Katie Couric announces the diagnosis of breast cancer

Katie Couric underwent surgery and radiation treatments, which were completed this week, after receiving a breast cancer diagnosis during the summer.

The former “CBS Evening News” and “Today” anchor revealed how she discovered the cancer following a mammogram in June in an essay released by Katie Couric Media on Wednesday, where she also revealed her diagnosis for the first time. A routine checkup that should have been done about eight months into the pandemic was skipped by the woman.

“I was six months late this time. I shudder to think what might have happened if I had put it off longer “, She wrote, urging people to go to their own screenings and arrange further examinations as necessary.

The 65-year-old Couric published facts about the prevalence of breast cancer in her personal essay, on her website, and on Instagram.

“Every two minutes, a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States. On June 21st, I became one of them “, In a statement on social media published on Wednesday morning, she stated. As #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth draws near, We wanted to share our own experience with you all, encourage you to get checked, and let you know that you might be a woman who need more than a mammogram.

Several close family members of Couric, as well as other members of her extended family, have previously faced cancer. The journalist’s husband Jay Monahan passed away in 1998 at the age of 42 from stage 4 colon cancer. Her mother and father were each given a diagnosis of non-lymphoma Hodgkin’s and prostate cancer, and her sister Emily passed away at the age of 54 from pancreatic cancer.

Despite the fact that her family has a history of illness, Couric admitted that she was originally taken aback by her own diagnosis because breast cancer “was a new one.” She then learned that 85% of those in the United States who receive a diagnosis don’t have a family history.

During a 2019 visit on “CBS Mornings,” Couric stated, “People who are going through a cancer experience, whether they’re patients or caregivers, really need the support of other patients who have been there.”

“Unless you’re going through it, you really don’t understand what it’s like,” she continued. “And I remember Jay telling me, ‘Having cancer is the loneliest experience in the world.’ Which made me so sad because I couldn’t help him, he felt so alone.”

On Tuesday, Couric received her last session of radiation treatment.

“My left breast does look like I’ve been sunbathing topless, but other than that, I’ve felt fine,” she said.