celebrate. The results from last month’s surgical biopsy show that the cancer was limited to the tumor only and there are no signs the disease has spread. She explained,

“The surrounding tissue was not cancerous. It was literally just the tumor that was cancerous. We caught it in the early stages. “It is nothing short of a miracle.”

Back in 2009, Amber underwent a double mastectomy when she was first diagnosed with breast cancer. She had only a 5% chance of the cancer recurring, so when it did, Amber was stunned.

“I can’t even begin to describe the feeling you get when someone says you have cancer,” she said. “Then to get it again after fighting so hard. I had several surgeries including a double mastectomy and chemotherapy along with other systemic treatments. I thought it was behind me.”

Her prognosis is great, but the battle is ongoing.

“There’s still a long road ahead of me,” she says. “I am definitely going to have radiation for the next five weeks. We are still debating whether or not to do chemotherapy.”

Even with the complex journey ahead, Amber feels “blessed” that she found the lump while watching TV with her husband, Jim Marchese, on Good Friday, of all days.

“My doctor had thoroughly examined me for the past six years and never found anything,” she said. “I am very blessed.”

 

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