Elisabeth Hasselback Returns to Fox and Friends after Cancer Scare

Nov 14, 2014 05:32 PM EST

Elisabeth Hasselbeck
Elisabeth Hasselbeck revealed the reason behind her month-long absence from Fox and Friends, telling viewers that she had quite the health scare. Credit: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images

When Elisabeth Hasselback said that she was taking a temporary absence from Fox and Friends last month, she did not explain why she left. Now that she has returned, she revealed on Fox and Friends that the issue was a cancer scare.

Hasselback gave her reason for her absence on the news show, and it was an understandably very emotional display. She reported that her doctor told her that she had to have a tumor in her abdomen removed by the end of the month. Fortunately for her, it was not cancerous.

The former host of The View and current host of the right-wing talk show has stated "I had a scary week when we didn't know what the results were." She also added: "But I'm okay...everything came back okay. Surgery's not fun, but it is necessary to find out if you have something really terrible."

Hasselbeck took the time to thank her family and friends for their support, particularly her husband Tim for being her "hospital buddy" and supporting her through the entire process. Hasselbeck also thanked as those on Fox and Friends as well. She said that even the Fox News CEO Roger Ailes "treated me like family the entire way". Hasselback also added: "I'm certainly not a person who takes a lot for granted, but I certainly don't take it for granted now."

What is interesting is that this was the first time that Hasselbeck announced the cancer scare. It could have been easily announced before she left, and it looks like she chose not to give the reason for her absence. It appears that her co-workers at Fox and Friends knew, and kept it a secret.

Hasselbeck's co-hosts for Fox and Friends, Steve Doocy and Eric Bolling (who was filling in for Brian Kilmeade) welcomed her back with a treat from Cake Boss. Bolling thanked Cake Boss "wherever you are", a reference to Buddy Valastro's recent arrest for drunk driving.

At one point, she held the hand of her co-host Steve Doocy, saying: "So many people I know have stared down the barrel of that cancer gun, and looked at it when they have gotten bad news...and have done remarkable things, courageously, to fight it."

Hasselbeck's words come at a coincidental time, as reality star Diem Brown passed away from cancer at 10:22 on November 14, 2014 in New York City. Brown was an inspiration to those who fight cancer, and founded MedGift, a support registry made for those suffering from any illness.