CNN anchor Sara Sidner revealed on live television that she is now battling stage 3 breast cancer during a segment of “CNN News Central,” which she co-hosts. The 51-year-old journalist spoke openly about her condition, expressing thanks for the new perspective it has provided.
During the emotional on-air moment, Sidner shared that she is in her second month of chemotherapy and is set to undergo radiation and a double mastectomy as part of her treatment plan. Urging viewers to reflect on the names of eight women in their lives, she emphasized that one in every eight women faces breast cancer at some point. Sidner, shocked by her own diagnosis, revealed, “I am that one in eight in my friend group. I have never been sick a day in my life. I don’t smoke, I rarely drink, breast cancer does not run in my family, and yet here I am with stage 3 breast cancer.”
Adding a poignant note on racial disparities in breast cancer outcomes, Sidner highlighted that black women are 40 percent more likely to die from breast cancer than their white counterparts. She passionately called on women of all backgrounds to prioritize regular mammograms and self-exams.
In a subsequent interview with People Magazine, Sidner shared that her journey began when a mammogram conducted during her coverage of the war in Israel raised concerns. After returning to the U.S., a biopsy confirmed the presence of cancer in an advanced stage. Despite initially keeping the news to herself, Sidner eventually embraced a determination to fight. “I just made a decision. I’m like, ‘No, you’re going to live, and you’re going to stop this, and you’re going to do every single thing in your arsenal to survive this. Period,'” she said.
Expressing gratitude for the life-changing diagnosis, Sidner acknowledged that her perspective on life has shifted. Fighting back tears, she revealed, “I have thanked cancer for choosing me. I’m learning that no matter what hell we go through in life, I am still madly in love with this life, and just being alive feels really different for me now.”
In the face of adversity, Sidner’s resilience and optimism shine through as she embraces each day with a newfound appreciation for life.