“I think after overcoming breast cancer, you sort of become fearless,” Kotb has said, “and somehow going up to your boss to talk about a possible promotion doesn’t seem like such a daunting task anymore,” Kotb said to the Gregory Rhodes Cancer Center.

Kotb, a mother of two, got the job in 2007, the same year she was diagnosed with breast cancer at 43 after her first-ever mammogram. Her treatment included a mastectomy (removal of the breast) and five years of hormone therapy.

Kotb went on to become one of the most recognizable faces in morning television and a prominent breast cancer survivor and advocate. She credits the disease that could have ended her life with giving her the nerve to go after what she wanted.

Kotb’s Cancer Journey

Kotb was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007. She chronicled her experience in her book, but earlier this year, she revealed that one of her daughters stumbled across the chapters highlighting her cancer journey – something she never expected her 8-year-old daughter to discover unprompted.

“She’s like, ‘You had breast cancer?!’ I’m like, ‘Oh, my God! Oh, geez! Kotb recalled during a conversation on the “Open Book” podcast.

Her diagnosis came after doctors found lumps in her breast tissue during a routine exam. Kotb underwent a mastectomy, a surgical procedure that removes breast tissue to treat or prevent cancer. She later had breast reconstruction surgery to restore the breast’s shape and appearance.

Following surgery, Kotb continued treatment with tamoxifen (Nolvadex) for five years. Tamoxifen is a selective estrogen receptor modulator—it blocks estrogen from fueling the growth of cancer cells. It’s also prescribed to women at high risk of developing breast cancer due to family history.

Some breast cancers rely on estrogen to grow because the hormone can attach to receptors on cancer cells and trigger growth signals. As NYU Langone breast oncologist Dr. Elizabeth Comen explains, “Estrogen is essentially a fertilizer for the cancer to grow.”

Tamoxifen helps block that process by preventing estrogen from activating those receptors, reducing the hormone’s ability to fuel cancer growth. While it acts as an anti-estrogen therapy in breast tissue, it can have estrogen-like effects elsewhere in the body, including helping maintain bone strength.

While some patients experience side effects that mimic menopause, such as hot flashes, Kotb managed her treatment and emerged cancer-free.

WATCH: Things to consider when considering a mastectomy.

Kotb’s professional, personal, and cancer journey resonates with many cancer survivors because, like them, she had to navigate many of life’s obstacles while also balancing the demands of treatment.

Help Coping With a Breast Cancer Diagnosis

If you are facing a breast cancer diagnosis, your emotions are likely to run high, which is completely normal. Psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik says emotions are often fluid when coping with a diagnosis.

“The patient or person going through the stressful event should accept that emotions will be fluid. You may feel fine one day and then feel a massive wave of stress the next. It’s also important for those you look to for support, whether that’s a therapist, friends, and family, or both, to understand the fluidity of stress-related emotions,” Dr. Plutchik said.

WATCH: How to cope with complex and changing emotions.

If a stressful event affects how you think and feel, it may be time to seek mental health treatment. This could mean traditional talk therapy, medication, changing lifestyle habits (like exercise and diet), seeking a support group, or many other approaches.

SurvivorNet experts suggest that women need a little extra help coping with a breast cancer diagnosis.

• Let your family and close friends know, and let them help. So many cancer survivors tell us they want and need support, but are often too preoccupied to make specific requests. Urge those close to you to jump in with whatever practical help they can offer.
• Keep a journal. It can be extremely cathartic to let those feelings loose on paper. Grab a pen and a nice journal and chronicle your thoughts throughout the day.
• Join a cancer support group. Groups in nearly every community offer opportunities to connect with others going through a similar journey. You’ll learn constructive insight from others who can tell you what to expect and how to stay strong on tough days.
• Consider seeing a therapist. Ask your doctor to refer you to a therapist so you can discuss your fears and concerns in a safe space. Often, vocalizing your thoughts and feelings rather than internalizing them can provide relief.

Breast Cancer Symptoms & Self-Exams

An independent panel of experts, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), has upgraded its guidelines to recommend that women start getting mammograms every other year at the age of 40. The task force notes that this lowered age (the previous recommendation was to begin screening at age 45) for breast cancer screening could save 19% more lives.
The American Cancer Society recommends getting a mammogram every other year for women 55 and older. However, women in this age group who want added reassurance can still get annual mammograms.

WATCH: Mammograms are still the best tool for detecting breast cancer.

Women with a strong family history of breast cancer, a genetic mutation known to increase the risk of breast cancer, such as a BRCA gene mutation, or a medical history, including chest radiation therapy before the age of 30, are considered at higher risk for breast cancer.
Experiencing menstruation at an early age (before 12) or having dense breasts can also put you into a high-risk category. If you are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer, you should begin screening earlier.
Women are encouraged to do regular self-exams to become familiar with how their breasts feel normally, so when something unusual, like a lump, does form, it can be easily detected. A self-exam includes pressing your fingertips along your breast in a circular motion.

For some women, that means going to their doctor and walking through what a self-breast exam looks like, so they know what normal breast tissue feels like; if they do feel something abnormal, whether it’s a lump or discharge from the nipple, they know what to ask and what to look for.

Below are common symptoms to look out for:

• New lump in the breast or underarm (armpit)
• Any change in the size or shape of the breast
• Swelling of all or part of the breast
• Skin dimpling or peeling
• Breast or nipple pain
• Nipple turning inward
• Redness or scaliness of the breast or nipple skin
• Nipple discharge (not associated with breastfeeding)

Building the Courage to Share

“Patients who have just been diagnosed with cancer sometimes wonder how they are going to handle the diagnosis of cancer in social situations,” Dr. Plutchik explains.

Plutchik says patients consider questions like “How much information should they share and with whom should they share the information?”

Dr. Plutchik explains, “There is no one right way to handle this diagnosis. People should do what feels right to them.”

WATCH: Sharing your diagnosis.

A cancer journey can last months to years, which means cancer warriors may be experiencing a lot of uncertainty until they fully understand where their health stands. This uncertainty can influence when a cancer patient is ready to share their diagnosis, Dr. Plutchik further explained.

Dr. Plutchik stresses that those close to a person going through cancer should be respectful of their wishes when it comes to disclosing their diagnosis and seeking support.

Helping Patients Get Answers

Cancer treatment breakthroughs are arriving fast, and for many patients and caregivers, keeping up can feel overwhelming. SurvivorNet’s AI-powered tool, My Health Questions, is built to cut through that complexity by helping people understand what new therapies mean for them and how to talk about their concerns with their care teams.

WATCH: See How SurvivorNet’s ‘My Health Questions’ Is Another Valuable Tool for Your Journey

Embedded throughout the SurvivorNet website, My Health Questions delivers structured, clinically grounded answers based on medical guidelines and expert-reviewed research. Users can type or speak their questions and receive responses tailored to their individual profiles, with suggested prompts available for anyone unsure where to start.

Designed to support both major treatment decisions and everyday concerns, the tool is backed by leading oncology specialists. Its purpose is to complement conversations with clinicians — helping patients arrive at appointments more informed, more prepared, and more confident.

As SurvivorNet expands its patient-focused resources, My Health Questions represents a major step forward in how technology can support people navigating cancer.

What To Ask Your Doctor

If you have been diagnosed with breast cancer, you may have questions about keeping your strength through treatment. Here are a few questions to help you begin the conversation with your doctor:

• What treatment will I be receiving?
• What side effects are associated with this treatment?
• Are there steps I can take daily to help minimize these side effects?
• What physical activity routine do you recommend for me during treatment?
• Do you have recommendations for someone who doesn’t particularly enjoy exercise?
• Can you recommend a dietitian who can help me with healthy eating tips and weight maintenance?
• I’ve been having trouble sleeping. Do you have any treatment recommendations?

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

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