CNN's Christiane Amanpour Diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer: 'Always Listen to Your Body'

The international news anchor said that she’s undergone surgery to remove the cancer and is now getting chemotherapy “for the very best possible long-term prognosis”

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Christiane Amanpour. Photo: David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty

International journalist Christiane Amanpour has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy, she shared Monday.

The 63-year-old chief international anchor for CNN said that the last few weeks have been "a bit of a roller coaster."

"I want to first thank Bianna Golodryga and the whole team for holding down the fort the last four weeks, which have been a bit of a roller coaster for me. Because during that time, like millions of women around the world, I've been diagnosed with ovarian cancer," Amanpour announced at the start of her segment.

Amanpour said that she's "confident" in her prognosis as she undergoes treatment.

"I've had successful major surgery to remove it, and I am now undergoing several months of chemotherapy for the very best possible long-term prognosis," she said. "I'm also fortunate to have health insurance through work, and incredible doctors who are treating me in a country underpinned by of course, the brilliant NHS."

Amanpour said that she decided to share her diagnosis publicly in the hopes of helping others.

"I'm telling you this in the interest of transparency, but in truth, really, mostly, as a shoutout to early diagnosis," she said. "To urge women to educate themselves on this disease; to get all the regular screenings and scans that you can; to always listen to your body; and to of course, to ensure that your legitimate medical concerns are not dismissed or diminished."

"So, that's my news," she concluded. "Now, let's get to the news."

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The London-born Amanpour was hired by CNN in 1983, just after graduating from the University of Rhode Island. She traveled the world as a reporter on the network's foreign desk, broadcasting from multiple war zones and speaking with world leaders. She left CNN briefly from 2010 to 2012 to anchor This Week on ABC, before returning to CNN, along with taking over for Charlie Rose on PBS.

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