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Hoda Kotb’s battle with breast cancer in 2007 wasn’t just a fight for her health, but a journey filled with some tough decisions.
In an emotional conversation on the Wednesday, March 26 episode of her Making Space podcast, Kotb shared with guest Elle Macpherson the harrowing details of the uncertainty she faced while navigating her diagnosis.
“I remember after my diagnosis, I went to three other specialists. I had a mastectomy, and one doctor said, ‘You need chemo.’ One said, ‘You don’t need chemo.’ And one said, ‘You can’t make a mistake either way,'” the 60-year-old recalled. One doctor even told her, “You’ll be dead if you don’t do it.” The statement left Kotb shaken, adding, “I have chills right now thinking about it.”
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After carefully considering her options, Kotb made the decision not to undergo chemotherapy, as her cancer hadn’t spread to her lymph nodes. “It was right for me,” she said of the choice that ultimately worked out, as she’s remained cancer-free since 2007.
Macpherson – who also shared her experience with a cancer diagnosis and holistic treatment choices – and Kotb reflected on the judgment both women received for their medical decisions. “There’s been a lot of judgment around my decision. But, you know, I had to live with the decision that I made. Not anybody else,” the 60-year-old supermodel said. But for both, the journey was about trusting their bodies and choosing what felt right for them. “The hardest part was the indecision, prior to making the decision,” she recalled.
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The former Today host described how the aftermath of her diagnosis sparked a new wave of courage. After surgery, she boldly pursued the opportunity to cohost the fourth hour of Today, a move that marked a major turning point in her career.
Since her departure from Today earlier this year after 17 years hosting, Kotb is currently working on launching a wellness app and company alongside her podcast. She is also using her newfound free time to focus on spending quality moments with her daughters Haley, 7, and Hope, 5.