CBS morning anchor Norah O’Donnell has recently revealed the emotional toll her skin cancer diagnosis has taken on her and her family. The 43-year-old journalist, known for her poised on-air presence, described her experience as both frightening and transformative—a stark reminder of the importance of regular preventative care.

During a routine checkup with her dermatologist just before Thanksgiving, O’Donnell discovered that she had melanoma in situ, a type of skin cancer that was fortunately caught early. “I had my yearly skin checks, and two years ago everything was fine,” O’Donnell explained in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE. However, realizing that she was overdue for another examination, she returned to see her doctor, Dr. Elizabeth Hale, who immediately noticed two suspicious spots on her back. Dr. Hale sent the samples for a biopsy, and just as the holiday season was underway, O’Donnell received an urgent email with the results.

Recalling that moment, she said, “My family and I were in Washington, D.C., for the holiday when I got the urgent email from Dr. Hale. She told me the biopsy had come back, and I needed to come in immediately.” It was then that she learned she had melanoma on her upper left back. “I was like, ‘Oh, my god,’” she admitted. However, the news was not all dire—Dr. Hale assured her that the cancer was 100 percent curable if treated promptly. “They caught it early, and they treat it very aggressively,” O’Donnell noted, adding that the procedure involved a significant incision to ensure all cancerous cells were removed.