Millions of women experience breast cancer on a global scale. Everyone is equally affected by this condition. Veteran journalist Katie Couric revealed her illness and is now working to empower women.
Katie Couric now has millions of admirers both within and outside of the United States and is a household name. The 65-year-old journalist, however, shocked her audience when she revealed some private details.
She admitted that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. She informed her friends and followers of her illness and raised awareness for breast cancer in general via her website and Instagram.
Every two minutes, a woman in the US is given a breast cancer diagnosis. I joined them on June 21st,” Couric said next to a photo of herself donning a mask and a medical gown. I wanted to share my personal story with you all as #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth approaches, urge you to be tested, and let you know that you could be a lady who needs more than a mammogram.
The seasoned journalist was reminded by her doctor to make a mammogram appointment for 2020 after she missed her scheduled one for that year. The actress decided to share her mammogram experience “in a PG manner” at this point in order to encourage other ladies to have one as well.
After the first procedure, she was told to get an ultrasound. Since Couric’s radiologist didn’t seem very satisfied with the results, he requested a biopsy. The day after the biopsy, she learned she had cancer.
“I felt woozy, and the room started to whirl. “I was in the middle of an open office, so I moved to a corner and spoke softly, my lips struggling to keep up with the questions whirling in my brain,” she recalled doing as soon as she found out.
Her first husband, Jay Monahan, quickly sprang to mind. She recalled his 1998 passing from colon cancer. She also gave her sister, parents, mother-in-law, and mother—all of whom had been diagnosed with cancer at some time in their lives—some thought.
She added that as she realized how prevalent cancer was in her family, she went from being in amazement to acceptance. I recall that I went from skepticism to resignation quite quickly. “Given the history of cancer in my family, why should I be spared? My original question, “Why me?” was replaced by, “Why not me?”
She had early-stage cancer, which was fortunately extremely treatable. A “lumpectomy,” often known as a “breast conservation” surgery, was performed on Couric.
After the lumpectomy, Couric had radiation and was given a five-year prescription. Her physicians advised her that since her cancer had been found at stage 1A, there was a minimal likelihood that it would come back and she would not need chemotherapy after removing the olive-sized tumor.
However, this incident surely altered her viewpoint about the need of frequent screenings and increased her motivation to spread the word so that more people are aware of the importance of routine self-screening. She exhorts people to take more ownership of their health.
“I can’t tell you how many times throughout this experience I praised God that it was the year 2022. And how many times I discreetly thanked every one of the dedicated researchers who have been working hard to develop more accurate breast cancer detection and treatment methods,” she said on her website. But she said, “In order to benefit from modern medicine, we need to be careful about screenings, be our greatest supporters, and make sure that everyone has access to the diagnostic tools that can very well save their lives.