Hoda Kotb recalls chilling warning from doctor saying she would die without chemo during cancer battle

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Hoda Kotb recalled one dire warning she received during her battle with breast cancer in 2007.

The former 'Today' show host, 60, opened up about the tough choices she faced while speaking on her podcast, 'Making Space,' on Wednesday, 26 March.

Hoda Kotb recalls being told 'you'll be dead' without chemotherapy

Hoda Kotb recalled seeking advice from multiple specialists and ultimately deciding against chemotherapy, despite one doctor delivering an alarming prognosis if she chose not to proceed with the treatment.

Kotb consulted with three different specialists to determine the best course of action after her cancer diagnosis.

"I remember after my diagnosis, I went to three other specialists," Hoda said, according to Us Weekly. 

"I had a mastectomy, and one doctor said, 'You need chemo.' One said, 'You don't need chemo.' And one said, 'You can't make a mistake either way.'"

She then recalled the chilling warning from one of the medical professionals.

"One person said, 'You'll be dead if you don't do it.' I couldn't believe it. I mean, I have chills right now thinking about it," Hoda shared.

Despite the grim advice, she felt confident in her choice. "My decision was clear," she said, adding "I did not do chemotherapy, and it was right for me."

Hoda Kotb says 'you can't scare me' after 2007 cancer surgery

Hoda Kotb has been cancer-free since 2007. While she decided against chemotherapy, she underwent a mastectomy as part of her treatment plan.

"After the diagnosis and after the surgery, I literally woke up from my bed, like, in a start," Hoda shared. "And I [thought], 'You can't scare me.' I was like, 'What am I afraid of now?'" she said.

She acknowledged how her cancer battle transformed her mindset. The experience gave her the courage to seek out new opportunities and pursue professional ambitions without hesitation.

Hoda Kotb recalls how her cancer battle pushed her career forward

Hoda Kotb credited her cancer journey for inspiring her to push forward in her career. She described how she boldly approached NBC executives to request a new role.

"I went to 30 Rock, I hit 52 on the elevator bank, I went up to where those guys are that I've never seen because they all sit up there. And I said, 'I don't know if you even know me, but let me tell you what happened to me,'" Hoda recalled.

"And I went on this whole spiel," she continued, adding "I go, 'They’re starting a new hour of the 'Today' show. I want that. I think I could do that.' He was like kind of looking at me like, 'What?'"

Reflecting on how her cancer battle reshaped her perspective, she said, "[My cancer diagnosis] unleashed courage and things like, 'What was I waiting for? Someone to notice me? I'm working at my desk. Are they going to see me? Of course they're not.'"