Amy Robach Reflects a Year After Her Breast Cancer Diagnosis: 'I Shudder to Think Where I'd Be'

— -- It was a year ago that I agreed to have a live, televised mammogram in the middle of Times Square on "Good Morning America."

I was persuaded by "GMA" producers and Robin Roberts, to help demystify this test that so many women my age avoid.

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I was 40 years old and had put off having my first mammogram for a number of reasons: I was too busy, I was concerned about the discomfort of the test -- and most notably -- I wasn't concerned about actually having breast cancer. I had no family history. I felt safe. Boy did I have it wrong.

A few weeks later, a follow up appointment with a sonogram and biopsy revealed what was initially suspicious, was in fact a malignant mass in my right breast. After my surgery in November 2013, my surgeon found a second malignant tumor and determined the cancer had spread to my sentinel lymph node.

My journey this past year has included two surgeries, breast expanders for seven months, and eight rounds of chemo, but thank God I started on that path last October 1.

I shudder to think where I would be today if I hadn't had that mammogram.