Christiane Amanpour Reveals Return Of Ovarian Cancer, Urges Women To ‘Listen To Their Bodies’

Veteran CNN anchor and chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour has revealed that her ovarian cancer has returned, three years after she was first diagnosed and treated for the disease.

The 67-year-old journalist, who has been notably absent from air for the past month, shared the news on the Changing the Ovarian Cancer Story podcast, describing her diagnosis as a “fairly rare” recurrence.

“I have it again, but it’s being very well-managed,” Amanpour said, adding that her doctors had classified it as stage 1/2, meaning it is still in its early stage but had “adhered to the pelvis.”

She appeared on the podcast alongside Dr. Angela George, a gynaecological oncology consultant, and reflected on the importance of self-awareness and timely medical checks.

“I decided when I got back in front of the camera after four weeks which included the surgery and a couple of weeks of recuperation before chemotherapy to say something because I wanted to do a service,” she explained. “Not just to my viewers, but to anyone who might be in a similar situation. I wanted to say: listen to your body.”

Amanpour noted that her quick medical response stemmed from paying attention to subtle pain symptoms something many women overlook until it’s too late. “There’s often no symptoms, so many women don’t know,” she said. “I feel that I was lucky.”

The seasoned journalist first went public with her cancer diagnosis in 2021, telling viewers that she had undergone major surgery and was beginning a round of chemotherapy. At the time, she emphasized the importance of early detection and expressed gratitude for having access to quality healthcare.

“I’m telling you this in the interest of transparency,” she said then, “but really mostly as a shoutout to early diagnosis. I want to urge women to educate themselves, to get regular screenings, and to ensure their medical concerns are never dismissed.”

Amanpour, who joined CNN in 1983 and has become one of the most respected voices in global journalism, continues to inspire viewers with her resilience, openness, and advocacy for women’s health awareness a reminder that even in adversity, truth-telling remains her craft.