Milestones Matter When During and After Battling Cancer
- Journalist Katie Couric, 66, revealed she will be a grandmother as her daughter announced she’s pregnant in a heartwarming way. The milestone moment was captured on video and shared on social media.
- Couric has shared many vulnerable and candid moments, including her breast cancer diagnosis in 2022 during a “Today Show” segment. Since her diagnosis, she’s been a staunch advocate for breast cancer screenings and healthy living.
- Reaching milestones during or after a cancer battle is a big deal. Milestones may include things like getting engaged, reaching another birthday, or the looming birth of a new baby. These moments tend to have added meaning after a diagnosis than they did previously. Hence, taking them all in is important, and celebrating all you’ve overcome is important.
In some ways, the world has been part of Katie Couric’s family for decades now, through love, tragedy, and motherhood. Now one of America’s favorite television figures is going to be a grandmother.
Couric, 66, released the news that her daughter, Ellie Monahan, 32, is going to be a mom and has give her a special bracelet to mark the occasion.
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“Been dying to tell you. This is what happens when you go to a Taylor Swift concert last summer and forget your friendship bracelet, and your daughters say, “Don’t worry, we made one for you!” Couric wrote in a caption.
Couric is on the cusp of a milestone moment as she prepares for her first grandchild. These cherished moments tend to have added meaning for cancer patients and survivors.
Fans of the journalist and cancer advocate pounced on the opportunity to share positive comments about grandparenthood.
“Katie!!! Congratulations. How fun!! I remember watching you when you were pregnant with Ellie. Wow. Full circle,” Instagram user Becky Godette commented.
“Yes, Granmamacita,” Danish model Helena Christensen commented.
“Congratulations to all. Being a granny is absolutely the best thing in life,” Instagram user GailandTom Fillmore wrote.
Helping Patients Cope with a Breast Cancer Diagnosis
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Celebrating Milestones After Cancer
For cancer warriors, reaching milestones is a big deal. For Couric, who was diagnosed with breast cancer, becoming a grandmother is a milestone achievement with extra special meaning.
These are noteworthy milestone moments among cancer patients, survivors, and their families, whether it’s childbirth, a wedding, or a dream vacation. They gain added value because cancer patients often feel more gratitude toward their lives.
Couric’s Cancer Journey
Couric was diagnosed in June 2022 but revealed her cancer to the world during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. She was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer, specifically stage 1A.
WATCH: Understanding stage zero breast cancer.
“I was nervous about it. I waited a few days so I could process it and really understand what we were dealing with,” Couric said to “Today” at the time.
Dr. Michael Zeidman, assistant professor of surgery at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, tells SurvivorNet that stage 1 is divided into two subcategories, 1a and 1b. Stage 1a breast cancer means the cancer hasn’t spread outside the breast. Stage 1b means there’s no tumor in the breast; instead, small groups of cancer cells are found in the lymph nodes. Stage 1b can also mean there’s a tumor in the breast and small groups of cancer cells in the lymph nodes. Stage 1 also means the cancer was caught very early, he says.
She underwent surgery and radiation therapy to treat the cancer a few months after her diagnosis.
Perhaps equally as important is she learned more about her breast during her cancer journey. She has dense breasts, meaning more fibroglandular tissue and less fatty breast tissue exist.
Couric says she receives additional screening alongside her mammogram. She also gets an ultrasound. A breast ultrasound can supplement a regular mammogram in women with dense breasts.
Couric has used her public platform to advocate cancer awareness and promote healthy living. More recently, she partnered with the wife of the late Alex Trebek, who died of pancreatic cancer. Couric and Jean Trebek kickstarted the “Alex Trebek Fund,” created to help support research into pancreatic cancer.
Couric also promotes breast cancer screenings. She tends to draw added attention to women with dense breasts, which can be trickier to catch without undergoing enhanced screening.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
If you find yourself struggling with a diagnosis or helping a loved one cope with their emotions, consider asking your doctor the following questions:
- How can I go about improving my outlook/mental health?
- Are there any activities I can do to encourage positive feelings?
- When should I seek other interventions if I’m still struggling?
- What are the steps to finding a different therapist if the one I’m using is not working out?
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
