NCB's Sara Gore Returns To Her Career After Breast Cancer Treatment
- NBC’s Sara Gore, 50, is cancer-free and back in front of the camera after stepping away from her hosting duties at 49 to undergo breast cancer treatment and surgery.
- Some cancer patients can continue to work during cancer treatment, while others may need to take some time away. Doctors recommend returning to work if possible, as it helps cancer patients regain a sense of normalcy.
- If treatment side effects or scheduling demands make it hard to meet work expectations, stepping back or reducing your hours may be the best option.
- Cancer patients choosing to work but needing some accommodations on the job may be protected by the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, or the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
The beloved TV personality, who hosts NBC’s “New York Live” [NYL] and “Open House,” made her return to NYL on Tuesday, July 28, bringing back the warmth, enthusiasm, and uplifting energy that viewers and colleagues have come to know and love.
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Gore’s warm welcome from colleagues was captured in a video compilation shared on NYL’s official Instagram page, where one of her co-workers affectionately described her as their “sunshine.”
“Our sunshine is here,” said one of her colleagues, while another chimed in, “Exactly … we’ve been waiting for our sunshine.”
She received an immense amount of support from fans and loved ones with one commenting, “Welcome home Sara, thank you for bringing the sunshine back with you. Will continue to keep you in my prayers for good health.”
Another wrote, “Yesss!!! Back and more radiant than ever! Keep crushing mama! Sending you Love!”
A third supporter wrote, “All that support really makes a difference. It’s not just about medical doctors. Sometimes love is the best medicine!”
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Earlier this month, Gore recounted “quietly” turning 50 while recovering from a double mastectomy, a surgical procedure to remove both breasts.
In another social media post, Gore commented on her return to work and shared that she was determined to come back as the best version of herself.
She said, “I’ve spent the last 20 years on television, where there’s always been a certain pressure to be ‘on.’ To be pulled together. To look as good as I possibly can.
“And I will continue to do that. I am a girly girl at heart and I do love the transformation. I love the glam. And when I’m back on television, I’ll happily become that version of myself again. But maybe I don’t need to be her when I’m not on television.”
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Gore continued, “Somewhere in these past few months, something shifted. I’ve become really comfortable being seen a little more as I am. No makeup. The lines that are there. The signs of a life lived.
“Not because I’ve sworn off anything or made some grand declaration about aging. I haven’t. Who knows what the future holds? I just feel less pressure to hide it all. And after everything my body has carried me through, I think I’m looking at it — and myself — a little differently. Right now, I feel really comfortable with who I am.”
Sara Gore’s Breast Cancer Journey
Gore went public with her diagnosis on April 30, and it’s a story that underscores a broader reality for women everywhere: breast cancer risk is not dimensional, deeply personal, and often influenced by factors beyond genetics alone.
Her mother and sister both fought breast cancer. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), having close family members with breast cancer increases a woman’s likelihood of developing the disease.
“Having a first-degree relative (mother, sister, or daughter) with breast cancer almost doubles a woman’s risk. Having 2 first-degree relatives increases her risk by about 3-fold,” the ACS explains. “Women with a father or brother who has had breast cancer also have a higher risk of breast cancer.”
Risk factors for breast cancer include being female, increasing age, inherited genetic mutations, a family or personal history of breast cancer, race and ethnicity, having dense breast tissue, and beginning menstruation at an earlier age.
If you’re curious as to whether you’re at a heightened risk of getting diagnosed with breast cancer, make sure to speak with your doctor about screening guidelines. Additionally, the National Cancer Institute’s Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool—also known as the Gail Model—helps clinicians estimate a woman’s five-year risk of developing invasive breast cancer.
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), which sets the standard of care in oncology, has also formally incorporated Clairity Breast, an FDA-cleared artificial intelligence program, into its 2026 Breast Cancer Screening and Diagnosis Guidelines. It analyzes subtle patterns in screening mammograms, predicts a woman’s future breast cancer risk, generating a validated five‑year risk score.
As for Gore’s diagnosis, she shared an emotional announcement about it on NBC’s New York Live show, saying, “Today I want to share something a little more personal, which is hard for me because, you know what, this show has never been about me. It is about our guests, it’s about this city that we love. It’s about all of you.
“But after being a part of your day for so long and vice versa, for 16 plus years, for some of you, I can’t believe it’s that long. It just felt right to tell you myself. I was recently diagnosed with breast cancer, and I’m going to be stepping away for treatment and surgery.”
If you or someone you know has been recently diagnosed with breast cancer, like Gore, SurvivorNet’s My Health Questions was built to offer on-demand explanations of treatment options, clinical trials, side effects, insurance concerns, and more. Users can ask questions conversationally, either by typing or using their voice, and receive answers tailored to their individual profiles. If patients don’t know where to start, we provide prompt questions to get them started.
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Gore then explained how she was “caught off guard,” adding, “Quite frankly, which makes no sense because I watched my mother and my sister go through this, and I always knew I was high risk, and I always assumed this day would come. But let me tell you, you are never ready.
“You’re just never ready for some reason, even when you catch it early because you’re doing everything right. It is an emotional blow. And I wasn’t ready for that. That actually really surprised me. It really stung. And I know it’s gonna sting for a minute. You know what? It’s stinging right now.”
Gore closed off by reassuring her viewers of their importance, saying she’ll be taking time off to undergo treatment and recover, promising, “I’m going to come back better than ever. And I’m going to see you on the other side of this.”
In another announcement, shared on Open House TV’s Instagram page, Gore insisted she was going to “kick cancer’s a**” and “come back better than ever.”
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Deciding When to Work or Step Back Amid Cancer Treatment
“We always encourage people to continue to work if they can,” says Sarah Stapleton, a clinical social worker at Montefiore Medical Center. “I think it creates a sense of normalcy for patients.”
If you can work, you’ll be busy, and you may not be worrying about how your treatment is going, Stapleton adds.
Sometimes, cancer can make you feel isolated and lonely, and being around people for work can alleviate feelings of loneliness.
It’s important for you to have a conversation with your doctor before continuing to work during treatment. Ask your physician what you can and cannot do so you don’t disrupt ongoing treatment.
Remember, sometimes cancer treatment can cause fatigue, leaving you unable to fulfill youar duties as you once could.
Fortunately, some on-the-job accommodations can make working during cancer treatment a little easier.
It’s important to remember that people with job problems related to cancer are protected by the Rehabilitation Act or the Americans with Disabilities Act. Others may also benefit from the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). This law allows many people with serious illnesses to take unpaid leave to get medical care or manage their symptoms.
Your human resources department should be able to share with you your options.
In some situations, employers must accommodate a qualified applicant or employee with a disability unless the employer can show it would be an undue hardship to do so. This could mean making changes to work schedules, equipment, or policies.
WATCH: Will my cancer get me fired?
Laurie Ostacher, a behavioral health clinician at Stanford Health Care, recommends cancer patients talk with their employer about accommodations they may need upon returning to work.
“Patients need to let their employer know [they’re] going to need some flexibility… Because there are going to be days when you’re not as energetic or feeling as well as other days,” Ostacher explained.
When some of these benchmarks cannot be met because you’re struggling with treatment side effects or your treatment schedule interferes with your work schedule, perhaps stepping back from work or reducing your work schedule may be ideal.
Ultimately, you should remain in constant communication with your care team about your plans to work – or not – as that can factor into your overall treatment regimen.
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, 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 needing 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 Screening Guidelines
The medical community has a consensus that women between 45 and 54 have annual mammograms. However, an independent panel of experts called the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is saying that women should start getting mammograms every other year at the age of 40, suggesting that this lowered the age for breast cancer screening could save 19% more lives.
WATCH: Screening for Breast Cancer
For women aged 55 and older, the American Cancer Society recommends getting a mammogram every other year. However, women in this age group who want added reassurance can still get annual mammograms.
Women who have a strong family history of breast cancer, have dense breasts, have 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 age 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 for developing breast cancer, you should begin screening earlier.
Breast density is determined through mammograms. However, women with dense breasts are at a higher risk for developing breast cancer because dense breast tissue can mask potential cancer during screening. 3D mammograms, breast ultrasound, breast MRI, and molecular breast imaging are options for women with dense breasts for a more precise screening. It is important to ask your doctor about your breast density and cancer risk.
Larry Norton, Senior Vice President in the Office of the Hospital President at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Founding Scientific Director of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, previously told SurvivorNet, “We do know that breast density, which is not how lumpy a breast field, but they look on a mammogram, is a risk factor for breast cancer.
“And people with breast density should be getting additional screening like sonograms at Memorial Sloan Kettering. We use contrast enhanced mammography. We also use MRI of the breast.”
Although breast cancer can happen to anyone, certain factors can increase a person’s risk of getting the disease. The known risk factors for breast cancer include:
- Older age
- Having a gene mutation such as the BRCA1 or BRCA2
- Added exposure to estrogen
- Having children after the age of 30
- Exposure to radiation early in life
- Family history of the disease
About ten percent of breast cancers are hereditary, says Dr. Ophira Ginsburg, Director of the High-Risk Cancer Program at NYU Langone’s Perlmutter Cancer Center.
“We encourage only those who have a family history to really get [genetic testing],” Dr. Ginsburg previously told SurvivorNet.
“I would say that if you have anyone in your family who was diagnosed with a very rare cancer. Or if you have a strong family history of one or two kinds of cancer, particularly breast and ovarian, but also colon, rectal, uterine, and ovarian cancer, that goes together in another cancer syndrome called the Lynch Syndrome,” Dr. Ginsburg adds.
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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