A Girlfriends' Guide to Breast Cancer

Oct. 11, 2007 — -- For women who are diagnosed with breast cancer, it is often the advice from their girlfriends, rather than their doctors, which means the most.

On "The Girlfriend's Guide to Breast Cancer," six women from ABC News sat down to dish advice and share experiences about their personal battles with cancer — from how to position a wig correctly, to the importance of choosing a doctor you are comfortable with.

The first subject the women discussed was arguably one of the most difficult challenges they faced: how they told their families, friends and co-workers they had cancer.

For Robin Roberts, co-host of ABC's "Good Morning America," and Cokie Roberts, an ABC News political commentator and senior news analyst at National Public Radio, their roles in the public spotlight made it difficult to keep their diagnoses private.

"I really didn't want to tell my mother," said Cokie, who worried about her mother's reaction after having already lost one daughter to melanoma. "I thought I could get away without telling her, but then, I see it on the crawl on CNN, and I'm thinking, 'Thank God I told my mother.'"

When Robin announced she had breast cancer on "Good Morning America," the story that ran on ABCNews.com received thousands of comments from supportive fans.

Amy Entelis, senior vice president of talent recruitment and business affairs, said that she managed to tell her mother without once mentioning the word "cancer." And when it came to telling co-workers, slowly was the best method for her.

"I did it a little bit at a time," said Entelis. "I told someone new at work every three days."

All the women agreed that as anxious as they were about opening up about their cancer, having supportive friends and family made all the difference.

"I didn't want everyone wondering — I wanted to get it out there," said Fiona Conway, executive director of ABC NewsOne, who said she told her co-workers via e-mail. "It was good to get it out there and talk about it."

"I tangibly felt the prayers," said Robin. "I slept like a baby the night I told everyone on 'Good Morning America.'"