Fox News star Kat Timpf has revealed that she was diagnosed with breast cancer just hours before giving birth to her first child, making for a whirlwind of emotions in what should have been one of the happiest moments of her life.
A Shocking Diagnosis Before Birth
Timpf, 36, shared the news in an Instagram post on Tuesday, revealing both the birth of her son and her unexpected health battle. She disclosed that only 15 hours before delivering her baby, she was diagnosed with Stage 0 breast cancer, meaning doctors are confident it hasn’t spread.
“Now, before you worry, my doctor says it’s Stage 0 and is confident that it almost certainly hasn’t spread,” she reassured followers. “Or, as I’ve explained to the few people I’ve managed to tell about it so far: don’t freak out. It’s just, like, a little bit of cancer.”
Timpf described the chaotic day as anything but calm, given that she was already more than a week past her due date. In typical fashion, she leaned into humor to cope, joking that she even asked doctors for a copy of her tumor ultrasound to place next to her baby’s ultrasound on the fridge.
A Difficult Road Ahead
The Gutfeld! co-host also revealed that doctors have recommended a double mastectomy as soon as possible. This means her next few months of maternity leave will look drastically different than she had originally anticipated.
“These next three months of maternity leave are going to look a lot different than I’d anticipated, and I’m still getting used to my new reality,” she wrote. “I’m lucky that we found the cancer so early; I’m lucky to be my son’s mom. I mean, I know I’m biased, but the little dude absolutely rules – and not just because he might have saved my life.”
Timpf ended her message with a powerful note about resilience: “Here’s to finding humor and hope on the toughest days.”
Facing Online Criticism
Timpf, known for her comedic and political commentary on Gutfeld!, has been open about her pregnancy journey. She frequently addressed the online criticism she faced throughout, particularly regarding her decision to continue working late into her pregnancy.
On February 17, she clapped back at online trolls who made intrusive comments about her health. “Hi everyone! I am under the close care of a doctor, and I promise that both of us know and care far more about my health and the health of my own baby than any random online stranger does from just seeing me on TV,” she posted on X (formerly Twitter).
She also pushed back against speculation about her medical decisions, writing, “Although I’m sure much of it is well-intentioned, I don’t need to be bombarded with comments about how my belly looking this way or that way CLEARLY means I will be needing this or that procedure.”
An Unexpected Journey to Motherhood
Timpf first announced her pregnancy last July in an emotional Fox News opinion piece, where she revealed her surprise at becoming pregnant naturally at 35, which is considered a “geriatric pregnancy” in medical terms.
“I never expected to find myself in this situation,” she admitted. “Actually, I’d prepared myself for every outcome but this one.”
Despite the challenges, Timpf and her husband, Cameron Friscia, have embraced their new journey as parents. And as she navigates motherhood alongside her unexpected health battle, Timpf continues to lean on humor, hope, and gratitude.