CNN’s Sara Sidner revealed Monday she has been diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer.

“I have never been sick a day of my life,” the anchor announced on “CNN News Central.” “I don’t smoke. I rarely drink. Breast cancer does not run in my family. And yet here I am with stage 3 breast cancer. It is hard to say out loud.”

The emotional Sidner, who said she is in her second month of chemotherapy, plans to get radiation and a double mastectomy.

“Mentally, it has been 90 percent good for me because it’s just opened my eyes to how beautiful this life that we have is,” Sidner said. “I love my life now more than I can remember since probably 7 or 8. I really, truly feel grateful just to be here.”

Sidner, who serves as CNN’s senior national correspondent, has not missed a day of work since her diagnosis, PEOPLE reported. She mentioned Black women are more than 40 percent more likely than white women to die from breast cancer.

“So to all my sisters, Black and white and brown out there, please, for the love of God, get your mammograms every single year,” she said. “Do your self-exams, try to catch it before I did.”

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.