>> But he Ford's outspoken nature, became publicly lifesaving when she was unexpectedly faced with the tragic diagnosis shortly.

And Gerald Ford's presidency, just 6 weeks after becoming the first lady of the United States, Betty Ford learned that she had b***** cancer and would need to receive an immediate mastectomy, which is the surgical removal of a woman's b*****, having such a serious disease affecting such a personal part of a woman's body was not something that women traditionally spoke publicly about in the 1970's.

In fact, the word b***** was not even uttered on television.

>> She literally brought the word b***** and cancer out of the closet and into the news media.

And it was finally said on TV, if you go back, it wasn't.

>> And so Betty's decision to go public with her diagnosis when she had this big national platform as first lady was really significant.

People didn't say b***** on television.

People didn't really understand what the b***** cancer diagnosis and recovery was like.

So being able to look at the first lady and experience this, this disease firsthand was incredibly significant to the American public.

People were able to follow a process of diagnosis, operation and recovery first hand.

And they really learned a lot about the disease through her willingness, courage to be open.

>> But even Gerald Ford's decisions to be fully transparent about bodies fight against b***** cancer had a tremendous impact on society.

As Gerald Ford tearfully shared the news of her diagnosis on television.

American saw a man in power showing the motion publicly which defy the stereotype that strong men do not show these motions deeply, but he's fierce fight against the disease and public prominence, increased awareness and encourage women everywhere to be examined and take action as soon as possible if something abnormal was found.

>> And so Betty's choice to go public with her diagnosis contributed to something known as the Betty Ford blip, where 15%.

It's 15% increase in women going to their doctors for early detection and diagnoses.

>> All health officials will say there is a before Betty.

And then after Betty, that makes a difference in women's health.

And that's the important thing.

>> Great stigma existed surrounding b***** cancer and mastectomies in general.

In the 1970's, such an operation left, many women feeling disfigured and less spending.

>> So, Betty.

>> I always loved fashion.

And she recognized that after having her b***** removed as part of her cancer recovery ship, she was worried about how she could wear clothes.

After that.

She talked about how, you know, it's okay to feel this way.

It's not Van 80 to be worried about how this this massive operation, this physical disfigurement is going to impact you.

And so she really need to point to be open about this to talk about this with women.

And so in her auto biography, which was published in 1978, she really talks about the emotional toll that her b***** cancer diagnosis, her operation had on her as a way to reassure American women.

>> Well, that he was not entirely immune to anxiety about the challenges for surgery would pose.

She reminded herself and the rest of society that just as she would not have left her husband, if you've lost a leg, he would not leave her for something just as unfortunate and beyond her control.

But he also did effectively destigmatize concerns about a lack of femininity after surgery.

She continued to dazzle society as the fashion icon she always had been.

>> Instead of wearing the neck presses that were low cut in the front, she chose to do low cut dresses in the back, which we all know can be very sexually it anyway.

So she never lost that spark in her.

>> Ruth Handler, the creator of party, also had a mastectomy after she struggled to find a good b***** prosthesis.

Ruth Front, a company that could manufacture them even better doing so position Ter to personally fit that you for pocketed brought and b***** prosthesis.

In 1978 together, Betty Ford and Ruth handler utilize their own experiences to help women feel more comfortable with their surgically altered bodies.

>> And in her by auto biography, in addition to talking about this emotional toll, she also really rounds her experiences with her characteristic humor and humanity.

So for instance, she talks about this story where she and her family were in the sale, playing touch football.

She was coaching, but the photographers were like, oh, no, you have to.

You have to pose like you're playing the game.

So she gamely does that.

And in her autobiography, she describes suddenly feeling Crip law as her b***** prosthesis fall out of her bra.

And so her daughter, Susan, helped her get behind some cars to readjust it.

And she said, well, you know, this is just one of those things that happens when you have a prosthetic b*****.

And so I think that story really illustrates again how willing she was to be open about her experiences and how humanizing that was.

>> My mother had an incredible sense of humor and people inside the bubble like S would say they knew that people that worked with are a classic example is when my daughter was to to walk to my mom's bathroom.

And I guess I did at that age, I've never really spoken to my kids about a mastectomy or anything.

And my mother took her across the seas and she threw it at her and said catch.

And so it really broke the ice.

>> Welcome.

Lets lives or prolonged and saved thanks to buddies, openness the support, but he received while she recovered from surgery and chemotherapy that followed help sustain her too when reflecting on her time in the hospital.

But he said even before I was able to get up, I lay in bed and watch television and saw on the news shows lines of women queued up to go in for b***** examinations because of what happened to me.

>> She received over 50,000 pieces of mail after her ordeal, many of them from women who had gone through b***** cancer treatments themselves and really talking about what an inspiration she was, how helpful and inspire it was to see the first lady going through something similar.

>> One letter in particular was a heartfelt note penned by President Ford after he experienced what he said was the loneliest night of his life.

When body was first admitted to the hospital with the love and support of her family and the incredible hospital staff who are known for keeping things as latest the could throughout her treatment.

The surgery was a success.

She returned from the hospital to a receiving line made up of her family, all 200 White House staff members and a new golden retriever puppy named Liberty who was adopted to be a source of support throughout her healing process.

They were all prepared to cheer her on and help her continue to heal and fight Betty and her family credited their support system and their faith for her full recovery in time that he came to embrace the larger impact of her battle with cancer, stating my illness turned out to have a very special purpose, helping save other lives.