'It's hard': Today’s Jill Martin breaks down while trying on wigs after hair loss due to chemo

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: ‘Today’ show contributor Jill Martin is bravely navigating another emotional chapter in her breast cancer journey as she recently broke down in tears while trying on wigs after hair loss from chemotherapy.

Having undergone chemotherapy, the 47-year-old shared poignant videos on Instagram capturing her journey as she selected a new wig.

This came following her breast cancer diagnosis in July, just one week after she tested positive for the BRCA gene.

Martin has showcased her resilience and positivity throughout the journey by documenting her tough days on Instagram.

‘Today’ contributor Jill Martin breaks down while shopping for wigs

Jill Martin, a contributor to ‘Today’, opened up about the emotional toll that her battle against breast cancer is taking on her, shedding tears while sharing her experience shopping for wigs.

In a vulnerable clip on her Instagram story on Wednesday, she candidly discussed the impact of chemotherapy on her hair, providing a heartfelt glimpse into the challenges she is facing during this difficult journey.

She said in the story, “It’s really hard and strange. But I’ll make believe I’m playing dress-up. Maybe I’ll be a brunette.”

In a subsequent Instagram story, Martin shared a moment of vulnerability as she showcased a blonde wig.

With tears in her eyes, Jill Martin candidly expressed her emotions, asking the camera, "This looks just like me, right?" Despite the difficulty of the situation, she found a sense of solace in the process. Acknowledging the challenges, she added, "It's hard. But ... I feel like I could style it. It's fun. It's like playing dress-up. I'm dressing up as myself."

In an earlier story posted on the same day, Martin revealed that she had lost her eyebrows and eyelashes approximately three weeks after she started undergoing chemotherapy.

In the video, she mentioned her plan to get eyelashes, describing it as a sort of "ambush makeover on myself."

Later, she shared a selfie after having her eyelashes done, beaming as she tried to remain positive. The picture captured her joy as she revealed her new look, which drew inspiration from her pre-diagnosis appearance.

Jill Martin’s stage 2 breast cancer diagnosis

Jill Martin has faced the challenges of stage 2 breast cancer with remarkable openness, sharing the highs and lows of her journey.

Her treatment included a double mastectomy, the removal of 17 lymph nodes, and intensive chemotherapy.

In an effort to preserve her hair, she opted for cold capping, a procedure that minimizes the impact of chemotherapy drugs on hair follicles by freezing the blood vessels in the scalp.

In October, Martin expressed that her hair has been a significant aspect of her identity, stating, "At the beginning, I (was) like, I’ll just shave my head. And for some people, that is their journey and that’s soothing for them. I’m not a big makeup person. (My hair) has always been something that makes me feel like myself."

By October, she estimated that cold capping had saved about 70% of her hair, per Today.

As of November, Martin still had radiation treatment remaining ahead, along with plans for the removal of her ovaries and fallopian tubes to further reduce her risk of ovarian cancer.

On Thanksgiving, she took a moment to reflect on her journey, expressing gratitude for her body and the treatments that supported her. She also stated that it was her final chemo in a clip she posted on the day, expressing her joy and gratitude as she rang the chemo bell.

Despite the challenges posed by cancer, Martin emphasized the importance of fighting for what's crucial and holding onto the things that matter most.

She said, “I’m grateful that my body has allowed me to get through this. Cancer wants to take whatever you have — it wants to take your friendships, it wants to take your job, it wants to take your health, it wants to take your hair, it wants to take your family … it wants to take everything.”

She added, “And so you just have to sort of fight where you can, and keep what’s important to you.”

Martin's perspective on her cancer journey involves reframing her approach to treatment, acknowledging that there isn't a typical beginning, middle, and end to such an experience.

She emphasized, “You have to know that cancer is so powerful and insidious. You can’t work on beating it — you have to work on strategically dealing with it.”

Moreover, Martin expressed gratitude for the impact her openness about the realities of her experience, such as getting a new wig, has had on others following her story.

She mentioned that the awareness generated by her journey has led to people getting checked, testing positive, or taking preventive measures.

Despite the challenges she has faced, Martin stated, “The amount of people who have gotten checked, who have tested positive or who are now taking preventive measures ... I would do it all over again.”