Taylor Hill/Getty Images
In a heartfelt message to her followers, Norah O’Donnell emphasized the importance of scheduling a colonoscopy, the crucial step in detecting colorectal cancer during its early, treatable stages. The American Cancer Society highlights that Stage 0 cancer can often be addressed with surgery, sometimes performed during the colonoscopy itself. However, as the disease advances to Stage 4, treatment becomes more complex and the mortality rate significantly increases.
Each year, the United States sees approximately 109,000 new cases of colon cancer and around 50,000 new cases of rectal cancer. Against this daunting backdrop, O’Donnell, a CBS correspondent, is leveraging her Instagram platform—where she connects with 285,000 followers—to advocate for early detection and awareness of this critical health issue. Her dedication to this cause is not newfound; she has been a vocal advocate for years.
Public figures often grapple with how to handle personal health crises, with some choosing privacy and others opting to educate the public. Norah O’Donnell, having faced her own health challenges, chose the latter path after her melanoma diagnosis. In May 2017, she recounted to People magazine how a routine check-up led to an urgent biopsy request from her dermatologist, Dr. Hale. “My family and I were in Washington, D.C., for the holiday when I received an urgent email,” she recalled. The biopsy confirmed cancer, but her doctor quickly reassured her of its curability, urging immediate surgical removal of her moles. “They make a big cut to ensure nothing else around it is becoming invasive,” she explained.
Thankfully, O’Donnell’s melanoma was successfully removed, and she has not reported any recurrence since. This experience profoundly influenced her views on healthcare. Speaking to Medline Magazine in 2019, she remarked, “We need to completely rethink our approach to health and health care. There’s nothing more important than our health.” She expressed her desire to spark a national dialogue on prioritizing healthy living, echoing her mother’s wisdom: “Your health is your wealth.”
Norah O’Donnell is passionate about health advocacy
Emma Mcintyre/Getty Images
There’s no instruction manual for reacting to a health crisis, especially when you’re in the public eye. Some celebs decide to hide their cancer diagnoses, while others use them as teachable moments. The latter is the path that Norah O’Donnell, who has faced her own tragedies, took after receiving a melanoma diagnosis.
In May 2017, O’Donnell opened up to People about the time her dermatologist urged her to get a biopsy after a routine checkup. “My family and I were in Washington, D.C., for the holiday when I received an urgent email from Dr. Hale,” she told the outlet. “She said that the biopsy came back and that she wanted to speak with me immediately.” Her doctor immediately reassured her that the cancer was curable, but instructed her to get her moles surgically removed as soon as possible. “They make a big cut to make sure there’s nothing else around it and not becoming invasive,” she explained.
Fortunately, O’Donnell’s doctor was able to remove her melanoma, and to date, she hasn’t spoken about having any kind of resurgence. Understandably, her unexpected brush with cancer changed her perspective on health care. “We need to completely rethink our entire approach to health and health care,” she told Medline Magazine in 2019. “There’s nothing more important than our health. Why don’t we spend more time learning about healthy choices and disease prevention?” She continued, “I’m hoping to begin a national conversation about how much time we dedicate to healthy living. As my mom reminds me, ‘Your health is your wealth.’”