Katie Couric Shares Urgent Reminder While Revealing Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Katie Couric details the story of her breast cancer diagnosis in a new essay entitled 'Why NOT Me?'
Katie Couric is sharing the story of her recent diagnosis with breast cancer, which she recounts in a new essay published on Wednesday, Sept. 28.
The former Today show host, 65, announced the news via Instagram, where she encouraged others to get their mammograms and routine check ups ahead of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. She further detailed her own experience of receiving a diagnosis in her essay entitled, "Why NOT Me?"
In the essay published by Katie Couric Media, the longtime journalist recalls the moment her doctor told her she had cancer in June. "Your biopsy came back. It's cancer. You're going to be fine but we need to make a plan," she remembered hearing.
"I felt sick and the room started to spin. I was in the middle of an open office, so I walked to a corner and spoke quietly, my mouth unable to keep up with the questions swirling in my head," she wrote in the essay.
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Couric later learned that her tumor was the size of an olive, yet "highly treatable," resulting in "breast conservation" surgery, or a lumpectomy. After the procedure, her doctors found that the likelihood of the cancer returning was "considered low enough to forgo chemotherapy," so she began with radiation treatments earlier this month.
Couric then explained her reasoning for sharing all of the details of her diagnosis, which has a lot to do with her late husband Jay Monahan, who died of colon cancer in 1998. As a result of his death, Couric has long advocated for cancer screenings, and even aired her own colonoscopy on the Today show in 2000.
Now, the former TV anchor is honing in on the importance of breast cancer screenings as well, telling her readers: "Please get your annual mammogram. I was six months late this time. I shudder to think what might have happened if I had put it off longer."
"I can’t tell you how many times during this experience I thanked God that it was 2022. And how many times I silently thanked all the dedicated scientists who have been working their asses off to develop better ways to analyze and treat breast cancer," Couric continued. "But to reap the benefits of modern medicine, we need to stay on top of our screenings, advocate for ourselves, and make sure everyone has access to the diagnostic tools that could very well save their life."
Couric's message comes in good timing, as Breast Cancer Awareness month is nearing closer with the upcoming arrival of October.
According to Couric, her media site will be covering "every aspect of breast cancer" throughout the month, including more about how she is navigating her own diagnosis.
At the end of her essay, she urges readers to sign up for Wake-Up Call to "better understand this potentially lifesaving information" with daily updates from Couric. If you want to sign up, you can do so here.
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