Journalist diagnosed with breast cancer during live mammogram

When newsreader Ali Meyer went for her first mammogram in October 2018, the idea was to promote breast cancer awareness month.

But instead, the Facebook Live moment turned into a very different story for the Oklahoma journalist, 40, after the radiologist spotted something in her right breast.

Returning to Facebook Live, the mother-of-four told fans: "Alright, so I was hoping for a routine little mammogram, and that's not how this went.

"I was just sure we'd have nothing today, but here we are… I have breast cancer and I don't have a tonne 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."

"So my first mammogram didn't quite go as planned. I have a 'finding' which is what they say when something doesn't look quite right," Meyer told fans on Instagram, adding the biopsy would be done next week.

Ali, who was diagnosed with non-invasive ductile breast cancer, told KFOR the diagnosis was a shock and admits "it does kind of rock you to your core".

"This is not the news I was hoping to tell you about to raise breast cancer awareness, but it's what I got."

The journalist also shared her journey with viewers across social media and on-air as she made the decision about her treatment options - deciding to undergo a mastectomy.

"I did it. I did it all. I showed up. I did all the things.. the pre-surgery things. I did it with tears in my eyes & daggers in my heart," Ali wrote.

"I checked in to the hospital because I had to. I walked into my own operating room and laid down on that table because I could. I did it for me.. I did it for Zack.. I did for our babygirls. I did it.. and now my cancer is gone."

Now, a year on, Ali faced another mammogram and once again shared her experience (and nerves) with viewers.

"It's been almost a year since my first mammogram. I'm 41, and this week I had my 2nd annual screening mammogram.. my first since a breast cancer diagnosis last year. ALL CLEAR .

"Guys, I had no family history, no lumps, no concerns, no genetic mutation for breast cancer.

"I was a perfectly healthy 40yo women with zero suspicion I had cancer cells in my body. And yet.. there they were.. tiny, cancerous calcifications inside the milk ducts in my right breast.

"For days I wished I hadn't had that mammogram. I wished I just didn't know. Of course, in the end, I feel thankful that I caught disease at the earliest stage..& I know my treatment was easier bc of early diagnosis.

"It's October. Love yourself enough to take care of your body," Meyer reminded others in the emotional post.