Hoda Kotb — who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007 and underwent a mastectomy — opened up to PEOPLE about how she never saw her diagnosis coming as someone who lived a healthy lifestyle.

Hoda Kotb has spoken of the importance at refusing to let breast cancer define her as she reflected on being diagnosed with the disease in 2007.

Hoda Kotb offered some words of wisdom for people with cancer during a recent event celebrating those who have braved their way through breast cancer diagnoses. Kotb, who retired from her long-running Today show co-hosting gig in January,