After discovering in 2021 that she had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, Christiane Amanpour is facing the same disease for the third time, which she is managing with care and optimism this time.
The well-known CNN anchor shared the news during an interview on the podcast "Changing the Ovarian Cancer Story," organized by the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition, where she was a guest along with Dr. Angela George — a gynecological oncologist from the Royal Marsden Hospital in London, one of the world's most renowned cancer treatment centers.
"I have it again, but it's being managed very well. This is something that people need to understand: some cancers can be controlled," Amanpour said, speaking to moderator Hannah Vaughan Jones.
The journalist recalled the first moment she announced her illness to the public, indicating that she decided to do so because people were asking about her absence after a month off-screen.
“When I got back in front of the camera after four weeks — after the surgery and the recovery period before chemotherapy — I decided to speak out. I wanted to do a service, not just for the viewers, but for anyone who might be in a similar situation. I wanted to say: listen to your body. Part of the reason I got treatment so quickly was because I listened to my body and went to the doctor right away.”
Dr. George pointed out that most women are diagnosed late, often after spending years seeing their family doctor for symptoms that are confused with reflux, heartburn, or urinary tract infections.
“Often, when they are diagnosed, women may have had the cancer for three or four years. That's why many cases are detected in advanced stages, because the symptoms are not clear and are often overlooked,” she explained.
Amanpour said her case is somewhat different, as she has a rare form of ovarian cancer, diagnosed at stage 1/2, where the cancer was still in its early stages but had "adhered to the pelvis."
“Angela explained to me what it was and why I was probably lucky — because I had symptoms of pain. Often there are no signs, and many women don't know. So I feel like I was really lucky,” she said.
When she first announced her diagnosis in May 2021, Amanpour underwent major surgery just 10 days later, followed by 18 weeks of chemotherapy. Within six months, she was back in the field reporting — a comeback she credits with the overwhelming support of her community: family, friends, colleagues, and her 25-year-old son, Darius John, with her ex-husband, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State James Rubin.
“I had never asked for help before. And when I did, I got it,” she said with emotion. “From family, friends, colleagues — from everyone. It was touching and incredibly valuable.”
She added that this support has helped her not only physically, but also spiritually.
“Having people who ask you how you are every day, who visit you, who help you, who bring you something — community is vital. Absolutely vital. And I'm really, really lucky to have had that,” Amanpour said.
In the end, the journalist thanked everyone who has supported her on this difficult journey:
"I received love and support from all over the world. It was incredible. And it was everything I needed."
